SM465 Swap to 5 speed manual?

[JT58]

I have a really nice 87 V10 short box 4 X 4. I bring it to car shows frequently and it shows really well. It has the SM465 manual. It leaks at the front, so the transmission needs to come out to replace the seal and/or might as well rebuild it and reseal it. Before I do that, is there an option to swap it out to say a 5 speed manual? It would make the truck a whole lot more driveable to have 5 forward gears versus 3. And it revs out pretty quick now and even driving 55 it's revving pretty high. Be nice to take it on the highway and do 70, make the truck more useable in this day and age and to go to car shows further away.

Is there a recommended transmission to buy and a conversion kit available- does anyone make one?

 

[bucket]

Ate you thinking of an actual 5-speed, or a truck 5-speed with a low gear? Because you have a truck 4-speed now, rather than a 3-speed, which is why I was asking.

If you don't mind a lighter duty transmission without a low gear, there is the original optional overdrive 4-speed, or a later model NV3500 5-speed that are commonly available.

With that said, if it's just a nice weather cruiser, you will never get your money back on fuel savings, with the cost of a transmission swap. Unless you find a deal on the overdrive 4-speed, complete. It is a direct swap with your SM465 and will use the same drive shafts.

 

[bucket]

Also, even with the steepest available original gear ratio, 70mph+ is no problem at all without an overdrive. Yeah, it revs higher than a new truck, but it won't hurt it at all.

 

[JT58]

Ate you thinking of an actual 5-speed, or a truck 5-speed with a low gear? Because you have a truck 4-speed now, rather than a 3-speed, which is why I was asking.

If you don't mind a lighter duty transmission without a low gear, there is the original optional overdrive 4-speed, or a later model NV3500 5-speed that are commonly available.

With that said, if it's just a nice weather cruiser, you will never get your money back on fuel savings, with the cost of a transmission swap. Unless you find a deal on the overdrive 4-speed, complete. It is a direct swap with your SM465 and will use the same drive shafts.

Thanks, will the NV3500 5 speed bolt in or does it have to be the optional original 4 speed overdrive? Is there a number for the 4 speed overdrive so I can look it up? The SM465 I have is a 4 speed although the granny low is only good if you are going to use it to tow heavy loads or maybe 4 wheeling. So it has only 3 real "street" gears. My truck is a cruiser to show at local car shows only. Having even only 1 extra gear for the street would be great. My SM465 has a leaky seal and needs to be rebuilt, so it needs to come out anyway- repair or replace so I just wanted to know my options.

 

[JT58]

Also, even with the steepest available original gear ratio, 70mph+ is no problem at all without an overdrive. Yeah, it revs higher than a new truck, but it won't hurt it at all.

I have stock 32" smallish tires, not sure of my gearing and it seems to be revving pretty good at 55. (I probably need a tach). People drive really fast and speed everywhere where I live- 80-90 on the interstate, some 100 or more often. Even going 70 the speed limit is considered slow. But I drive 70 in my other vehicles and just stay in the right lane and get passed by just about everyone.

 

[JT58]

I may have answered my own question- the 4 speed overdrive is the NP 440? Or the A883. Not many were made and I can barely find any reference to it. The NV3500 seems to be the most likely swap although I can't find any detailed specific information about it and if there are adapter plates, detailed instructions, etc. you can purchase to facilitate the swap. It seems the SM465 is the best manual transmission for the truck. Although it would be quite a task to pull it out, once out the front seal replacement should be straight forward.

 

[bucket]

I have stock 32" smallish tires, not sure of my gearing and it seems to be revving pretty good at 55. (I probably need a tach). People drive really fast and speed everywhere where I live- 80-90 on the interstate, some 100 or more often. Even going 70 the speed limit is considered slow. But I drive 70 in my other vehicles and just stay in the right lane and get passed by just about everyone.

Yeah, as long as your engine is not living on the ragged edge of death, cruising at 70-80mph is no big deal. If you drove 30k or more a year, I'd consider a swap, but for the little bit that you apparently drive it, I personally wouldn't worry about a trans swap at all. I'd just pull the 465, fix it and put it back in.

And yes, the np440/a833. They are uncommon, but they are still out there. Sometimes expensive, but sometimes dirt cheap. I've wound up with two of the 4x4 versions and they were VERY affordable.