NV4500 hydraulic clutch questions

[Russell]

I have a NV4500 from a 93 Chevy 1 ton 4x4 (lower first gear)which currently has a passenger side external slave cylinder. The slave cylinder is positioned in such a way that my front driveshaft is pretty much guaranteed to hit it.

I am researching different ways of hooking up the hydraulic clutch stuff. So far I've only found two good options, one being the AA route, the other being the factory internal slave cylinder setup. I do not want to run a mechanical clutch linkage with the truck.

Anyways, my question is more directed towards the internal slave setup. On my 96 NV3500 in my K1500, the slave cylinder / throwout bearing combination is bolted onto the front bearing retainer, then it has a hydraulic line that runs out the driver's side of the bellhousing, and up to the master cylinder.

Does the NV4500 work in a similar manner with regards to how the slave is mounted inside the bellhousing? If that is the case, can a guy swap bearing front bearing retainers between the newer 95+ transmissions which had internal slave setups, and the older external slave transmissions?

The 95+ clutch master cylinders are nice little units. They mount level like the older 85 - 87 master cylinders, and are obviously a bolt up solution on the transmission side. Having the hydraulic line exit on the driver's side of the engine puts it out of the way of my front driveshaft.

I know there are reliability concerns with internal slave cylinders, but this truck is not daily driven, and I have been very happy with how easy it is to actuate the clutch in my 96, easy on the knee!

I figure it'll cost me probably 500 or so bucks to buy and install an AA bellhousing, and have (in my opinion) a bit of a mickey mouse hydro clutch setup, or I spend about the same to get a nice clean internal slave that isn't made up of cobbled together parts...

Suggestions?

 

[bp71k5]

I don't know much about the internal slave cylinder options, but I was unable to find any references on the internet that said they were "good". Everything said they were nothing but trouble.

I had this same dilemma and went with the AA option and spent a good amount of time troubleshooting to get it right. I was able to put together a pretty simple line which works great. It's just a braided hose attached to a steel hydraulic brake line you can get front any autoparts store. Here's a couple pictures.

Depending on where the master cylinder is, it's pretty straightforward. I would recommend not getting the AA entire kit though. The bellhousing (and the bolts) were about the only thing I was able to use. I had to fab the slave bracket, but it's pretty simple and I have a drawing for it too. I got most of the other the parts locally and can give you part numbers if you decide to go that way.

 

[Russell]

That is a very nice hydraulic line! Did you have the braided part made somewhere, or was it something you were able to buy from a parts house? Looks like an older bodystyle truck though, right?

Are you running the 95+ master cylinder with it?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

I wouldn't be afraid of an internal slave cylinder. I don't think reliability is any different than anything else, everyone complains about them because they're so much harder to replace.

 

[bp71k5]

Yes, it's an older truck with a 96 master on it. I bought the 12" stainless line from AA. The master bolts up right next to the brake master cylinder.