The Chevota gets a makeover

[88chevota]

Well... The 700R4 decided to go out, and since I don't know how to fix one of those I decided to crossover to the manual trans world!!!
I am excited I sure miss a manual. And while I, uh... I mean WE are at it some other stuff too

I say we because, well I don't know about you, but I always end up recruiting friends to help me out. When all said and done from cleaning parts to welding 20 hands or so will have touched the thing in the process.

SO......since I sold some things to pay for the project
Here is the plan:

Install an SM465 tranny with an NP205 transfer case
To solve the center diff issue We will do the minitruck Landcruiser hybrid axle and add disc brakes. I picked up some LC axles with 3.70 gears for good highway performance.

Spring Over conversion with shackle reversal. We will be putting the shackle hangers through the frame on both the front and the rear.

We will cut and turn the knuckles on the front axle

Since the FJ62 never had a manual we will be putting all that in too.

We will also be rerouting some of the brake and gas lines to move them away from the headers. They get a little hot.

If there is enough $$$ left over ARB air lockers. We shall see...

I will be posting some pics up in a few minutes. I, oops WE already started on the tear down.

[88chevota]

Cut off spring mounts in front, and shackle hangers

[88chevota]

Auto is out and the SM465 is getting ready to go in!!



just the rear end waiting to get worked on and the axles sitting in the background

[Tinker]

I'm guessing you're not running 31s (because of the SOA). Stay with the 4.11s that came on the 62 if you're running 33s, & go to 4.56s if you are running 35s.

The SM465 has an overdrive 5th IIRC just as your 700R4 has an overdrive 4th.

My 4.11s & 33s turn 2,200 rpm @ 75 mph in 4th with the 4L60E (same tranny as 700R4 only computer-controlled). That's plenty high gearing. Thought about 4.56s before the gas prices jumped, but low in the tranny is really low enough for crawling.

[VTCruiser]

looks like it's coming along nicely. see you in a few days!

[cabron]

You've got your work cut out for you, should be a great combo once done. Keep us updated with pics if you can.

[Man Jerk]

Cool man. Let us know if and when you need some help. I've been known to drink beer and watch guys sling wrenches from time to time.

I've got my wagon torn down too, but nothing near as interesting as you.

[88chevota]

Originally Posted by Tinker

The SM465 has an overdrive 5th IIRC just as your 700R4 has an overdrive 4th.

As far as I know the SM465 is and always has been a 4 speed with no overdrive. I got this info off Novak conversions.

1st gear 6.55
2nd gear 3.58
3rd gear 1.57
4th gear 1.00

Of course they make overdrive kits for it but they are not that cheap.

I will most likely be going with 35" tires.

here is what i have on my final crawl with the set up unless I am wrong.

6.55 (1st gear) x 1.96 (NP205 low range) x 3.70 (diff gearing) = 47.5 to 1 final crawl. not to bad, It's definitely better than what I was running.

With the 3.70's in the diff it will be good for the highway!

I could be wrong on all this, but I sure hope not. I already have all the parts!

[Dynosoar]

I thought you had cable lockers on your rig. If so, does this mean you are selling your Cable Lockers? If the answer is yes, Please PM me and let me know.

Dynosoar

[88chevota]

already sold them. sorry

[Isotel]

x2, give me a call whenever you need help.. Mark can hand us beers and take photos! lol

Solid plan man, cant wait to see it come together! If you cant do the ARB's Put it a set of aussie lockers and twin stick that 205.. Not too good for the snow, but fine for the trail!

[88chevota]

so I rerouted the brake lines last night, and I plan on working on it a lot this weekend.

going to fill the tank today and get some steel! hoping to get a lot done! I will be posting pics as I go.

[88chevota]

Spent most of yesterday getting parts. And cutting stuff off takes way to long.

cut tranny crossmember off and finished rerouting lines. Got all that stuff out of the way so I have plenty of room for wherever I am gin to put the new crossmember. as you can see the tranny is in, but it sets way far forward. hmmm. I will have to modify the shifter.





Got some welding done last night and today. they are not that pretty, but I think I am getting better. As long as they hold right.

[88chevota]

new shackle hangers!




This one is not done yet.

[88chevota]

other side spring hanger!






I know everything is still kinda dirty. I only cleaned the areas I welded. I figure I am just gonna get it dirty again as soon as it is done anyway.

[88chevota]

just ordered some parts tonight.

Trail Gear high steer arms
14" shock hoops
knuckle rebuild kit.

I got the NP205 in. I'll post up pics in a little bit.

I am trying to figure out how the transmission mounts work. It is from a 78 blazer anyone got any pics on that?

[88chevota]

Well, we made some progress this weekend.

NP205 is in



the front shackle reversal is pretty much done,
cut off shock mounts. waiting for shock hoops from trailgear.
started the prep work on the front axle.








boxed in a portion of the rear frame for the new shcakle hanger position. finished one side.





Well that may be it for a little while. I will be in New Orleans all week. I may not get to anything for two weeksoh well.

[brokenparts]

ur makin great progress. keep it up!

[88chevota]

Thanks man!

I was thinking I should post a before picture. This is a most recent shot I have. We shall see what it looks like after

[88chevota]

so here is my shifter problem. I might need to do with out heater. hopefully I can modify the shifter so it fits nice and snug.



grinded off all the excess stuff of the front axle. I left small amounts of the lower spring perches to keep the U- bolts from sliding around. not sure if you can tell from the pics. I was so excited to get it under the spring I just kinda mocked it up.



other side



got in the shock hoops and high steer stuff. those steer arms are legit!!!



I know my garage is messy.

[Tapage]

I love to see those HSteer arms ..

[1967 TLC]

[quote=88chevota;2350983]so here is my shifter problem. I might need to do with out heater. hopefully I can modify the shifter so it fits nice and snug.



Hey Tony,

You are cranking on the work, Good Job! I ran into the same issue with the stick shift. I currently have to hold the stick to use first gear. The rubber boot pushes the stick out of gear.

I have not done this yet, but, I think it will work. I'm going to cut my stick as low as possible and weld a rod vertically to the rear and re-weld the stick to the rod. This should push the stick back to its original position and relieve the pressure from the rubber boot. This might be this weekend’s job. I’ll let you know if it works. I would hate to loose the heater, hopefully it works.

What are you going to do about your trans mount not lining up with the brackets?

Talk to you later,

[meatloaf]

[quote=88chevota;2306230]Auto is out and the SM465 is getting ready to go in!!



Do you have any pictures of the tranny crossmember?

[88chevota]

I have not started on the tranny crossmember. I am pretty much posting pics of all my progress, so I will definitely post them when I get to that point.


Hey jerry can you post some pics of what you are going to do for your shifter? I planned on cutting about an inch or so off and welding it back together and hopefully that would do the trick! maybe I can just move the heater somewhere else?

[1967 TLC]

Tony,

My trans sits almost exactly where yours is. I would not move the heater; I don’t think you need too. I dropped the trans a little bit so the shift tower was just below the hump rim. This allowed the shifter boot to bolt into the original location without modifications to the sheet metal, well; I did trim the sheet metal a little bit. But, I did not need too.

As mentioned above, since the trans sits so far forward and the boot is still in it’s original location, the boot top pulls on the stick while in first gear. Surprisingly, third gear is not affected. I tried heating and bending the stick, but that did not work. The bend was not tight enough. I’m hoping cutting the stick and adding a horizontal section will move the stick to its original location within the boot.

I’ll take pictures of the work and also show you what I did with the cross member. The trans only moved forward about an inch and half. I used an 8 x10 inch by quarter inch plate to move the cross member forward and some thick walled, half inch tube as spacers to lower the trans where I wanted it.

[meatloaf]

[quote=88chevota;2358164]I have not started on the tranny crossmember. I am pretty much posting pics of all my progress, so I will definitely post them when I get to that point.


I was referring to the 700r4 x-memeber since that is what I am swapping in mine.

Thanks.

ML