changing transmission

[Isbadd]

The manual granny low tranny went out on my 81, Ram250 and I want to replace it with a manual overdrive.

I'm sure someone has done this before, can you direct me to a sting discussing this procedure?

Thanks in advance

[cribbs74]

Doing it right now...........What ya need to know?

[Isbadd]

awesome!! Starters which transmission fits? Do I have to modifiy the perch much?

Do you know where I can get a reliable remanufactured transmission shipped to me for less than $1,000?

[cribbs74]

The clutch/bellhousing will need to be an 10.5 inch with a 5.125 inch bearing retainer opening on the bellhousing,assuming you find an a833 OD from a Dodge truck application. If not you will need to get a bellhousing with the same diameter as the bearing retainer that is installed on the trans ie: 4.35,4.80. Clutch Linkage will work from your NP435 granny to include fork. Flywheel will need to be changed to a 10.5 inch as well you should have an 11" now. I assume you have a 2 piece driveshaft? if so grab the yoke that fits the a833 or get one from a 727 auto as it's the same. You could get the whole one piece driveshaft if you want, just watch the angle. You will need a special u joint made up as the cup sizes are different on a 2 piece as opposed to a one piece. The hole for the shifter in the trans tunnel will move inward and more towards the driver. Hope this helps

Ron

[cribbs74]

Posted after your question sorry had to eat. So anyway the option I gave you is a stock bolt on a833 4spd OD application with the only mod being the trans tunnel. Speed Dragon can tell you how he did his NP2500 five speed swap.................. Brewers Performance (check online) is who I used for parts and the prices are reasonable for complete a833 OD tranny's. All of my parts came from the wrecking yards to keep the costs down with the exception of the bearing retainer which I purchased from the above company. And the trans which I got from speed.

Ron

[Isbadd]

nice work, thanks. That may be more than I want to tackle right now...

[cribbs74]

Not as hard as it sounds. If you can change a clutch then you could do the swap pretty easily. Basically the same job except you bolt back on different pieces than you took off. I can walk you through it if you change your mind. I will have the NP435 coming out of minecoming out of mine soon if you just want another transmission. Let me me know

[Speed Dragon]

Yeah I used a NP-535 5-spd out of an '89 4-cyl Dakota (used the same trans for V6 and 4-cyl, and I believe the V8), a dual pattern bellhousing from an '88 W150 w/ a 318 and a NP-435 (I believe from a certain year, all the NP-435 bells also had the 535 pattern in them, as both my 4x4 bell and a '86 or '87 D350 I saw in a j-yard had the dual pattern in them).

I had to use the nose from the Dakota driveshaft and the rear yoke from a regular full-size, and had had a custom tube made for $75 at a local driveline shop.

Also used the hydraulic clutch assy out of the '88 W150. Had to cut the firewall for the clutch master to go through, and cut the trans tunnel to fit the trans itself (keep in mind my truck was originally a 3-on-the-tree, and so had the automatic floor. 4-speed trucks may have more room).

Drilled the trans mount pad on the trans to match the stock trans mount.

[cribbs74]

Sorry Speed has the NP535 not NP2500. :o

I had an auto trans in mine so I had to cut the tunnel as well. I am headed to the wreckers today to cut out a tunnel from a manual (floorshift) truck and weld it in. You should be fine as you already have a 4spd truck and just have to move the hole.

[80Dodge]

if you live close enough to me and dont want to swap to the od ive got a granny 4 speed fixing to pull out and sell

[Isbadd]

I live in Kansas City, MO how about you?

[80Dodge]

knoxville tn shipping on that would prolly kill u

[Speed Dragon]

knoxville tn shipping on that would prolly kill uIt'd be about 100-110 bucks shipping, I think it cost 108 bucks to ship my 833 OD trans w/ the shifter to cribbs74 in Texas.

[Isbadd]

Alright, thank you everyone for your input, let me summarize what I need to go OD.

I need a833OD transmission
matching flywheel, bellhousing, and yolk.

Then move the hole a little to fit.

My current clutch pack will work.

Is all of this correct? Is there anything else I need to know?

Thanks again

[Speed Dragon]

You need a 10.5" clutch and flywheel, otherwise it won't fit in the bellhousing. At least as far as I know, I don't think the OD trans ever used a 11" clutch. Could be wrong though, you could try the bell and see if it fits before buying a flywheel and clutch.

[cribbs74]

+1 on a 10.5 bell and clutch see my last post