Posted by Charlie on October 31, 1998 at 00:12:28:
In Reply to: Re: NV4500 conv. posted by George on October 30, 1998 at 04:50:08:
Once again: the NV4500 won't fit on a M37 bellhousing. the bolt holes are 10.078" apart horizontally, and 4.685" vertically. 10" is TOO WIDE!!! The case is only 12.375" long, but (once again) the 5th gear and mating countershaft gear is outside (rearward) of the rear end of the iron case. An aluminum tailhousing is mandatory on all NV4500s, therefore. Advance Adapters tells me that the shortest overall length for a 2WD (needed for a divorced transfer case application) version is 18". Anything longer than 15" (even if you could make the bellhousing work, by for example drilling holes INTERNALLY in the case and of course sealing them well - don't laugh, it's been done before) requires moving the transfer case back. Or as mentioned above, you could use a married NP205. the only sensible use of the NV4500 in a old Dodge is in a repower. You gain about 2-4" to work with in a typical 4 cyl diesel repower. A new/rebuilt NV4500 isn't cheap ($1800). Wayne at Performance Gear in Lumberton, Mississippi can build you a bolt-in Clark 280VO for $2000. That includes all machine work, including bellhousing modifications. A word of advice: don't let him machine the input shaft down to the stock Dodge 1.00"/10 spline. Tell him to leave it at 1.375"/10 spline and you local clutch expert can make you a disk with a matching hub. Also, if you are powering up with a diesel or gas V*, consider a solid disk (no springs) - 10-10.5" is pretty small for 268 ft-lb - and be SURE to get a heaviest duty pressure plate for secure clamping. As far as input shaft length, 0.50" of pilot tip support is enough.
Charlie