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Letters published in this magazine reflect the opinions of the writers, and we reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, brevity, or other purposes. Always check state regulations before modifying a vehicle with pollution controls or one that will be driven on the street. We will answer as many letters as possible each month, but due to the large volume of mail we receive, we regret that we cannot reply to unpublished letters or return photos. Digital photos must measure no less than 1600 x 1200 pixels (or two megapixels) and be saved as a TIFF, an EPS, or a maximum-quality JPEG file.
Write to:
Nuts & Bolts,
4-Wheel & Off-Road,
6420 Wilshire Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90048-5515,
fax 323.782.2704
E-mail to:
fred.williams@primedia.com
There's a new answer man in town
Hey, folks, Dave Kennedy recently left your beloved 4-Wheel & Off-Road, and other than leaving a big hole in our hearts (no, he didn't shoot us), he also left this Nut & Bolts section empty and a pile of letters going unanswered. As luck would have it, bossman Rick Pewe offered me the job, and I quickly asked how much of a raise I would get.
He just laughed, and said "go answer those questions, and have it on my desk pronto."
So here it goes. Don't expect the same answers Kennedy used to drop with ratios quoted to the tenth point. Nope, I'll never claim to have the photographic memory that he does, but on the other hand, I've done my fair share of wheelin', wrenchin', welding, and cattle rustling. Plus if I don't know the answer, I'll find someone who does, and pass it on to you. So Dave is gone, but we're still here to answer your questions-be they about engines, axles, plumbing, or any other topic you feel is somehow related to your 4x4.
Plus I'll be rewarding my tech letter of the month with some cool prize (could be an engine or set of tires-but more likely a sticker or hat). I'm not looking for the hardest question, but rather the most innovative and entertaining that will help the most confused readers. Example: Want to know the radius of the pilot bushing in a Cummins diesel? Yawn. Want to know how to swap a Cummins into your Chevy Luv, and do it on your pizza delivery budget? Cool.
Oh, and one more thing, send your questions by e-mail to fred.williams@primedia.com, use "Nuts I'm confused" as the subject and include a picture if it's applicable). Also, I'll be checking the forums on our Web site, www.4wheeloffroad.com, and if I see a question that I think more of you might want to have answered, I'll print that as well. Otherwise, drop it old-school style with the postal service addressed to: Nuts & Bolts, 4-Wheel & Off-Road, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048.
Five Dodge Speeds in a Chevy
Reader: I am looking into swapping a Dodge NV4500 into an '83 Chevy 1-ton. The Chev currently has a 454 with a four-speed manual and a 203 (or 205) transfer case. The big question is if a 4500 will stand up to the 454. I have been told that the swap is common, but that I can't use a heavy-duty 4500. Any feedback on this would be appreciated.
Harris
via the 4WOR forum
Editor: This is a great swap; you will be gaining an Overdrive versus the four-speed you currently have (most likely an SM465, maybe an NP435), thus making your 454 that much more efficient, which will help in fuel economy. As for whether or not the 4500 will hold up to the 454, that should not be a concern since 4500s are found behind Cummins diesels. Just be sure to stay out of Overdrive when towing, especially on uphill climbs with heavy loads. We discussed this swap with the folks at Advance Adapters Inc. (800.350.2223) and determined that the biggest issue is that you have a Dodge NV4500, and the swap would be much easier and cheaper with a '96-and-up Chevy version NV4500. Although the Chevy transmission would require an adapter to bolt up to either your bellhousing or the factory GM NV4500 bellhousing, the Dodge version would also need the bellhousing adapter as well as the input shaft changed and a retainer (diesel only) or a complete adapter bellhousing, and a clutch linkage bracket with a slave cylinder.
On the transfer case side of the Dodge transmission, an adapter kit and a mainshaft swap will be needed to couple it to the GM NP203 or 205, and this will require complete disassembly of the transmission (an easier option is to find a Dodge transfer case). The GM NV4500 does not require a new mainshaft, though an adapter kit will be needed to couple the 32-spline GM mainshaft output to your 10-spline GM NP203 or 205, unless you find the latter (and rare) Circular 6 TH400 32-spline GM NP205.