NV 3550 Conversion

[Danadj]

Will a tranny from a 2001 2wd Cherokee work for the swap?

 

[1969]

Only if you want your bronco to be 2wd?

 

[Danadj]

Only if you want your bronco to be 2wd?

Is there a difference in the length that would keep from being able to attach the transfer case? Enlighten me if you will. BTW, thanks for your reply.

 

[Pops68]

There is no rear output shaft on a 2 wheel drive tranny.

What would be the benefit of a 2 wheel drive tranny attaching to a transfer case (even if it could be done)??

 

[toddz69]

Will a tranny from a 2001 2wd Cherokee work for the swap?

I think a call to Advance Adapters would be helpful for you to determine whether it would work or not. I'm not familiar enough with those transmissions to know their construction and whether a 2WD version would work or not (I'm guessing not but don't know).

Todd Z.

 

[toddz69]

There is no rear output shaft on a 2 wheel drive tranny.

What would be the benefit of a 2 wheel drive tranny attaching to a transfer case (even if it could be done)??

No rear output shaft on a 2 wheel drive tranny? How is motion transferred from the transmission to the rear axle if it doesn't have an output shaft?

It might have a different output shaft and a different rear tailshaft housing than a 4x4 version, but it most definitely has an output shaft.

Todd Z.

 

[lars]

There is no rear output shaft on a 2 wheel drive tranny.

What would be the benefit of a 2 wheel drive tranny attaching to a transfer case (even if it could be done)??

Eh?!? No output shaft on a rear wheel drive transmission? By definition there is.

As for a 2wd transmission in a 4wd application, cue the classic and extremely popular New Process NP435. A 2wd version becomes a (Bronco Dana 20 transfer case) compatible transmission by unbolting the tail shaft housing, trimming the output shaft, and bolting on a 4wd tailshaft housing from Advance Adapters, among others.

@ the OP, unfortunately it's not so simple with a 2wd NV3550. Besides swapping the tailshaft housing, the output shaft is way too long and needs to be replaced with a 4wd output shaft, which requires complete disassembly of the transmission.

 

[Danadj]

Makes sense the 2wd tail shaft would be longer than the 4wd version. I'll keep you posted when I get started on this project. First thing is to get the body lifted and find a donor 4wd transmission

 

[jamesroney]

Eh?!? No output shaft on a rear wheel drive transmission? By definition there is.

As for a 2wd transmission in a 4wd application, cue the classic and extremely popular New Process NP435. A 2wd version becomes a (Bronco Dana 20 transfer case) compatible transmission by unbolting the tail shaft housing, trimming the output shaft, and bolting on a 4wd tailshaft housing from Advance Adapters, among others.

@ the OP, unfortunately it's not so simple with a 2wd NV3550. Besides swapping the tailshaft housing, the output shaft is way too long and needs to be replaced with a 4wd output shaft, which requires complete disassembly of the transmission.

And for some additional trivia...the 4WD version of the NP435 output shaft is actually LONGER than the 2WD version.

I'm trying to figure out exactly where the output shaft would be on the transmission in a Pantera. It's a rear wheel drive transmission. "By definition", there must be an output shaft. And yet...I can't seem to find it.

and @Danadj ...you want nothing to do with the 2WD Cherokee 5 speed. The 4WD version would be OK...except the transfer case clocking is different on the XJ vs TJ. You could replace the output shaft and the extension housing, and convert your 2WD XJ box to a 4WD...but it will cost a fortune.

gotta go.

 

[lars]

And for some additional trivia...the 4WD version of the NP435 output shaft is actually LONGER than the 2WD version.

I'm trying to figure out exactly where the output shaft would be on the transmission in a Pantera. It's a rear wheel drive transmission. "By definition", there must be an output shaft. And yet...I can't seem to find it.

and @Danadj ...you want nothing to do with the 2WD Cherokee 5 speed. The 4WD version would be OK...except the transfer case clocking is different on the XJ vs TJ. You could replace the output shaft and the extension housing, and convert your 2WD XJ box to a 4WD...but it will cost a fortune.

gotta go.

(going way off topic here) And which Pantera would you be thinking about, James? I know of a yellow one that needs some love.

 

[jamesroney]

(going way off topic here) And which Pantera would you be thinking about, James? I know of a yellow one that needs some love.

PM sent.

 

[Pops68]

I'm a MORON!!!!!! Or what Bugs Bunny used to say : "what a MAROON!!!!"

Wasn't thinking straight about the rear output shaft......Hadn't finished my second cup of coffee yet!!!!

SORRY EVERYONE!!!!!

THIS is why I usually preface my answers with "maybe" or "possibly" or something similar. Meaning "I am not positive about my answer"

 

[Danadj]

Got the 1" body lift kit ordered. I'm in the hunt for a NV3550 if anyone in the SE has a lead. Thanks for the input Pops68, you made me scratch my head some.

 

[Pops68]

I had bought my NV3550 locally from a place called Davey's Jeeps (since closed due to Covid, I think). Came from a newer Wrangler that had an engine fire. Low mileage and cost around $850 I think. This was probably 7-8 years ago.

And guess what???

It had a REAR OUTPUT SHAFT!!!!!!

I am still a MAROON.

 

[Danadj]

Okay, got the body lift accomplished and found a NV3550 which is sitting in the garage floor for now. I had to add extension tabs to lower the fan shroud and while I was framming on something in the process a leak mysteriously appeared in the main gas tank. Everything else seems to be okay. Next project is to drop the fuel tanks to clean them up and straighten the skid plates.

 

[Broncobowsher]

And for some additional trivia...the 4WD version of the NP435 output shaft is actually LONGER than the 2WD version.

I'm trying to figure out exactly where the output shaft would be on the transmission in a Pantera. It's a rear wheel drive transmission. "By definition", there must be an output shaft. And yet...I can't seem to find it.

and @Danadj ...you want nothing to do with the 2WD Cherokee 5 speed. The 4WD version would be OK...except the transfer case clocking is different on the XJ vs TJ. You could replace the output shaft and the extension housing, and convert your 2WD XJ box to a 4WD...but it will cost a fortune.

gotta go.

But the 2WD had a really stubby fixed output yoke.
Almost any modern 2WD transmission has a long tailshaft for the output slip yoke. Which makes the rear output much longer than the 4WD version. There are exceptions, as with most anything automotive.

 

[DirtDonk]

Where are the really short shaft “2wd” NP435’s actually 4-wheel Drive models from divorced transfer case F250’s perhaps?

 

[jamesroney]

Where are the really short shaft “2wd” NP435’s actually 4-wheel Drive models from divorced transfer case F250’s perhaps?

Official thread jack warning!

@Broncobowsher said: "But the 2WD had a really stubby fixed output yoke."

Are you two talking about the same thing here?

There are several "short" NP435 output shafts. And I am no expert. But I know enough to keep me out of trouble. The back of the Ford 4 speed dates back to the late 50's and the T98 in the medium duty truck. In the 60's the T98 was upgraded to the T18, and was introduced to the pickup. In the Medium Duty, the output shaft had an integrated parking brake, and a fixed yoke and no rear cross member. The bell housing was the rear engine mount. But by the time the late 60's rolled around, the NP435 was configured to use the 28 spline "pickup truck" output with the "foot."

Anyway, regarding NP435 output shafts, it starts with the case, and the output bearing, and then the output shaft. The output shaft either has a speedometer provision, or it doesn't. The "really short shaft" 435 has no speedo provision. It just goes bearing, snap ring, to splines. But I don't know what if anything they were every used in. They could have been used with the divorced Dana 24 transfer case since the speedo on the Dana 24 is on the output of the 24. I do not believe that the "super short" 435 was used in a pickup truck, because there wouldn't be any way to support the back of the transmission. See the first picture below.

In the F100 with the Dana 21, it used a single speed transfer case, and was married. It also used the 2WD square pattern case. So it is a 4x4 that uses the 4x2 transmission, and an oddball C6TZ-7024-B spud shaft. But they kept the speedo on the transmission output. Later on, like in 73, the 435 got married to the 31 spline input NP203's and then in 77 it got married to the 205. Those outputs are "long"

I don't care what you call them, but it gets confusing when you call things "short" and "long" when there's "short-short" and "medium-short" and "long-short" depending on whether you cut off the threaded part. So they can be 4-1/4 long, or 5-3/8 long. But at the end of the day it doesn't matter what you call them. You usually end up using what you have. The VAST majority are 2WD pickup transmissions with 28 splines, and speedometer provisions and threaded yokes. The 4WD cases that were married to NP203's and 205's had the trapezoid pattern which has become known as the "4WD" pattern. (even though the Dana 21 doesn't use it..."

While I'm here, I will point out that Advance Adapters also makes a "short" 23 spline output for the NP435 that sticks out about 4 inches. Novak also makes a short 23 spline output that is an inch shorter than Advance. If you are building a CJ, or wanting a doubler...those are as short as you can get without buying an SM420. They also use a snap ring for retaining the rear bearing. Note that the Chevy version also has its own short-short output shaft.

Here are some pics to help out:

 

[DirtDonk]

So where's the pic of the SM420 and 465 for comparison's sake? Hah!
Thanks James. For the unedumecated and spell-check deprived like me, "short" vs "long" is all relative. Relative to Greek...
We don't get many pics of the 435 here on the forum lately. Glad to see some.
Even if it is in a 3550 discussion!

Thanks again.

Paul

 

[73azbronco]

THat is a wealth of knowledge.