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Transmission Mount/crossmember Setup With Sm420 And Sbc

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Nitmare67, Sep 24, 2020.

  1. Nitmare67

    Nitmare67 New Member

    Hi I'm just hoping to find some pictures of peoples builds that have sm420 setup. I purchased the advanced adapters transmission mount but I dont like the way it sits. I had to shim the AA trans mount so that the ear of the T case wasnt laying on the cross member. I question if this is right or not because I feel like my T-case should sit lower but even with shims I think its still too high. I would appreciate if anyone has any pictures of their SM420 swapped setups.

    Thank you
     
  2. 73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    This is a sbc/sm465.

    5F497C94-50D8-410C-B336-6BABEC11FA94.jpeg 0F37CBCA-15AD-496E-8618-58F42109585C.jpeg
     
  3. 47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    The ear of the transfer case sits on a rubber isolator that's about 3/4 thick.
     
  4. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    What is that, an NP203 or 205? That may have come with the SM465 in the donor truck. Suggest that setup is not relevant when you keep the original Dana 18 transfer case.
     
  5. Nitmare67

    Nitmare67 New Member

    I'm going to need to build a new crossmember or trans mount because the Tcase ear touches almost an inch before the AA trans mount. Really ****ty design. I just wanted to see what others had for setups to help me understand what would work best.
     
  6. 47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I cut apart my stock one, but I used a Novak adapter for the Sm420 to the D18. I had no issues with the stock crossmember and their suggested isolator/ mount. I only cut apart the crossmember to install an exhaust resonator..

    I really like Novak stuff.
     
  7. Nitmare67

    Nitmare67 New Member


    Can you send me some pics of your setup please. Im curious how far your Transfer case is hanging down and how its matted to the crossmember. I would really appreciate it. This jeep is for my 76 year old dad and its almost done. I've worked endlessly on it over the past year. It really should have been scrapped because the frame and body was so bad. Everything was trashed but he always wanted a Jeep and we had this one so I've been working on it nonstop. Did a 383Vortec swap, SM420 with OD unit. Saginaw power conversion, tilt wheel, cut the tub and moved the seats back a few inches (HUGE IMPROVEMENT!!!). Did a complete rewire on it. So this is the final pieces that I want to be sure about.
     
    Bigdaddy13 likes this.
  8. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    I think Chris (47v6) would be happy to post the pictures here - no need to take this interesting topic offline. then the pics will be here for any future readers with the same questions.
     
    OldAdobe likes this.
  9. Nitmare67

    Nitmare67 New Member

    Sounds good. I saw some pics he posted on a different thread. I would really like to see a shot of the T-case from the bottom so that I can see the crossmember if possible.

     
  10. Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    I've got custom cross members for both the SM465/D18 and T18/D18 setups. Some folks modify the stock, I prefer to just make a new one that fits cleaner based on the mounts I've got on the Tranny/Tcase. ALWAYS put the side mount on the Tcase. I have seen some that thought they didn't need it and broke either the case or pulled the bolts where the tranny hooks to the bell.
     
  11. Nitmare67

    Nitmare67 New Member


    Ya I wouldnt never run without the torque mount on the tcase. Mine works I just dont like it. I'll probably build a new one. I wouldnt mind seeing some other ideas that people have done though. I was disappointed because I figured with the AA trans mount I would only need to drill bolt holes... I had to put a 1 inch spacer under the trans mount because it was resting on the TC ear and not even touching the trans mount. So either that design sucks or I've got something unusually different going on.
     
  12. 47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

  13. 47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

  14. 47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    041AD157-0170-4FB6-92F1-9662A4D81C92.jpeg
    Don’t know if these will help much, but here they are.
     
    Nitmare67 likes this.
  15. Nitmare67

    Nitmare67 New Member


    They help greatly. Thank you!!!!

    I should have used a Novak setup. Thats trans mount is much nicer than the AA version