I've had a project on the back burner for a few years like we all do. The other day was the first time I've driven it in a few years and it rekindled the spark. My place was always to upgrade the engine/trans. It's a 1970 c50. Ideally, I'll toss a spare 6.0 LS into it for drivability and reliability. My only stumbling block has been transmission. Currently it's an sm465 and I'll definitely be keeping it manual transmission. I'm just not sure what kind of manual to use as the truck has a parking brake drum mounted to it.
I was hoping for a 6 speed but that may not be an option. Some early 00s 8.1 and duramaxs came with the burly zf6 similar to fords superduty units (but not close enough to use). I guess the 'easy' button is an nv4500 from an early HD chevy that already has that drum on it, but tracking those down is not an easy thing. I'm not sure the later nv4500's had parking brakes on them? I could get a brand new TR4050 5 speed for similar prices as the zf6 but that probably means moving the brake. Which is another option. The parking brake could be mounted to one of the center support bearings or even the diff itself? I wasn't too keen on making the ebrake cables that long but it might work just as well being there is less driveshaft "slop" to take up.
What's the hive think?
I doubt this is useful, but we had a 550 with a pinion brake and zf6 (maybe zf5). Assume adapting Ford pattern trans to LS probably not worth the hassle just for a pinion brake.
Carry wheel chocks, haha?
Two-speed rear axle swap? Dad had a '74 c65 with an SM465 and a two-speed rear axle and that wasn't bad to drive. Not remotely fast running through the gears on that thing though.
Curious what your goals with the build are and what the body/configuration will be.
Spearfishin said:
I doubt this is useful, but we had a 550 with a pinion brake and zf6 (maybe zf5). Assume adapting Ford pattern trans to LS probably not worth the hassle just for a pinion brake.
Carry wheel chocks, haha?
For a half second I looked into weather I could bolt the ford parking brake to a chev 4x4 zf6 as it looked like it had a similar bolt pattern. Gaskets lined up anywway. Just can't find enough info on the splines/shaft size to know for sure and that's an expensive gamble. Wheel chocks are always an option, haha. The zf5 and zf6 are basically the same thing. The zf6 doesn't have an extra overdrive but an extra gear shoved in the middle.
pres589 (djronnebaum) said:
Two-speed rear axle swap? Dad had a '74 c65 with an SM465 and a two-speed rear axle and that wasn't bad to drive. Not remotely fast running through the gears on that thing though.
Curious what your goals with the build are and what the body/configuration will be.
As far as I know the 2 speed rear is stock. But it does have incredibly tall gears. Something like a 9.50/7.50 split I think? It's been awhile. My goal is to make a hook truck. Well. A flatbed with a hooklift system. Most of my cars are very low, with long overhangs.
Over the weekend I ordered a front beam axle from a '19 4500 chev to get disc brakes. In doing so I found out that the chevy's parking brake is diff mounted stock. So I think I'll just swap in a 4500 rear diff to get rear discs and a parking brake back.
In reply to pres589 (djronnebaum) :
Doubtful. I think I'll be going with the tr4050. The price difference on a new/rebuilt 4500 is 3/4 of the way to a tr4050 and I'd at least get a better shifting trans. And used 4500 around me are priced in comparison to their weight in gold.
