After having the torque converter go out completely on my truck to where I had a hard time moving it in the driveway I decided to convert it back to a manual from the 47rh. I wanted to just have the 47rh rebuilt, but local shops wanted ~5k to rebuild it and I don’t have the time or space to learn how to rebuild one on my own. Except now with some of the shipping issues with the transfer case I may have had time, but no enclosed place to do it in. I’ll touch on that later.

So so I found a nv4500 for too good a deal to pass up! And yes it is a Dodge unit with 29 spline output. I was going to go with a Getrag, but found the nv4500 and was in a hurry to get my truck going again. So much for that as UPS lost my transfer case that I bought. The transfercase is a rebuilt one that I bought from a guy that I’m not sure if he’s on here or not. The nv4500 is a remanufactured unit with all new bolts and everything. I also got a 400hp/900tq organic clutch from Valair. I know there will be some that say I should have got a South Bend , but I’ve been around a lot of high horsepower trucks wth Valair clutches and have been impressed with them. I got a shift boot from Stronghold Shift Boots also. I did get hydraulics from South Bend though, so I have upgraded hydraulics. I also got a set of new pedals that some guy in Montana is making for $320 shipped. I decided that they were worth the extra $50 over used pedals. I’m very happy with how they seem to be built and how they look.

I decided I needed to pull the seat and carpet out to patch the hole from when the truck was a Getrag before the P.O. swapped it and then found lots of holes from self tapping screws. I also found paint bubbling in spots, so used a wire wheel on that and sprayed it with rust converter and some rustoleum paint. Doesn’t match, but it will be covered up anyway. The carpet about fell to pieces when I pulled it out, so it went in the garbage with all its holes and stains and I got MIP flooring from LMC that will go in once I get the floor holes patched. Then I’ll measure for the new hole and cut that out and put the transmission in. The MIP flooring comes with insulation and he rubber should help with stuff too. I’m also leaving the rubber/insulation that is in the back half of the cab from factory. I also pulled out all the wiring from the automatic, but left the switches for now. I might use those for some aftermarket lights down the road.

On Thursday I finally got my buddy to help me after work get the transmission out. I don’t have a transmission jack, but he did, and I didn’t want to be messing with something that heavy by myself.

Since then I’ve been working on cleaning all the grime off the crossmembers and repainting the ones that the paint had come off. I still need to hurry and go out there and try and unbolt the flexplate. I think I might wait for that until I twist a buddy’s arm enough to bring his welder and weld up the old holes in the floor. Once that is done I will paint that and put interior back together.

Since I don’t have the transfer case as UPS is taking their sweet time looking for it after they lost it, I ordered satin black Chassis Saver and I’m going to clean all the grease off my frame and coat it while I have all the space from the transmission being out. Doesn’t look like I’ll be able to quite get everything on the frame up towards the front by the engine, but I’m going to get as much as I possibly can. Frame just has surface rust starting in spots from just being a desert truck, but I’ll likely be in Northern Utah here in a couple years for college and want to minimize the opportunity that rust has to condemn my truck. It will look better too! Someday I’ll take the cab off the frame and make sure the whole frame is perfect. That will be when I have another vehicle though. Anyway, after I get the frame coated I’ll put the transmission in and hopefully the transfer case is here by then.

I’ve got to figure out how to get my exhaust apart too before I can put it back in. I have the Diamond Eye exhaust and made the mistake of using the supplied clamps. I had to get pretty creative on how to get it out of there since the 2 pieces around the t-case were stick together, and then the muffler back was stuck too. I’m thinking I’ll have to borrow my neighbors torch and get it just hot enough that I can pull it apart. Then I’ll put it back together with the band clamps I got for it and just use the hangers from the Diamond Eye kit for hangers.

Now for pictures!

I’ll have to get a 2x4 and put it in there. I’m not sure how they lose a transfer case that was actually 215 pounds final ship weight. It was heavier, because it already had the adapter and shifter linkage and bracket for the nv4500.

Hey 1st gen if you want to get rid of the auto you have there let me know lol I know a guy. (Points at self) that needs a core just like that.