I need help on knowing what I need to buy for a auto to manual swap on a 4.8 or 5.3 V8 Silverado 1500 Extended Cab if some knows about the process and the parts it requires please let me know i would highly appreciate it. If possible let me know on 4x4. If 2wd is more easier and cost effective then let me know on that.

 

First thing to figure out is which manual transmission you want to use. You have 4 options that are known and have some documentation.

1) NV3500 Came from the factory in RCSB trucks. Known to handle power well but terrible for towing

2) NV4500 Big brother to the previous found in some 2500 trucks and handles power and towing well

3) T56 Came in sports cars like early 2000s corvettes and is known to have issues in heavy vehicles or towing. Also a 4wd capable T56 is very expensive

4) ZF6 giant diesel truck trans that has gear ratios better suited to a diesel and is so big you need a body lift to fit it.


Luckily the GMT800 trucks came with a manual trans as an option in some years so pretty much all swap parts can be OEM and don't need any crazy modifications.

 

3) do not use a Corvette T56 unless you wanna drop a grip on converting it from transaxle to transmission. F-Body/GTO are your best bets

5) TR6060 from CTS-V/ZL1 and other 5th/6th gen Camaros, G8s, SS, Corvette (transaxle issue again)

 

Dantheman1540 I already have my eye on the Nv3500 or 4500 which ever one I can get faster and easier. I might go to a junkyard and find one, I’ll wait for the trans to go out and then rebuild it. What other parts do I need for the swap?

 

NV3500 is probably easier to find used but be careful as there are many different versions of the NV3500 found in jeeps, dodge picks and S10 I'm not sure which ones would bolt right in or not.

NV4500 has a couple different generations and you want to make sure you get one with a square top as those are a newer version and have synchronized first gear and reverse I believe. I got one of my NV4500s from Midwest Transmission and out of the 3 different rebuilt/new NV4500s I've driven its by far the best shifting and quietest.

Parts required:

-Clutch pressure plate fly wheel (I suggest LUK brand OEM replacement they are seriously tough and easy to drive)
-Clutch pedal (OEM)
-Clutch pedal bracket (Atomic Fab&performance makes a metal one that is much tougher than the plastic ones known to break)
-Clutch master (OEM)
-Clutch slave (OEM)
-Reverse switch from a manual trans truck that originally came with whichever trans you got
-Shifter will depend on the trans but Hurst/Core shifters makes nice stuff if you can't locate a factory one


Other thoughts:
-Trans cross member should fit no problem
-Any GM version of those trans should bolt up the the 5.3 no problem
-If you have a hydro boost brake pedal you may need to trim the pedal pad
-Drive shaft should fit no problem
-T case should fit no problem
-Some master cylinders seem to not have enough throw so you end up shoving the pedal through the floor to get it to shift especially first and reverse. I have taken the clutch master rod out and extended it 3/8" to give a better pedal feel.


That's all I've got for now. Something else might pop into my head later but this topic has been covered before and there's some info out there floating around.

 

Dantheman1540 Is a 2wd easier to install than a 4x4 or is it the same?

 

4x4 give you a little less space to work with because the front drive shaft is close to the trans but really doesn't complicate anything other than minor space constraints. Which can easily be solved by pulling the drive shaft. The 4wd shifter linkage doesn't need any mods. Once the transmission is in I'm still able to bleed the clutch and do regular maintenance with the 4x4 in place.

If it were mine I'd keep it 4x4 even if its just for future resale value as it costs nothing extra to keep the 4x4. I have tossed around the idea of adding 4x4 to my Tahoe because where I live its very sandy and have nearly gotten stuck in my own yard.

 

huh

Says the guy who "didnt like 4wd trucks" lmao

You'll need some frame mods to make 4wd work on a 2wd

 

I don't remember saying I don't like 4x4 trucks as my RCSB is 4x4 and I prefer 4x4 if its an option.

Not saying I'm about to swap it but if I came across a wrecked 4x4 1/2 ton and could get the 4wd components cheap I would likely snag them and further entertain the swap. In short it'll likely never happen but a man can dream dang it!

 

Dantheman1540 thanks so much for your help