NV4500 Conversion - Full Write-up (2 Viewers)

[Code Red]

Hey Matt,

Any fitment issues with the LS/NV4500?

I am looking at going that route, but I have read in other places that the hole for the shifter pretty far forward and causes some fitment issues.


Thanks,

 

[cruisermatt]

Hey Matt,

Any fitment issues with the LS/NV4500?

I am looking at going that route, but I have read in other places that the hole for the shifter pretty far forward and causes some fitment issues.


Thanks,

depends on where you put the motor.
This thread is really more meant for putting a NV4500 behind a 2F or 3FE though.

 

[FJ40onNOS]

Advanced Adapters seem to have most of the parts to do the swap. Looks to be about 3600 including there NV4500 trans.

 

[meatloaf]

Hey Matt,

Any fitment issues with the LS/NV4500?

I am looking at going that route, but I have read in other places that the hole for the shifter pretty far forward and causes some fitment issues.


Thanks,

@Code Red, I have the LS/NV4500 setup. I ended up moving the engine & tranny further back to accommodate shifter, had the rear driveshaft shortened and the front lengthened.

 

[Kleatus]

Does anyone sell a new nv4500? Or is everything rebuilt based on the countless donors out there?

I've seen some brand new units on ebay in recent past, but they were oddball units with a different tailhousing and a brake drum on the back, and maybe a weird input shaft for some industrial application. By the time you dissassemble them to put the parts you need in something like that, you'd be money ahead starting with a used one and rebuilding it. Both of mine were were acquired as used GM units from 6.5 diesel trucks, one in my FJ40 which I rebuild, and one sitting on the bench now that I will rebuild for the 62. Pretty common for 3rd gear synchronizer to be trashed in the early ones with some miles, but they're pretty simple to go through.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Rebuilt is as good as new. Why bother trying to find a NOS one, probably with surface rust on the gears, when you can get a rebuilt and warrantied unit for less than two grand?

 

[cwwfj60]

I posed the question for conversational purpose, in comparison to an h55f that is.

 

[cruisermatt]

Looks like BTB/Man-a-Fre was reading my thread and got inspired. Im flattered

FJ40 FJ45 Bell Housing Adapter Conversion LC 6 Cylinder to DODGE HD NV4500 5 Speed Manual Transmission 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 - BTB Products - Land Cruiser Restoration and Parts

THIS ADAPTER ASSEMBLY IS USED TO ADAPT THE DODGE HD NV4500 TRANSMISSION TO THE TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 6-CYLINDER ENGINE. THE ADAPTER KIT USES THE FACTORY 4-SPEED OEM BELL-HOUSING.

btbprod.com

 

[87BJ74]

Thanks to @cruisermatt for making his research available, following what he had laid out I managed to bolt a nv4500 to my 12h-t to retain my Orion transfer case for my 40.

 

[cruisermatt]

Thanks to @cruisermatt for making his research available, following what he had laid out I managed to bolt a nv4500 to my 12h-t to retain my Orion transfer case for my 40.
View attachment 2959886

Awesome, I've always thought the NV4500 would be awesome behind 12ht, 1HZ, 1HDT etc. Did you use BTB's plate to the 12HT/H55f bellhousing?
That will be awesome with the 5:61 1st and 4:1 low.

 

[87BJ74]

Awesome, I've always thought the NV4500 would be awesome behind 12ht, 1HZ, 1HDT etc. Did you use BTB's plate to the 12HT/H55f bellhousing?
That will be awesome with the 5:61 1st and 4:1 low.

No, i made my own adapter and cut it out on a friends cnc mill. The 12h-t/2h bellhousing clocks the h55 at a 15 degree angle for the rhd drive trucks. because the nv4500 i used it a 1995 chevy model made me have to come up with something a bit different. The 1995 model uses the older chevy bolt flange pattern but allows the newer dodge parts to fit in it. Between those two things i came up with a adapter that clocks the transmission back to level and goes from the 4 speed flange pattern to the chevy pattern. I still used the 5.9 v8 dodge input and the very same pilot bearing you listed. I did have to machine off a 1/16th inch of the outer diameter of the bearing in order to press it fully into the crank because there is a slight edge on the inside of the crank about .4375 inches in.

 

[cruisermatt]

No, i made my own adapter and cut it out on a friends cnc mill. The 12h-t/2h bellhousing clocks the h55 at a 15 degree angle for the rhd drive trucks. because the nv4500 i used it a 1995 chevy model made me have to come up with something a bit different. The 1995 model uses the older chevy bolt flange pattern but allows the newer dodge parts to fit in it. Between those two things i came up with a adapter that clocks the transmission back to level and goes from the 4 speed flange pattern to the chevy pattern. I still used the 5.9 v8 dodge input and the very same pilot bearing you listed. I did have to machine off a 1/16th inch of the outer diameter of the bearing in order to press it fully into the crank because there is a slight edge on the inside of the crank about .4375 inches in.

Awesome.

 

[eyesack]

Do you have a write up on your v8 swap?

 

[ThatOldSixtie]

Any chance you have some updated links for the Advance Adapters parts @cruisermatt ?

Great write up!

-Ian

 

[wyatt80]

Ahead lies over a year of my research, parts sourcing, and a lot of headache.

This is how to put an NV4500 behind your 2F or 3F/3FE engines. This can also work behind a 2H/12HT with a custom adapter plate. I won't go into depth on different transfer case options right now, this is just how to bolt it to the motor.

This is an alternative to the H55f. It does not offer a factory fit bolt-in like and H55f. You will have to cut a new hole for the shifter 4" farther back from the stock shifter hole.

Here's what it does offer:
-Ability to be purchased used or reman all over the country, with widespread rebuild parts availability and knowledge both OEM and aftermarket
-Taller 5th gear (0.72:1 vs the H55f's 0.85:1)
-Lower first gear (5.61:1 vs the H55f 4.95:1) [The 6.34:1 version WILL NOT WORK for this swap]
-Syncronized reverse
-Ability to bolt up virtually any domestic transfer case or doubler behind it (I put a 203 behind mine with an adapter to an 87 split-case)

Here's what you need:

-Dodge NV4500 transmission from behind a GAS V8, 5.2/5.9L. This is often referred to as a "light-duty" variant. It has the correct input shaft dimensions so that there can be an adapter plate.
Any other transmission will need the input shaft swapped for this one. It can't be swapped into the early GM units with the lowest first gear. And those (92-94) have a different bolt pattern
which won't work with the Advance Adapters plate.

-FJ40 3-speed bellhousing. Explained in the next paragraph

-Advance Adapters Kit #712550. An early FJ40 3-speed bellhousing has the same bolt pattern as a SBC manual transmission. So this plate allows you to bolt the NV4500 to a 3-speed bellhousing (which will bolt to your motor)
712550 : Dodge NV4500 5 speed transmission to a GM V8 adapter plate kit. | Advance Adapters

-Advanced Adpaters Ford 302 NV4500 conversion pilot bearing. #716122. They also sell a bushing that will work if you so desire.
716122 : Pilot Bearing .750 ID X 1.377 OD | Advance Adapters

-Chevy 10.5" clutch disc of your choosing

And that's it!! Flywheel, pressure plate, throwout bearing, clutch fork, slave, all will stay stock Land Cruiser.

I'm happy to answer any questions if anyone is thinking about taking this conversion on.

View attachment 1339934 View attachment 1339933View attachment 1339932

All factory Land Cruiser parts you are referring to that stay stock are they from the 40 as well?

 

[cruisermatt]

All factory Land Cruiser parts you are referring to that stay stock are they from the 40 as well?

You would need to use 75-84 4-speed stuff.

New OEM Clutch Fork Parts Kit

Fits: Includes new clutch fork, clutch fork boot, throw-out hub, throw-out hub clips, and clutch return spring. All parts are new genuine Toyota. See also: Clutch Slave Hardware Kit

cruisermatts.com

 

[wyatt80]

You would need to use 75-84 4-speed stuff.

New OEM Clutch Fork Parts Kit

Fits: Includes new clutch fork, clutch fork boot, throw-out hub, throw-out hub clips, and clutch return spring. All parts are new genuine Toyota. See also: Clutch Slave Hardware Kit

cruisermatts.com

Thank you for the response!!!