Transmission change

Since this topic has moved from a discussion on changing a transmission to a debate on trucks, I am going to close it as it is now off topic. If you wish to continue this discussion, please start a new topic in the Tow Vehicle forum and not here.
Barney

Really?
I have owned several AMC Eagle vehicles. The first one I bought new in 1981. It was a GREAT car for snow country!
Since then I have owned a couple more wagons, a 4 door sedan, a 2 door Sport Coupe, and a couple of SX/4 Sport models.
Several of those had well over 100K miles on them, and one had over 200K.
IMO, they were good cars. In fact, they were GREAT cars!
Actually, I think I will keep my '77 Dodge W100 Power Wagon. I can take the thousands of dollars that a newer truck would cost and fix the minor problems that the '77 has, and have (IMO) a better truck!
Yeah, it rides like a truck. Perhaps that is because it IS a truck, not a pickup cab and box on a station wagon frame!

mowermech wrote:

An AMC Eagle would be great,

Now I KNOW you are yanking our chains.

Take care, and enjoy your old junkers. I don't miss them at all.

"Seriously, the time and effort involved in maintaining old stuff as daily drivers simply isn't worth it."

Sorry, I can't agree. If I could find (and afford) a pre-air-bag 2 door hardtop Dodge, Buick, or Oldsmobile I would make it my daily driver without any qualms! Of course, a convertible would be nice, too!
In fact, I would be quite happy with one of the later model Corvair Spyders!
An AMC Eagle would be great, except for the computer control (which CAN be removed!)
However, I certainly would replace the breaker point ignition (if used) with an electronic system, and replace the radio with a new stereo/CD player, and, if I could find the parts, replace the carburetor with throttle body fuel injection.
SOME new-fangled gadgets are rather nice. Others, not so much.

I love it when people tell me that they "don't make 'em like they used to". They got that right. They make them far better now. Safer, more fuel efficient, better riding, more powerful, longer lasting, etc.

It wasn't too many years ago that a car approaching 100k miles was pretty much ready for the bone yard. Now we easily get 200k+ on them without having to spend too much money other than tires and normal maintenance.

mowermech wrote:

It is easy to find cars of the '30s, '40s, '50s, and '60s that are drivable.

Maybe, but you will still be spending time and money on them. A lot time. What's your time worth? I'd rather be spending my time on things other than working on my vehicles.

Seriously, the time and effort involved in maintaining old stuff as daily drivers simply isn't worth it.

Gdetrailer wrote:

mowermech wrote:
"electronically locked out..." I have an intense dislike for modern electronics, especially those that control gearcases!

:R

In that case, you might want to remove all the electronic parts from your PC and perhaps try computing with a bunch of mechanical gears and see how that works..

Seriously that is a real silly outlook on life.

I have several very antique autos, not one stitch of modern day electronics and I can tell you this.. They are FAR from being "reliable", I would not want to have to rely on them as my one and only means of transportation.

I have logged several MILLION miles on many modern day vehicles and I can tell you that they have been much more trouble free than my 40+ old vehicles...

Oh, gee, you have antique autos! WOW, you must be so much more knowledgeable about them than this 70+ year old retired mechanic!
I GREW UP driving what are now "antique autos"! My first car was a 1936 Ford half ton. My car as a senior in high school was a 1941 chevy coupe. My car in the Navy after high school was a 1952 Kaiser Manhattan. THAT was quite possibly the best riding, most reliable car I have ever owned, except possibly for the '06 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited.
NONE of those old cars ever cost me nearly $800 to fix an inoperative turn signal. My '06 PT Cruiser recently did. The problem was in one of the "master computers", which (of course) is not repairable, but had to be replaced! I just recently found a gas cap for the same car that won't trip a "gascap" light and a CEL! At least, it hasn't yet.
I guess I should have been more explicit: I don't like AUTOMOTIVE electronics, except for stereo systems. That dislike started many years ago, when I had to spend $15 for a little tin box because a resistor on a PC board was blown, but there was no way to replace the $.50 resistor because it was potted in clear hard epoxy!
It is easy to find cars of the '30s, '40s, '50s, and '60s that are drivable. In 50 to 80 years, how many of the cars on the road today will still be drivable? They will all be junk when the electronics fail and there are no replacements! Of course, SOME electronic parts can be replaced by mechanical linkages. Many can't!

Ask your question on the Dodge forum. They will be able to answer it a lot quicker and more accurately than on an RV FORUM.
In my younger days i used to do engine and transmission swaps. I would just start asking questions at the local speed shop and we could always find an adapter that would work.

mowermech wrote:
"electronically locked out..." I have an intense dislike for modern electronics, especially those that control gearcases!

:R

In that case, you might want to remove all the electronic parts from your PC and perhaps try computing with a bunch of mechanical gears and see how that works..

Seriously that is a real silly outlook on life.

I have several very antique autos, not one stitch of modern day electronics and I can tell you this.. They are FAR from being "reliable", I would not want to have to rely on them as my one and only means of transportation.

I have logged several MILLION miles on many modern day vehicles and I can tell you that they have been much more trouble free than my 40+ old vehicles...

So, I can remove, rebuild, and reinstall the clunky old 4 speed transmission, along with the gear vendors kit, to get an 8 speed transmission that I neither need nor want, or I can replace the clunky old worn 4 speed with a 5 speed to get the overdrive I want...
Price-wise, it seems to be a toss up...
Or, for about the same amount of money, I can upgrade to a '99 to '01 Dodge 1500 extended cab SWB, 360/automatic, and have a more "civilized" ride...
Or, I can forget the whole thing and keep the ratty old '77 Dodge Power Wagon, complete with noisy clunky 4 speed...
If installing the 5 speed were a little simpler, I would go for it.
The Gear Vendors is out of the question. While it will give me the overdrive I want, it will also give me things I do not want. "electronically locked out..." I have an intense dislike for modern electronics, especially those that control gearcases!
At the moment, it looks like keeping the ratty old truck is the best bet. I'll just keep tinkering with the electrical system, get the gauges working, change the speedometer, and drive it!
Shucks, I might even recharge the air conditioning next spring!
thanks for the thoughts. It gives me something to think about on the cold winter nights to come...

HoJoPo wrote:
Gear vendors overdrives are pricey, over $3000 without installation, and only work in 2WD. Also, I'm not sure that the GV overdrive is compatible with the NP 205 transfer case in your truck. And you'd need new driveshaft.

The problem is going to be matching the spline count and mounting flange on the transfer case. Advance adapters probably has the one you'll need in stock. You'll need to look for a manual transmisison 3/4 ton or 1 ton Dodge V8 powered 4x4 truck from 1994 to 2002, which should have the V8 version of the NV4500 5 speed.

You cannot use the transfer case out of the donor truck, it will be driver's side drop, your truck is passenger side drop (front drive shaft). You could mate a late 80's / 1990-93 NV241 transfer case to the NV4500 (like the transfer case in my 1990 Ramcharger).

Personally, I'd go with the NV4500 and adapter, keeping the 205 transfer case... as a cast iron gear drive case, it's fairly bulletproof. You'd probably still be able to keep your current driveshafts, depending on the difference in length with adapter between the NV4500 and the four speed that's currently in your truck.

From Gear Vendors site..

"GEAR VENDORS makes specific adaptation kits for each model of transfer case. This is far more costly than other manufacturers who will have you move your transfer case because GM/Dodge/Ford all use the same patterns between the transfer case and transmission (thus one kit fits all). Simple for them but a host of engineering problems for you and the truck. By making specific extension housings to each model/brand transfer case GEAR VENDORS is able to have a better product with great engineering benefit to the final installation. Fact is, when you are in 4X4 there is very little desire to use GearSplitting and overdrive unless you are racing (and we do make the in-between kit for that purpose), it's 2wd where the benefits of overdrive and additional gears are most needed. All our kits bolt directly to the rear of the transfer case and are electronically locked out during 4X4 operation.

No additional crossmembers and you retain the factory ground clearance instead of moving the transfer case rearward which puts it at or nearer the middle of the wheelbase where ground clearance is most critical. No lengthening of the front driveshaft which can create too long a shaft for today's highway speeds and engineering concerns of joint cancellation and driveshaft critical speeds. You get all the benefits of the GearSplitting performance and overdrive economy listed in the 2wd section (see your appropriate transmission under GM/Dodge/Ford 2wd) and the best auxiliary transmission you can buy. Call us at the factory for any questions on the product or installation or to arrange for installation at your local authorized dealer or preferred mechanic."

Gear Vendors can be pricy but if you add up the costs of a "donor" transmission which if used would most likely need rebuilt, That would put you somewhere around $2K-$K right off the top. Then add in additional parts like adapters and such.

Gear Vendors does more than overdrive, it basically allows you to SPLIT GEARS. A 3 speed becomes a 6 speed, a 4 speed becomes an 8 speed.

My Dad has one, has in excess of 200K miles on it, works flawless.