Zeb Christensen

I am in the process of getting ready to do a NV4500 swap from the Gatrag 360 in my W250 and trying to find parts to do it. I found this web site that has the adapter kit and a tranny.

http://www.smartpartsauto.com/manual...500_dodge.html

What I am wondering is if any one has done any business with them. Are they good to work with. I really like there price on the tranny.

Thanks

rrgrassi

You will need the adapter plate and a 2nd gen starter, IIRC.

Zeb Christensen

I guess I should have posted this link too.

http://www.smartpartsauto.com/conver...0_712584a.html

This is the adapter kit so that I can use the stock adpter plate and starter and what not. I am still wondering if any one has done any business with this company.

Thanks

patdaly

The company looks solid, and the bellhousing kit is actually the Advance Adapters unit, which has been used for years with great success.

thrashingcows

It even says right there in the description that those are AA parts. I have used a few of the AA parts with no issue what soever.

mknittle

My dad has one of those bellhousings. It looks better than the Getrag one it replaced

Zeb Christensen

Thanks for the Input I'll have to keep saving some $$$

MrFusion

I recently did the same swap with the AA kit. the biggest problem I had was that the barring tool pocket in the AA bellhousing was not cut right and the barring tool could be inserted but not removed. I spent an hour with an end mill chucked into a drill hogging out aluminum, bolting it back up, testing the barring tool fit, doing it all over again. I would've been really PO'ed if I had bolted the trans up before I discovered the problem.
The only other issue is that the cross member adapter is really thin and chintzy. I used 3" x .25" sidewall square tube.
I bought the AA kit, NOS trans with updated mainshaft, shifter stick, shift tower, and 2.5 gallons of the recommended lube from Midwest Trans for $2500 shipped to southern PA. They were really good to deal with.

http://www.midwesttrans.com/NV4500/new_nv4500.html

u2slow

Other route is to find a 2ndgen nv4500 parts truck like I did. After I sold off the cummins, the rest of it only cost me $500.

freight train

I have done four NV4500 swaps. Two getrags and two auto's. The AA kits were used every time and with great success. Only one did I have to do any machine work on the input shaft as it wasn't splined back far enough. It wasn't a big deal anyways as the retainer has to be removed to be shortened anyways. I always had a machine shot put it on a lathe to cut it perfectly true. Anyways, if the AA kit is used nothing from a 2nd gen is needed. The only thing about the AA kit is the very weak 4x4 shifter rod. I have had two AA rods bend and not allow the 4x4 to engage. I had my brother who has machine work capabilities at work to make me rods that mirror the thickness of an OEM rod but threaded like the AA rod. Worked out perfectly.

As for price three times I have bought a used bell and just ordered the gated shifter bracket and cross member bracket from AA. Its so simple and easy to go that route. Or at least it was for me as it seems more familiar than installing a Getrag.

MrFusion

I eliminated the shifter rod problem by twin sticking it!

MrFusion

The problem around my neck o' Pennsyltucky is that 2nd gen 5 speed trucks in bad shape are still going for $4500. There is a local guy that buys them up and parts them out. He wants (and is getting) $3500 for the "complete" auto to manual swap. For a 1st gen owner this means that you end paying $3500 for a bunch of stuff you can't use and a transmission of unknown history and mileage.