using a chevy 5 speed trans w a buick motor

Discussion in 'U-shift em' started by BeatersRus, Oct 13, 2018.

  1. BeatersRus

    BeatersRus Guest

    ive been building a couple of rat rods on the side,
    and wondered if the chevy truck trans,the 5 speed 4500 model?
    could be used behind a mild 350 buick motor,10-1 comp,1970 version??
    ( buick 350 motor and 373 12 bolt rear gears in the fleetmaster build )

    has anyone tried this,is it worth doing even?
    are the gear ratios not right for the application?

    also,has anyone else here been building rat rods?
    im always looking for new ideas or innovations.
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  2. Dwayne B

    Dwayne B Well-Known Member

    I builded A 54 Bel air,the body is A little ruff and I call it my rat rod.
    My dad is using A NV 3500 90,s chevy full size five speed in his v8 s10.The truck has A strong 327 ,posi,4:10 gears,and it takes alote of abuse.
    The 4500 series transmission would probably have A low first gear,but would probably work in A rat rod.
    If you did use it ,you would need A BOP to chevy bellhousing adapter to bolt it to A buick 350.
     
    BeatersRus and Donuts & Peelouts like this.
  3. BeatersRus

    BeatersRus Guest

    anyone got any ideas?
    hydraulic clutch slave and bell?
    flywheel?
    release setup?
     
  4. jmos4

    jmos4 Well-Known Member

    Hi,

    I have a 47 GMC on the list of project vehicles, actually my wife's, got a 425 nailhead and a 95 Dodge light duty NV4500.

    There is a company that makes a adapter plate to go between a standard chevy truck bell and the NV4500, though the truc bell has a larger opening or pilot for the trans. I googled it a few years ago.

    FYI: the Chevy version has a shorter input shaft, so depending on gear ratio, there were 2, you could use a Dodge input, about 1 inch longer and then make your own adapter to go between a std BOP bell and the trans, that is my plan with the nailhead bell, then use a hydraulic throw out unless I get ambitious ant try to make manual linkage work.

    Also there is a lighter duty NV4500 from gas trucks and heavy duty version from diesel and v10 trucks, think the light duty is rated at 450 ft/lbs.

    Good luck with the project, let us all know how it goes.

    Regards,
     
    BeatersRus likes this.
  5. 1972Mach1

    1972Mach1 Just some M.M.O.G. guy.....

    I put a Borg-Warner T5 behind my ex's 350 using the bellhousing off the T-10 four speed that was in it because I didn't want to have to mess around with a slave and pedal mounting to her firewall. I just had to drill out the threaded holes on the bellhousing because they were about 1/8" too far apart, then I mounted the trans to the housing using through bolts, washers, and nyloks. I used the stock 4 speed bellhousing and throwout arm, but I had to figure out how "thick" of a throwout bearing I needed, and just took the old one off the T5 down to the parts store, had them dig me out a bunch of them, and found a random one that fit the bill. Worked great.....
     
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2018

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