If you go with a manual then the wires on the trany are not needed that stuff is for signal wires and overdrive unit maybe cruze control also...not sure, so there should be no need for an ecm?? as for the swap I am in the the starting stage of going from a 518 to a getrag. I have 700 for the clutch and flywheel (south bend)
850 for a rebuilt getrag
150 for the adapter ring on the block
150 for the adapter collar (to use my old transfer case)
125 for the slave cyl. (but that is for the Chevy conversion)
all this is done to pull my toy hauler...every thing together weighs 21,200 that is just too much for the a518.. with the power I have (which isn't much) in second it will blow through the slush box.. I haven't ever over heated it, but I also want to go to twins....sooo its time. if you go with the getrag make sure you get the 4x4 trany (if yours is) it will save you a big headache trying to convert it. good luck

 

Newbie question alert: The 518 is the 46RH right? The 4spd Auto in first gens?

Sounds like you're in the same boat as me with the purpose for the swap (other than the fact that you didn't mention that yours was toast)...

Having those wires unplugged would probably throw up some warning lights right? as much as I don't usually care about those, I would like them to be functioning properly so I know when something is actually going wrong.

Sounds like my best option if this tranny deal works out with the NV4500 works out would be to pick that up with the adapter to motor plate, and either find the t-case from something left side front shaft that was already behind an NV4500 or just get that spline adapter?

Also, something I just thought of is length, how much of a length difference are we talking between the auto and the NV4500? I know the NV4500s are known for being short and therefore great for short wheel-based vehicles, but are they much shorter than the stock tranny and am I gonna have to do driveshaft work? And while we're on length, does the spline adapter add any total length?

Would the slave cylinder for me be the one from a 1st gen manual or the one from the NV4500 donor? and would the pedals and linkages from a first gen work with it if its the NV4500 donor's cylinder?

Thanks!

 

haha my trany still works good I just want to go to a Manuel and get the direct drive.I could go with the 47rh but the gear ratios are very high the a518 I believe is the 46rh it came out of a 93. as for the wires I didn't use any of them except the O/D switch wire ( i hooked it to the Chevy O/D button) and ran a temperature probe to the pan. the spline adapter goes in the same place as the old one( their the same size) and the nv4500 stuff...not sure of that...the Manuel is shorter





getrag

1st 5.531;1
2nd 3.017;1
3rd 1.60;1
4th 1.00;1
5th .77;1
rev, 5.029





A518

1st is 2.45
2nd is 1.45
3rd is 1.00
4th is .69
R is 2.35

 

Going from an auto to stick, you may need to find a way to force the column shift to stay in park, in order to allow the truck to start, and possibly take the key out. If you pick up an NV4500, chances are youd need to redo your driveshafts anyways, because the frame lengths are different between the first and second gens. As far as hydraulics go, you could get away with a stock set of hydros, and a con ofe single disc clutch. Have the 5th gear nut issue fixed, and for your application, the setup would work fine. Other than that, I'm not up to speed on all the things required to be able to swap an NV4500 into a 1st gen. Sounds like most everyone else has that covered, though.

 

Are the 1st gen floor humps the same on autos and manuals? I know some trucks had a lower hump for the autos

 

I'm not sure about that yet either, I haven't been too worried about it because being a welder, and not a tranny specialist, I figured that if I can just get the stuff to work, I could fabricate a whole new floor if I have to and that would be the easy part of the job...

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Thanks for the info guys, I hadn't thought of the column shifter yet... I hate all of the little stuff this is gonna take. I guess I could find the steering column out of a manual and just switch the ignitions down the road. I'm sure I can lock it in park position till then though.

I hope the driveshafts will work, but it sounds like the NV4500 is substantially shorter so that's probably optimistic. As long as I can keep this whole thing under about $4,000 im still pretty happy because that's what i'd be paying for a new automatic once all is said and done, and i'd rather have the stick. About now im so sick of automatics...finnicky pieces of @#$%@...thats definitely my one regret on buying this truck. I wouldn't be super opposed to a getrag I guess but I just hear that the NV4500 is a smoother, stronger, longer lasting tranny, and im in a "Do it once, do it right" kind of a mood on this project.

As far as the wiring goes, I guess ill just have to put some warm clothes on and go lay under the thing for a bit and see what all wires go to that area, I know there's the neutral safety switch, and if I remember correctly there are a couple others around.

 

i got a 92 and i have a nv4500 in it. i haul alot of hay all over Texas and dont have a problem 10 to 15 round bales each trip.

 

How did the conversion go? Did you do it yourself?

 

no i did not do it i had my buddy do it at his shop.

 

did you convert from a getrag or an automatic? If you converted from an automatic, you should ask your buddy if he ran into any problems or anything and what all he had to do.