Anyone done an NP435 swap without a body lift?

[Guest]

I'm in the process of doing a 351W/NP435 swap. I know that doing the swap with a body lift is easier, but I want to know if anyone has done it without one. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[71HLFCAB]

I have done the NP435 swap with a 289 without a body lift. It worked great. It would probably help, but doesn't have to be done. Its a pretty easy swap, the biggest trouble is when you bend the shifter (not hard but will have to bend a couple of times). The best mod I have made so far. Good luck.

 

[mp]

I helped a guy do a NP435 swap with no body lift about a month ago. It can be done, but a body lift would help. We had to cut quite a bit of the tunnel in order to make enough room to "stab" the NP435 into the motor.

 

[jamesmorrison]

Yea, no problem. You wouldnt know the difference if you did it with out a lift. It is that easy. I just did one yesterday. james

 

[lars]

Likewise. I did mine 6 years ago and ran it for 4 years before I did a body lift. If you swap the rubber t-case bushings (top to bottom and vice versa) you pick up a little floor clearance. That's what I did until the body lift went on.

 

[swood]

Like everyone is saying, it is easy. The only difficult thing is cutting the tunnel cover. I can email a pic of the cut tunnel if you need one.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I swaped in my 435 when I put the engine in. I started with a small hole for the shifter. Cut it bigger, and bigger, and bigger. I finished by removing most of the top of the tunnel cover. The I had to cut a little off the bottom of the front crossmember on the drivers side. Then it fit.

The shifter was done without bending. I cut it off just above the ball. Cut about 8" with the first bend in it out of the lever. Then welded the lever together at a 90° angle. It now cleared the stock T-case shifter. It also shortened the throws. The heater box clearenced itself the first time I stuck it in granny (that is where to cut the lever at).

 

[Madgyver]

I did it without a lift but later added a 1" body lift for the shock hoops. It made more room.