Well after breaking the output on my 241 last night, it was time to do the 271 swap. Pretty straight forward except with the larger nv5600 in there some extra work is involved.

First off you will need to put the vacuum switch/actuator set up on the 271 in place the the 3rd gens electronic indicator sensor, its an easy screw out, screw in swap.

The take the 241's straight (flat bar) linkage connection and sway it out because the 271's bent linkage adapter will put the linkage at the wrong angle.

Now for those doing this with an NV5600, you need to jack up the tranny and take the trans mount out, drop the tranny down on the cross member to get enough clearance to get the big 271 in there, then put the mount back in afterwards.

The stock front drive shaft can be used, i just bolted mine right to the 271 with no problems (Later on a plan on having a stronger one built). The rear drive shaft will need to be shortened about 1.5"

**You may have to use a sledge hammer to dent/bend/persuade the body cross member as you see in my pics. You will see where the undercoating is chipped away from the light touch of an 8lbs sledge.**

The reason for the swap, broken 241 output on left, nice strong 271 output on the right.


The clearancing I did to get that big boy in there.


The tight clearance at the frame rail...yes its that big


and lastly a shot that shows its size up in there, its so much bigger!

 

Nice jobs. Won't you have to get a different yoke for the rear shaft as well?

 

Yup, the yoke is nearly twice the size of that from a 241. I dropped off the DS this morning to be shortened and have the new yoke put on.

 

I am going to be putting a 271 in my 97' 5-Speed what year truck do I need to get it out of and will it bolt right up? How much should I be lookin to spend?
Brandon

 

Thanks for the write up. My 241 in my 96 makes alot of noise, and I am trying to consider all of my options.

 

you will want the t-case out of an 03 or newer dodge with 6spd manual so the t-case will have the right size input shaft. (the auto's use a smaller shaft)

because they are out of newer trucks its rare to find them used, but if you know someone with a dealer connection a NEW 271 from dodge can be had for $800...which is less than a new 241.

Also make sure its 271 and not 273, that is the one with the electric shift mechanism

 

Thanks for the help!!!!
Brandon

 

Whould there be a way to wire that up to use on our trucks?

 

If you are good with electronic stuff then yes...but I don't think its worth the hassle, those units can fail and you are then stuck. At least with a manual shifter, if the linkage breaks you can crawl under there and put it in 4wd manual.

 

true but with the body i have on there now i kinda need to get rid of the shifter

 

Yeah, I figured you had the field covered again sat. night, I wondered what happened. I didn't even hear you break, but seen ya sittin next to the pit wall after you pulled. Can the drive shaft from the doner truck be used and then shortened?

 

i dont have a donor truck. i just had the t-case.

it wont be til wed or thurs now waiting for the 271 slip yoke to come in, then ill be up and running again.

 

an adjustment on what TJ said about denting the cab support member you might want to try dropping the transmission by removing the rubber mount and putting the 271 in and pushing it back up before hammering on the cab support. once we dropped the tranny mount it seemed like the denting wasn't really needed.

 

Man that thing looks huge in there. Sorry you had to do all that work, but you needed the excuse to put it in anyway! So I'm guessing no one has busted one of these yet? Of course if it will get busted, GB5.9 will do it

 

A buddy of mine owns a tranny shop. He has a 271 out of a ford. He told me I could have it just to get it out of his way. My question is what will have to be done to make it mate up? I don't have any problems with my 241 but if its not too much trouble I wouldnt mind having it for the future if it can be made to work. Not sure if it is out of an auto or stick.
CJ