1985 4x4 5sp Transmission Swap? What Trans?

[noface]

5 Speed trans in my 85 720 is taking a dump and need to replace it.

As we all know, the 720's use a divorced transfer case, meaning a traditional type trans with a short prop shaft on the output to drive the t-case.

So I'm thinking I can use a 2wd trans from a Hardbody truck. These trans are EASY to find, and tons of them out there available.

I know it will bolt up to the engine (in my case, I've already got a KA24E). But my concerns are total length of the Hardbody trans, shifter location, and is the output shaft the same (spline count/diameter - for the yoke).

Fabrication is not a problem (as long as within reason, mostly cost and time restraints).

Somebody's done this before, and I know there's folks out here that know the differences of these trans.. I need some advice (other than spend some time at the junkyard! LOL).

Thanks!

[woodbutcher5691]

I recently swapped a 5sp. in place of an auto. It was 6" shorter than the auto. So to achieve the correct length, I had to use the front half of the driveshaft from the donor truck and the rear half from my truck. No biggie since I bought the whole truck. I had to trim about 3" out of the front of the hole for the shifter but now that i think about it, I could have prolly used the tunnel plate off the donor. The 4x4 my be a different beast tho.......

[720]

the driveshaft is the exact same and will fit i just did a ka swap with a 2WD transmission

[dogred]

All the bellhousing's of transmissions on the 2wd and 4wd trucks are the same from the 70's up to the end of the 80's. There is a wide supply of them out there. You could even use ones from the 280's, if they have the inline engine.

[noface]

good to know the driveshaft yokes will fit.

I KNOW the bellhousings are the same... I have a 1994 KA24E bolted to the stock 1985 720 4x4 5 speed transmission...

What I still need to know is the length of the 2wd Hardbody 5 speed transmissions. I need OAL, and the length from the bellhousing to the shifter (so as it will fit in the hole in the floorboard....

Thanks!

[woodbutcher5691]

On mine, It's 25" from the front of BH to center of shifter , 28" from BH to end of transmission -/+ a 1/4". 2wd 5 sp. Hope this helps. BTW, tin snips can make stuff work

[noface]

those measurements jive with the transmission in my 85 4x4... so these numbers are from a Hardbody truck?

I prefer sawzall's to tin snips! LOL!

[woodbutcher5691]

Sawzall=mans best friend! Dunno about hardbody but I think they are the same. Should be the same drive line.It came out of an 84. It's the same as the 86 I had years ago.
Take the tape measure with you to be sure. G/L.

[synack7350]

speaking of trans and what nots, are the rear end gears the same between auto, and 5 spd ?

[noface]

don't know about the rear end gearing option. I believe 90% of these 720's came with 4.10:1

I think engine size is more of a determining factor in rearend gears.

there's a sticky around here somewhere that outlines rear end types and ratios for the Nissan trucks...

[captainzeros]

(from 1981 factory service manual)
rwd manual trans: 3.889
rwd auto trans: 4.111
4wd both + rwd one ton: 4.375

[synack7350]

thanks Capitan. I'm going to do a little more research on the subject just so I'll know the why.