Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

Could you drill and tap the bellhousing instead of the transmission

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

I don't think so. The bolt holes would fall into the curvature of the bell housing on three of the holes.

LockDoc

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

Glad the trans worked out well for you its from a P 30 van .

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

Thanks Oz. That baby works like a Champ.

LockDoc

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

Awesome!

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

Thanks so much for link to this, answered all the questions I had good work!!!

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

also what did you have to change on your drive shaft? im sure length, but maybe you can get a custom yoke to offset the difference in length if not too substantial?
do you have any photos underneath of it i can see? thatd be great!

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

Thanks, I will have to take pictures tomorrow after I get back from my Dr's appointment. May not be until afternoon.

LockDoc

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

much thanks for that!

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

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The yoke on the back of the 2wd NV4500 bolts onto the tail shaft and the front U-joint connects it to the drive shaft. I shortened the shaft but I don't remember how much....

I'm glad I went out and took the pictures, looks like I need to replace the rear seal...:(

LockDoc

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

OK thanks for the photos. I have a c20 so I'm wondering about the u joint size difference. I may have to get a different driveshaft yoke when I shorten it

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

You can buy adapter U-joints so you would just have to do some research on the sizes available.... I bought one with two different size cap sets and it fit like a champ. I will see If I put the box flap in the glove box.

LockDoc

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

This is great info! I'm going to pull the trigger on a NV4500 swap, now I just need to figure out if I can use my sm420 bell without the adapter.

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

Your bell housing would be the same as the one I used except that the front bearing retainer hole is the small (4-11/16") diameter instead of the 5-1/8" needed for the NV4500 transmission. You can either have yours bored out to 5-1/8" or find a bell housing from a truck with the SM465 manual transmission. (1968 up)

LockDoc

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

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I have had a few people ask me about transmission lube for the NV4500 so I thought I would add this information. If anyone questions it I would suggest that you research it thoroughly for yourself....

NV4500 Manual 5 speed overdrive transmission lube

I have done a lot of research on this and here is what I have found. The NV4500 is pretty much all by itself as far as fluid requirements. The trans fluids for the other 5 speeds will not work. The GM part number is 12346190 and the MoPar part number is 4874459. From what I can gather Castrol makes it and GM and MoPar rebrand it and put it in smaller containers. Castrol Syntorq (not Syntech) LT 75w85 (may also be described as 75w90) GL4 full synthetic Gear oil. The smallest container from Castrol is 15 or 16 Gal.

Amsoil MTG Manual Transmission & Transaxle Gear Lube 75W-90 GL-4 is OK but it is a little thinner. If your rear seal starts leaking after filling with the Amsoil that will be the reason. The Amsoil doesn’t actually cause the leak but just exacerbates it. The Amsoil MTGQT-EA is the single quart, and the MTGQT-CA is the case of quarts.

There is a lot of mis-information on the net about this subject and everyone has to make their own decisions on it. Even though they are more expensive, one of the fluids listed above is all I will use.

LockDoc

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

Thanks LocKDoc
This has been a very informative read. And that a nice lookin' dually.
I'm presently rebuilding a 93 NV4500 for my 70 C-30 and have been planning to drill and bolt the case while it's stripped out.
Looks like it work well.

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

Thanks. I use the truck constantly and have had zero problems with it. I am still using my Garmin as a speedometer and it works just fine. If you have any questions let me know.

LockDoc

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

I just run gear oil that has the correct additive package for limited slip differentials. Maybe not what you're supposed to do, but it has done well for me.

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

I have come across this thread now a few time , I am now officially on the hunt for one of these trans. Seems like a great way to keep everything I like about the sm465 and get OD.

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

I have a ton of questions but won't burden the forum with them all at once.:smoke: I see you have the early GM type trans, 93-95 (I believe) and also have the square type shift tower. From that, I assume the later model top covers can be a direct replacement for the early round style? Thanks

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

Well, the first question you ask me, I don't have a clue about...:)... I do know mine is the '93-'95 version and I'm not sure this specific modification will work with the later transmissions. It would have to have the same specifications as far as input shaft length, spline count, pilot shaft length and diameter, bell housing bolt hole configuration, and front bearing retainer diameter, (both the diameter for the bell housing hole and the cone for the throwout bearing), to work.

It's been long enough ago that I did my research that I don't remember a lot of the spec's on them. Sorry.

LockDoc

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

Great post Leon!

Question for the NOOBIES here like me.

What does having the NV4500 gain? Your install looks very "clean" almost like a factory option. Well done!

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

Thanks.

The NV4500 is a light truck 5 speed overdrive transmission. It still has the "granny low" gear for pulling heavy loads but it also has the overdrive (5th gear) for highway cruising.

LockDoc

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

Thanks for a great write-up on how you did your conversion.

Working on similar conversion for a 64' K10. Doing this one using a Lakewood shatter proof bell housing. The mounting surface on it is a large flat area, allowing for NV4500 transmission holes to be drilled, unlike the stock bell housing. Welded nuts on the inside of the holes.

This was an option for me, by purchasing a used Lakewood at a swap meet for very little money. Many drag racers are going to Quick Time bell housing and sell the old, heavy, very strong Lakewood. Local swap meets where drag racers sell their used parts is a good place to find a bargain.

Using a 95' model for all the same reasons you did. Like its gear ratios.

Les

Re: Installing The NV4500 5 Speed Overdrive Transmission In The C-30
 

Thanks Les.

I got a Lakewood scattershield with my NV4500 when I bought it that was already drilled for the trans, but I decided not to use it. Not being familiar with the Lakewood, I wasn't sure how all of the stock clutch parts would work with it. I also wanted to use the stock parts to do the writeup because most people doing the swap would already have them.

Keep us updated on your swap with the Lakewood.

LockDoc