Help me out guys. Im finally getting started with my swap. 97 12v into my 72 half ton 2wd chevy fleetside longbed.

A few questions:
Has anyone done this to a truck around the same age? (late 60's to 72)
Tranny-Im thinking about buying an adapter to adapt to a 700r4...Yes or no?
Any ideas on gearing? Looking for low rpms
Planning on fabbing up some frame mounts to utilize the dodge rubber motor mounts.
Just looking for some insight from guys who have done swaps before. The biggest thing for me is the transmission decision. Other than that it seems like a no-brainer. Was thinking about using a dodge auto possibly? I need to buy a plate either way because the engine I have was in a wreck and it broke the plate when the tranny was ripped off so I just figured I would go GM. Do you think a good, fresh/well built 700r4 or th400 would hold up with about 390hp and atleast 800ft/lbs?
Thanks in advance

 

Check 67-72chevytrucks.com very good site for these trucks. look in archives and you'll find a few guys who did this swap in 2wds. You'll also find that almost everyone of hese guys that did the swap and used a gm tranny came back only a few weeks later and posted "blew my tanny today" you would have to put some SERIOUS money into a th400 or 700r4 to make it hold up to that 400/800 you're looking for, just my opinion. hope this helps

 

Yeah, I'm working on a similar swap into my 72 GMC Suburban, but using a 1990 12valve for mine. I opted for the three speed Dodge tranny as it came with the motor, and after reading some of the tranny horror stories, I figured I'd stick with what works. If this tranny that I've got has lasted twenty years behind that Cummins, it'll probably hold for whatever I'm going to give it. Good luck on your build!

 

ive seen lots of threads regarding that topic but YES it is a serious MONEY and not really a practical thing to do. my friend planning to do that but after seeing the overall cost of it quoted by the mechanic and knowing that he cannot do it alone with lots of things needed and just relying on the internet for guides he decided to stop his plans to swap in 2wds.

 

I would say your options are nv4500 a 47rh or an Allison from like an bread truck for the power you would like to build trans will be an issue

 

Im in the middle of my 71 chevy swap..it started 3/4 tonn 2wd and became 4x4 but yes all of the ideas above are good. Run from the gm gasser tranys the will get their asses beat id go nv4500 or allison. And for gearing id go 3.73 or 3.42. And look up avalancheenginering.com they built the motor mount I have and were desinging a 2wd version for our trucks last time I was on there