Standard transmission in a rock buggy?

[Nikwho]

Hey all,
I get it that auto's are easy. VERY convenient. But I just like shifting gears! Plus, an SM465 has what, a 6.55:1 1st gear? That's LOW! So, I was thinking of putting an SM465 transmission into my rock buggy. Anyone else have one in a buggy/truggy?

Now, I need to figure out my axle gearing. I'm thinking that I'd like my buggy to be able to hit 65 MPH. That feels plenty fast for playing in the desert, driving between trails. My buggy will have a basically stock 5.3 LS based engine. Headers, holley EFI intake, mild camshaft and mild tune. Looking for reliability. Shooting for 400-450 HP. I want the SM465 behind that, followed by my NP203/Dana 300 doubler that's geared 1.96/4:1. If I run 4.56's, I'll have a 234:1 crawl ratio. With both cases in high range, and transmission in 4th, I'd run 65 MPH at roughly 2,500 RPM, wich is a pretty comfortable cruising RPM. BUT, if I run 5.38 R&P's, I'd still be under 3,000 RPM at 65, and have a final crawl ratio of 276:1.

Thoughts? I've never even ridden in a tube rock buggy. I'm trying to find the right balance in gearing.

 

[paradisepwoffrd]

Im guessing you are out west, so maybe that deep of a gear will be usable. Unless you spend for an aftermarket 300, I dont believe it will hold up to LS power and that gearing. I would install a hand throttle to help with missing a 3rd leg.

 

[Nikwho]

Im guessing you are out west, so maybe that deep of a gear will be usable. Unless you spend for an aftermarket 300, I dont believe it will hold up to LS power and that gearing. I would install a hand throttle to help with missing a 3rd leg.

Yes, I live in Arizona. Rig will be run primarily in Moab, Rubicon Trail area, Colorado and Johnson Valley. Yeah, I've been torn on saving up for an Atlas. They're sure pricey, though!

 

[InittowiniT]

5.3 to a nv4500 np205 combo with 5.38’s is plenty low for crawling. From my experience.

 

[Nikwho]

An NV4500 would be great, being a 5 speed! I have a 4:1 + a 2:1 doubler. But, I reall6 like the low range of the first gear in the SM465! BUT, I really appreciate all of the personal experience! Would you prefer your higher gearing and overdrive, over a lower first gear?

 

[ridered3]

An NV4500 would be great, being a 5 speed! I have a 4:1 + a 2:1 doubler. But, I reall6 like the low range of the first gear in the SM465! BUT, I really appreciate all of the personal experience! Would you prefer your higher gearing and overdrive, over a lower first gear?

As a non-three pedal guy for off-road purposes, that would depend on your overall usage.

If you think there would be a fair amount of road driving/highway speeds (think Ultimate Adventure road days of a few hundred miles), the over drive would be ideal since you could use the tcases to gear down for better crawling.

If your road driving/highway speeds would be limited/not all that often (think 20-50 miles getting from place to place in Moab etc) then the lower first gear and higher engine rpms wouldn’t be too bad.

 

[Afarmer1062]

I had a 465 in a yota truck and my biggest complaint about it was the way it shifted. It felt about like rowing a boat. I would personally want something with a shorter throw.

 

[Kubotaorange76]

Having wheeled with t18 & np435, I agree with boat rowing. Slamming between reverse and 1st can be cumbersome.
Having shorter throw and OD would be ideal, nv4500, zf 5 etc

 

[Eddyj]

My man!
I built my rig with a Sm465 for stupid reliability. I actually bought and had a th400 rebuilt but never put it in cause I love the man tran.
I got a build thread on here. Go knock the cobwebs off the thread and check it out.

 

[Eddyj]

I’m stock LS, sm464, np205, rockwells, 43s and first gear is awesome for crawling. If anything I might be too low. But I like it

 

[Zjman]

I’m running a mild 351w with a np435 and a 205, running 5.13 gears and the granny gear is great at crawling. 1st is party gear. Don’t think I’ve ever hit 3rd lol.

 

[Nikwho]

I’m stock LS, sm464, np205, rockwells, 43s and first gear is awesome for crawling. If anything I might be too low. But I like it

May I ask what your final crawl ratio is? I've never had a crawl ratio lower than my CJ7 (79.45:1). I could definitely go lower!

 

[baldduck74]

An NV4500 would be great, being a 5 speed! I have a 4:1 + a 2:1 doubler. But, I reall6 like the low range of the first gear in the SM465! BUT, I really appreciate all of the personal experience! Would you prefer your higher gearing and overdrive, over a lower first gear?

Gm had a nv4500 some time around 93-95 that had the low first gear equal to the sm 465 first gear, was only available in the GM version,

 

[Nikwho]

Gm had a nv4500 some time around 93-95 that had the low first gear equal to the sm 465 first gear, was only available in the GM version,

That would be an awesome find! Wonder what it was? C/K2500-3500's, perhaps?

 

[1tonrenegade]

I have two crawlers one with 351W SM465, NO205 456 gear with 44 boggers it'll get rowdy on high side not sure on top speed tho? The other 4.3 vortec SM465 NP205 513 it's a lil sluggish on high side.dam thing crawls good. No Way I could go with a slush box. I added a drift brake handle to handle the 3 foot shuffle. With a 4 speed can always find a gear with to get home

 

[ridered3]

I have two crawlers one with 351W SM465, NO205 456 gear with 44 boggers it'll get rowdy on high side not sure on top speed tho? The other 4.3 vortec SM465 NP205 513 it's a lil sluggish on high side.dam thing crawls good. No Way I could go with a slush box. I added a drift brake handle to handle the 3 foot shuffle. With a 4 speed can always find a gear with to get home

Drift brake sounds like a mighty good idea.

 

[1tonrenegade]

Drift brake sounds like a mighty good idea.

Yes it works ok I need to install residue valve to hold press better. Usually one pump of brake pedal an good to go.

 

[ridered3]

Yes it works ok I need to install residue valve to hold press better. Usually one pump of brake pedal an good to go.

:dblthumb:

 

[Eddyj]

I always liked the ol throttle on the stick with a bicycle brake handle

 

[hokie_yj]

I always liked the ol throttle on the stick with a bicycle brake handle

I used a bike gear shift lever and replaced the screw that holds the handle on with a thumb screw so you could set the throttle and tighten it down. It was really nice for crawling.

 

[ridered3]

I used a bike gear shift lever and replaced the screw that holds the handle on with a thumb screw so you could set the throttle and tighten it down. It was really nice for crawling.

Crawler cruise control.

 

[Eddyj]

Redneck rev limiter
Hillbilly hand throttle
Rebel rever

 

[Nikwho]

Nice! I like that idea!

 

[hokie_yj]

It was really handy. I haven’t wheeled a manual since that Jeep, and I sold it in ‘08, but I wouldn’t wheel one without it. I used the hand throttle a lot even in access trails to give my leg a rest.

 

[sandw]

I've been using an air conditioner idle up solenoid off a carbureted gm since 1996, just flip a switch.

 

[DrankinInTheWoods]

Crawler cruise c

Crawler cruise control.

I use mine as cruise control a lot more than I use it on the side of a hill. We went to Hawk Pride last year and hit Merlin right off the trailer around lunch time Friday. I was still trying to get my bluetooth to connect to my phone and get everything situated. Double low, hand throttle idled up a little, hit the first big rock truck slid back off of it under power and grenaded a transfer case. That's the shortest riding trip I've ever been on.

 

[Scott F.]

The buggy I built has a 5.3LM7 stock/NV4500 with Advance Adapters bellhousing kit and D300 tail housing kit/ Atlas 4.3 with GM Dana 60 front & D70 rear geared at 4.56 since the D60 was a CUCV with factory spicer gears in it. Crawl ratio works out to be 110:1 with the 5.61 nv4500 version 1st gear.

If you looking for a whole buggy I could sell as I am planning to build another buggy soon. If not the whole buggy, in about a year I was looking to auto swap the current buggy so I would have a full trans setup for sale (LS flywheel/clutch, bellhousing, slave cylinder and mount, shifter, etc.

 

[ridered3]

I use mine as cruise control a lot more than I use it on the side of a hill. We went to Hawk Pride last year and hit Merlin right off the trailer around lunch time Friday. I was still trying to get my bluetooth to connect to my phone and get everything situated. Double low, hand throttle idled up a little, hit the first big rock truck slid back off of it under power and grenaded a transfer case. That's the shortest riding trip I've ever been on.

Sounds like the occasional @Mattman347 trip with doublers.

 

[Markrobinson]

The buggy I built has a 5.3LM7 stock/NV4500 with Advance Adapters bellhousing kit and D300 tail housing kit/ Atlas 4.3 with GM Dana 60 front & D70 rear geared at 4.56 since the D60 was a CUCV with factory spicer gears in it. Crawl ratio works out to be 110:1 with the 5.61 nv4500 version 1st gear.

If you looking for a whole buggy I could sell as I am planning to build another buggy soon. If not the whole buggy, in about a year I was looking to auto swap the current buggy so I would have a full trans setup for sale (LS flywheel/clutch, bellhousing, slave cylinder and mount, shifter, etc.

I guess I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled on that. I’ve got a Nissan pathfinder with stock 5 speed and have debated using it with an adapter to an ls or lt engine. NV4500 would omit a pricey adapter to a transmission that may or may not be strong enough (same as the 300zx that people do big HP turbo builds in)

 

[drillsmoke]

I run a stock 5.3 mated to a 93 nv4500 (from a commercial delivery truck) mated to a 4:1 dana 300. 4.88s in the axles and it crawls very well for east coast stuff. It is plenty slow for what we have out here, and I can go 80 on the interstate w/ the motor running not too fast w/ 39s. That being said for super technical stuff it could be slower, but if you are gonna run a doubler i dont see why you need the granny low of the rare nv4500s or the sm465. overdrive, and faster shifting transmissions are very nice for when you are between trails or on the road!