I am about to buy a 1987 W250 with a LA360. It is a retired Forest Service truck with a NP435 in it. The transmission is getting ready for major overhaul so the price reflects this eventuality.
I REALLY want overdrive and this seems like the perfect time to do it.
If I understand correctly a NV4500 should be a pretty straight forward swap, correct?
Am I on the right track here?
Can I target any particular years of trucks being "parted" out, for donors?
Do I reuse the existing transfer case?
Or, should I take the donor trans and t-case as one unit? Driveshafts too?
Really need specifics so I can decide if this is something to move ahead on. Buying the truck in three days!

Thanks in advance, I have been reading I this Forum for some time, seemed like time to join.

 

Nobody? I thought this was a thing that had been done?

 

i think it depends on what the donor is. i think they are used in the 91-93 trucks which would be but if you can get a magnum 360 out of a 93 minus well just swap engine and all the fuel injection stuff over. i think you can get a nv4500 out of a newer truck but i think you still need a 91-93 transfer case or something like that. they made a lot of small changes to the trucks in the 88-93 area. any 94 and newer truck have a completely different transfer case which will not work at all.

 

Thank you!

 

Advance Adapters says 1992-2002 direct bolt in.
Having been said, I think I am just going to stick with the NP435.