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What to look for in a SM465 donor?

J

Jesse Jaymes

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Had some troubles with the '74 last night. Got stuck in the sand on the river bank. I could hammer it to the floor and nothing happened. So I was not getting power from the engine to the ground. So my rear locker was useless.

I hate this BS.

I've wanted a truck with the 465 tranny in it for some time. Right now, out of the 4 trucks/SUVs that I have, all are auto.

At least if I had the 465 tranny I could have dumpt the clutch and broke something or got REALLY stuck.

So, I am considering tackling a swap from an auto to manual.

Vehicle is a 1974 K5. Has a 350ci, TH350 tranny and currently a 203. I have a NP205 ready to be installed.

With all the discussion on spline count, etc, I cannot keep things straight.

I understand that it's best to find a donor vehicle and rip EVERYTHING out of it.

What should I look for, as I have heard of hydro vs mechanical on clutches, I think???

I would think it should be a direct swap, but are there some trannys that are easier than others(models or variants of the 465)?
 
85 and newer will have hydro setups and older will be mechanical linkage. the hydro setup will be easier to put in. you will be fine with the 32 spline or 10 spline 465's.
 
Many thanks. Just got the same info about an hour ago from a co-worker. Said same, 85+ for hydro assist. Nice to know it will be easier to put in.

Same guy just pulled one a sold it. Sold all accesories to a different guy who is not using them. Said he will get them back for me for $75. Think I can grab a tranny for under $200.

I am very novice on this subject, and am wondering what else will be needed?

I have a NP205 to install at some point as well. Was hard to find as it's a NP205 with a TH350 adaptor.

Need to junkyard an adaptor for the SM465?

Lastly what about different cross member?
 
find a complete setup, 465 and 205 with the adapter already together. sell your current 205 and th350 adapter.

the crossmember will be a flat one.

you'll need driveshafts also. you can cut down your front one and get the rear lengthened OR when you find a tranny and t-case combo, get the driveshafts too.
 
Yeah, I would just look for a complete SM465/NP205 combo. They're pretty easy to come by. I currently have a few for parts, and know where more are. Just the other night I found another one for $100. I am not even sure I want to buy it.

Martin
 
Be advised sm465s are not as invincible as people lead to. Yes they will work for a long time after they get ****ed up but bearings still go.
 
Yeah, but in comparison to the other transmissions you could get in a 1973 - 1987(1991) Chevrolet, they are indestructible. Mine leak. I take a while to get around to refilling them with fluid, and am to lazy to fix them correctly. Doesn't hurt them. The SM465 is the best transmission you could get in these pickups/Blazers/Suburbans hands down.

Martin
 
I ran one with water in for 4 months. Not intentionally; I bought it used and never checked the fluid, just put in the truck and drove. Coulndt figure out why 4wd and reverse was a PITA whenever it got cold. On a warm day I decided to pull the plug to check the fluid. Mostly water came out. Nice. Refilled with oil, been working fine the last two years. Try that with any other trans. I dare you. No, I double dare you.:D
 
No no they are tough as **** dont get me wrong. I drove hom 2-1/2 hours with toasted fall apart output bearing and the thing still got home no prob BUT I'm just saying they do break.
 
^So does just about everything you touch martin. I like mine but it does mark the spots I stop in cause someone said I didn't need the high temp seal. Oh and we have a sm465 in a c60 that weighs 45k plus and even with mud up to the rims on the duals it never broke or even wimpered.
 
I'm not trying to talk you out of the swap, but what gears and tires are you running? I would hate to see you go to all that trouble and not have it perform the way you want. If you were in low range and couldn't get any tire to spin, then it sounds like you might benefit from lower geared axles.
 
80' 427 said:
^So does just about everything you touch martin. I like mine but it does mark the spots I stop in cause someone said I didn't need the high temp seal. Oh and we have a sm465 in a c60 that weighs 45k plus and even with mud up to the rims on the duals it never broke or even wimpered.
Click to expand...

I am just saying nothing is indestructable.

Martin
 
the lower ratio of the 465 will help tremendously. do it, you won't regret it one bit.
 
driney said:
I'm not trying to talk you out of the swap, but what gears and tires are you running? I would hate to see you go to all that trouble and not have it perform the way you want. If you were in low range and couldn't get any tire to spin, then it sounds like you might benefit from lower geared axles.
Click to expand...
Ill second this what are the spec's .. the 465 will make up for alot of things wrong I.E. gears motor tires. But if you have the right setup it is even better. the 205 has a taller low that the 203 also so you are losing some there but the tranny will make up for it. My current rig is stick but i am leaning toward and auto swap.For me it would would work better in the sand for tire speed.
 
I thought the 205 and the 203 were exactly the same ratio 1.96 to 1? Regardless, they are close.

The NP208 is the better ratio at 2.61 to 1.

Right now I am rolling 35s on 3.73s. I wanted to swap gears, and will at some point to 4.56s. But it's over $1000 to re-gear. It's about $300 to swap the tranny, along with several questions and bloody knuckles I am sure.

From the numbers I gathered it and easy 2.0+ range of gear reduction picked up with the "granny" low of the SM465 at 6.55 to 1.

Just my thoughts. If I am wrong, then convince me.
 
A clutch runs about $200 so a $300 dollar swap might be hard to pull off by I'm not trying to talk you out of it but a gear swap would be better in both situations. I would do the gears first you wont believe how big a difference it makes.
You are right on the low range i was thinking 208 in my mind for some reason.
 
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