SM465/TH350 and Transfer Case Adapter

[hawkeyealum]

Ok so I have run through several searches and am either not seeing what I want or not searching for the right thing so I need some help.

My 40 has 350 TBI and an SM465 mated to the toyota transfer case.

My tranny has some bad seals and the synchronization is also out of whack. My plan is to probably pull it and take it into a tranny shop to have rebuilt. I figure this is about a $600 job for them.

Since I have to pull the tranny got to thinking about replacing it with either an older TH350 or a manual chevy 5 speed.

Here is what I think I know....

If I swap to the automatic, I will have to redo the driveshafts - Is this correct?

If I swap to either the TH350 or the 5 speed, will the existing adapter I have work? I believe it is an advance adapter but not sure how to tell and it was on the truck when I got it.

Can someone help me out?

 

[69LC]

Have you looked at Advance Adapters website catalogue?

 

[cruiserjunkie]

If you change tranny you will need new adapter for it

 

[Sando Serious]

I was looking to do the same thing. I think the TH350 is almost 20" longer than my SM465 so changing the driveshafts is probably a given. The adapters are not the same either. I'd check around on here a bit more. You'll find them for sale for a decent price from some members or AA makes a brand new one you could purchase.

 

[texcwa]

You will deff need to change adapter and mod both drive shafts. AA has them all. Also depending on how engine was set you may need to move it over an inch or so towards the drivers side and move forward for proper placement and clearances of an auto trans. Also look at 700R4 if thinking auto it will give you a great overdrive and I believe a lower 1st gear, great for highway driving.

 

[TallTom]

The SM465 is a great trans, the only benefit you will get out of a 5sp is the overdrive, as for the 350 auto there great too but your still stuck with out a OD. That being said maybe stick with the 465 add a Saturn OD (only need to mod one drive shaft)

 

[hawkeyealum]

I read someplace (maybe the Advance Adapters catalog) that I may be able to get away with just switching the front and rear drive shafts. Does anyone know if that is possible?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

You are thinking about this wrong.

Decide what drive train you want, then get your driveshafts sized to fit. This is a trivial expense (about $100 each) in the scheme of things.

Personally, I think the SM465 is a great transmission and I would just stay with it since you have it already, and you have all the adapters. If it needs to be rebuilt, then get it rebuilt. As you say, it's not a huge expense either, if you do all the work of removing the tranny from the truck.

 

[cruiserjunkie]

Th350 and sm465 do not have the same mounting holes for a transfer cases so it will not interchange. call aa and ask them or search on here for what you need. Hope you can sell the tranny and adapter to put to ward's cost of new adapter

 

[hawkeyealum]

You are thinking about this wrong.

Decide what drive train you want, then get your driveshafts sized to fit. This is a trivial expense (about $100 each) in the scheme of things.

Personally, I think the SM465 is a great transmission and I would just stay with it since you have it already, and you have all the adapters. If it needs to be rebuilt, then get it rebuilt. As you say, it's not a huge expense either, if you do all the work of removing the tranny from the truck.

Yeah thats kind of what I am thinking now. I pulled prices for everything and its more than double to have TH350 installed.

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Its appreciated.