SM465/205 swap questions

[Laguna37]

Recently purchased an 84' K5 Jimmy, currently I've got the original 305 pulled out of it and am waiting for my 350 to show up. I figure that considering the engines out anyways, why not swap in an sm465, as I much prefer driving a manual trans. My truck has the original 700r4/208 combo (atleast I think its an np208)

I've read the tech article on the ck5 main page where it explains how this swap is done, but I have some parts related question about it.

-If I find an Sm465/205 combo do I need to buy a different cross member?
-Do I need to buy a bunch of pedal linkages, or is the clutch hydraulic?
-Does anyone make a swap kit, or do I have to dig around for individual parts?
-My 350 has a set of low-dollar generic flowtech long tubes, will my clutch system clear them?
-Do I need a bell housing?

I recently finished swapping an M22 in place of a stock TH350 in my chevelle and ran into some problems which later required modifying a stock z bar and the stock clutch linkages, and would like to avoid these problems on my K5 build.

 

[toomany]

You should try to grab the crossmember with the 465/205. I don't know if it's specific to this combo, but it'll save a headache later if it is.

1985 was the first year for the hydaulic clutch. But if you need to find pedals, whichever you find will work. The mechanical lingake/pedals will bolt right in. The holes are already in the frame for the z-bar.

I haven't seen a swap kit, but finding a complete donor vehicle is a good way to get all the parts (trans/t-case, belhousing, crossmember, pedals, linkage, column, drivshafts)

I haven't run into any header problems with my setups. My 77 has a cheap set of headers (not sure the brand), and they clear just fine.

Yes, you will need a bellhousing. If you are planing on a hydraulic clutch, find a hydro bellhousing. Mechanical clutch=mechanical bellhousing. It'd be best to get this with the trans/t-case.

 

[82355]

What he said. The problem is, an SM465/NP205 hydraulic combo is rare, because they were only used in K30's from 1985-'87('91). Most of the stock SM465/NP205 combos are mechanical linkage (1973-'80 K5, K10, and K20's, 1977-'84 K30's). These will be shorter, with a 10 spline output SM465, and a 10 spline male input on the NP205 with a female coupler shaft between the two in the adapter housing. It is shorter, but also weaker.

Another thing to remember, is most 1980 SM465/NP205 combos will have a slip yoke rear output.

1981-'84 K5, K10, and K20's will have a stronger 32 spline output shaft, but it is longer. They also use an NP208, with no coupler.

You can use a hydraulic setup with an older transmission that came with a mechanical setup though.

Do you really need an NP205?

Martin

 

[Laguna37]

The donor vehicle is likely going to be a stretch, I have a build thread going on a local off-road club website and one of the members wants to trade my 700r4 for an sm465/205 with pedals. As far as I know it has a mechanical bellhousing, but he doesnt have the truck it was pulled from anymore, so no cross member with the deal

 

[82355]

I would just use that for now. The NP208 has a deeper low range than an NP205, and they aren't junk. You should be able to find a hydraulic clutch setup on here, and a cross member.

Martin

 

[Laguna37]

What he said. The problem is, an SM465/NP205 hydraulic combo is rare, because they were only used in K30's from 1985-'87('91). Most of the stock SM465/NP205 combos are mechanical linkage (1973-'80 K5, K10, and K20's, 1977-'84 K30's). These will be shorter, with a 10 spline output SM465, and a 10 spline male input on the NP205 with a female coupler shaft between the two in the adapter housing. It is shorter, but also weaker.

Another thing to remember, is most 1980 SM465/NP205 combos will have a slip yoke rear output.

1981-'84 K5, K10, and K20's will have a stronger 32 spline output shaft, but it is longer. They also use an NP208, with no coupler.

You can use a hydraulic setup with an older transmission that came with a mechanical setup though.

Do you really need an NP205?

Martin

I only mentioned the np205 becuase the local sm465 for sale comes with a 205 attached to it.

So basically I'll need:
-sm465/np205 combo locally for sale
-mechanical bell housing
-pedals, linkages, bell crank, clutch fork
-clutch kit (clutch,pressure plate, pilot bushing)
-manual trans cross member
-custom length drive shafts

Anything I'm missing?

 

[82355]

If you use the SM465/NP208 combo (which I would do, in fact I just did one in a buddies truck, and I did my Suburban last year), you should be able to use your existing driveshafts.

Wait, I see you edited your other post. It did say SM465/NP208 earlier. You could use that, but I would look around for an SM465/NP208. It will be cheaper because of the driveshafts, and you won't have to worry about the female coupler.

Martin

 

[toomany]

The crossmember isn't that big of an issue. It's one of the easier pieces to find. I'm not sure if the 205 (or 208) use the straight one or the humped one. I want to say they use the Straight one.

Ok, I just ran out and looked at the one in my K5 (465/205 w/slip yoke), and the ones in my shed. The K5 has a flat crossmember. The 465/208 has a humped crossmember. My other 465/205 (w/bolt on yoke) has a straight one sitting next to it, so I'm guessing it goes to that. Either that or the Th350/203 or the Th350/208.

If you can keep your crossmember, you might be able to get it to work. What kind do you have now? If it won't work, fabing a new one shouldn't be too hard.

Edit: I type slow (and I was outside), I started typing this when there were only 4 posts.

 

[Laguna37]

I dont have a welder or anything to cut/shape metal, so fabing one isnt an option.

Im not sure which cross member I have as I've only starting learning about K5's for the last week. It appears to drop down about 4" off the frame rails then is straight across.

Locally the only sm465's I can find have 205's attached to them.

 

[82355]

There is nothing wrong with using the SM465/NP205, it will just cost you more to swap, because of the driveshafts. Unless you can find one out of a Blazer/Jimmy, that comes with shafts.

Martin