SM465/NP208 combo?

[86m10086.2L]

I looking to do a TH400/208 to SM465/208 swap in my truck and was wondering what years and model trucks came with the 465/208 combo from the factory. I want to purchase a whole donor truck to do the swap. That way I have access to all the bits and pieces I may need. There are a few resonably priced parts truck by me but I dont know what ones would be best or have what I need. And I would rather not waste my time lookingat something thats not good for what I want to do. My truck is a 86 1 ton longbed with a 6.2L D60/14ff. Ideally I would love to get myhands on a diesel wreck, but they are far a few inbetween by me so it will most likley be a gas truck as the donor. I already know I will need a different clutch and flywheel combo for the diesel, and will probably have to clearence the gas truck bellhousing for the diesel starter. Any help or info on what years or models I should be looking for or anything else helpful with the swap would be greatly appreciated.

 

[johnnychimpo]

'81-'87 in the trucks 1/2t & 3/4t & up to '91 in the K5's & Suburbans. Any thing '85 & up will be a hydro clutch.
1ton trucks will have a NP205 transfer case.

 

[86m10086.2L]

excelent thats exactly what I was looking for. Should I try for hydraulic clutch linkage or try to adapt the older mechanical setup? Also if I happen to find a 1 ton with the NP205, is it just a matter of using the 205 crossmember to install it in the 208 location or do I have to re-drill the frame or modify the 208 crosmmember and mounts?

 

[johnnychimpo]

Hydro would be easier. Use the crossmember that the donor truck used. Hydro pedals are different than mech. pedals. 1tons w/ hydro-clutches have hydroboost brakes & the pedals have different brake booster mounting length than non-hydroboost pedals.

 

[86m10086.2L]

so, being as my truck is a 1 ton with the hydro boost setup am I going to need to find a truck with the same setup to do the swap, or just if I run the hydro linkage? or what has to be modified to make a non hydro system work?

 

[johnnychimpo]

You can prolly make the pedals work. Some on the board have had hydro pedal with both master cyl points on the pedal assy. If not you could move the non hydro mount. If you use the mech. linkage the hardest part for me was the frame mounted pivot the Z bar bolts to . With the cab on it it's a bitch to drill holes or grind rivets to add or remove one.

 

[86m10086.2L]

Cool, that pretty much covers most of it. I think I may still try for the mechanical linkage, but i'll see what comes up. For the right price I'll take anything. Thanks for all the info.

 

[Stomis]

Hydro is worth it. My buddy converted his truck with a th350 in it to an sm465 and is still jealous that mines hydro after all the work he did.

 

[86m10086.2L]

true, but I would be extremly happy just to have the manual transmission. And unfortunately for me, the fact that my truck is diesel with the Hydroboost setup makes it a little more difficult. There are very few 6.2L trucks period by me, let alone manual tranny ones. And I've never seen a 4X4 model with a manual. So my swaping options are limmited. If I can do it I'll go hydro, if not I would still be overjoyed with a mechanical setup.