Nv4500? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Yota Tony · 10-14-2006, 06:44 PM

Toying with the idea of putting an NV4500 in my ZJ.
I've got an AX-15 for it but if I keep thinking why not swap the trans once.

So basically I want some info on what NV4500 to get for my appilcation? Suggestions on adapter kits (needs to bolt to a 231 case)? And whatever else you can come up with. I know I'll have to custom make mounts for it.
My cousin used the AA kit with his swap and hated it. Had to custom make stuff he said.

Bubba_Jeep · 10-15-2006, 09:09 AM

There's been a lot of discussion here on Pirate relating to the NV4500 into an XJ--same as a ZJ, I'd think. So you should spend time searching, using Google.
That said, Advanced Adapters (AA) is a great place to start your search for relevant info. I put an NV4500 into my XJ, against a Chevy V8, bolted to an AA transfer case, which was a direct replacement for NP231 case. I used the Dodge tranny, which has the same transfer case bolt pattern as the NP231. The swap isn't easy, and requires a lot of fabbing/welding to do right.

resqme · 10-15-2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

The swap isn't easy, and requires a lot of fabbing/welding to do right.

This is defintely the truth.

I used a chevy NV4500 with an AA 712577 bellhousing mated to my SBC so that I could get the right input length and the lower first gear. Then I used a Dodge output shaft and an AA 51-0205 tailshaft housing to mate to the STaK t-case (designed for a Dana 300, but will work for the Atlas II and the STaK also). If you are using the 231, a stock Dodge tailshaft housing should work.

The only real fabrication I had to do for the trani in my CJ7 was a new crossmember to hold it up (no floor trimming required). Not sure if this the case with the ZJ or XJ. You will also have to change your driveshaft as the AX5 is 16" long and the NV4500 is 19.5" long. This may also create driveshaft angle issues depending on how much lift you run.

I did do quite a bit of floor trimming to fit the STaK.

Bubba_Jeep · 10-15-2006, 03:09 PM

On my XJ, I had to cut a significant hole in the tunnel, starting under the dash, where the heater outlet is located, all the way to the back edge of the original shifter hole .
The uni body depends on the tunnel for body rigidity, so it's necessary, IMO, to reconstruct the tunnel to retain the original strength. This is where the fabbing/welding came in. With the 2004 Dodge tranny, the shifter comes up just aft of the front of the console--so while mods were necessary, along with shortening and bending the shifter, it came out OK. I used AA's Chevy bell housing along with a Chevy input shaft. I was lucky, in that I didn't have to adjust drive shaft lengths.

Yota Tony · 10-16-2006, 09:07 AM

I know there will be a lot of cutting of the trans tunnel.
So if I use a 231, I shouldn't need an adapter for it to bolt to the Dodge NV4500?

Yota Tony · 10-23-2006, 02:32 PM

Alright so after driving my cousin's 98 TJ with this trans I am 100% sure that this is the trans for me.
So I have to ask, what year of truck (Dodge I assume) should my NV4500 come from? I've got an external slave cylinder and a 231 t-case, fyi.

I'm going to call Advance Adapters tomorrow and talk to them about the swap.

10-14-2006, 06:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Yota Tony Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Member # 39045 Location: The Rock Posts: 1,092	Nv4500? Toying with the idea of putting an NV4500 in my ZJ. I've got an AX-15 for it but if I keep thinking why not swap the trans once. So basically I want some info on what NV4500 to get for my appilcation? Suggestions on adapter kits (needs to bolt to a 231 case)? And whatever else you can come up with. I know I'll have to custom make mounts for it. My cousin used the AA kit with his swap and hated it. Had to custom make stuff he said. __________________ Anthony

10-16-2006, 09:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
Yota Tony Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Member # 39045 Location: The Rock Posts: 1,092	I know there will be a lot of cutting of the trans tunnel. So if I use a 231, I shouldn't need an adapter for it to bolt to the Dodge NV4500? __________________ Anthony Last edited by Yota Tony; 10-23-2006 at 02:32 PM.

10-23-2006, 02:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
Yota Tony Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Member # 39045 Location: The Rock Posts: 1,092	Alright so after driving my cousin's 98 TJ with this trans I am 100% sure that this is the trans for me. So I have to ask, what year of truck (Dodge I assume) should my NV4500 come from? I've got an external slave cylinder and a 231 t-case, fyi. I'm going to call Advance Adapters tomorrow and talk to them about the swap. __________________ Anthony

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10-15-2006, 09:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bubba_Jeep Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Member # 37184 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 1,323	There's been a lot of discussion here on Pirate relating to the NV4500 into an XJ--same as a ZJ, I'd think. So you should spend time searching, using Google. That said, Advanced Adapters (AA) is a great place to start your search for relevant info. I put an NV4500 into my XJ, against a Chevy V8, bolted to an AA transfer case, which was a direct replacement for NP231 case. I used the Dodge tranny, which has the same transfer case bolt pattern as the NP231. The swap isn't easy, and requires a lot of fabbing/welding to do right.

10-15-2006, 03:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bubba_Jeep Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Member # 37184 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 1,323	On my XJ, I had to cut a significant hole in the tunnel, starting under the dash, where the heater outlet is located, all the way to the back edge of the original shifter hole . The uni body depends on the tunnel for body rigidity, so it's necessary, IMO, to reconstruct the tunnel to retain the original strength. This is where the fabbing/welding came in. With the 2004 Dodge tranny, the shifter comes up just aft of the front of the console--so while mods were necessary, along with shortening and bending the shifter, it came out OK. I used AA's Chevy bell housing along with a Chevy input shaft. I was lucky, in that I didn't have to adjust drive shaft lengths.