Novak Or Aa

Finally getting around to mating my SM420 to the Dana 18. Any preferences on whose adapter to go with and why?
Thanks!
Pat

 

I'd go with the one that makes the shortest package.

 

A Small package allows for a longer straighter shaft.

Might want to search the site for pictures of long and short adapter packages.

 

That's something I hadn't considered, assumed they would be similar. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Novak - 4.4"
Advance Adapters - 4.0"
Both price about the same.

I'm curious about anyone's experience dealing with either company in regards to customer service, quality of the product and lead times.

 

Both are known for high quality products, and good service.

 

X2. I've dealt with both and am happy with the quality of the customer service and products for both.

 

I believe they both use a spud shaft now. Not sure if the full shaft is even offered anymore.

 

! have an AA full length shaft version, some people like the stub shaft because it doesn't require a full tear down of the SM420. I like the full length version because I was planning to rebuild my SM420 before installation, because I didn't want to install it twice, and I got a good deal on it! Good luck!

 

I just ordered a Novak for a sm420/d20 but can not comment on either.

 

Seeing as how AA is only a few hours north of you, I would lean that direction. At least you could see and touch it before shelling out $$.
With that said, I would have no problem sending Novak my $$.

 

Both make high quality parts and customer service has been good in my experience and would use either adapter. AA has been having long shipping times for awhile. I would call both companies and ask if the adapter you need is in stock

 

I've gone with AA, mostly because I try to buy from companies closest to me.

 

Got it torn down today. It has been mated to a M21 Muncie since I got the Jeep almost 20 years ago. This was the first time tearing it down. Getting the Warn overdrive off was interesting. Turns out I have a small hole 6 spline Dana 18. Time to order parts!

 

I was looking at the sm465 adapters and although similar there are small details like transmission mounts and construction.

For the sm465 to small d18:
Advance adapters has two bearings on the rear one to index the transfercase and two "generic" mounts on ears.
The Novak uses the adapter plate to index the Transfercase and the mount boss is on the lowest face of the adapter then your mount stacks below it.

So for those reasons I and cost I would lean to AA for a sm465 since I can easily go to a large bore transfercase and run a tighter crossmember.

Read up on your sm420 kits and look for details that are different

 

OP is asking about an SM420 kit and not an SM465 which are very different from each other.


The SM420 kit needs to have the length of adapter to allow the U Joint from the front of the D18 clearance. There is no Novak full length shaft used for this, only for the SM465. The Novak kit uses the same parts for the large or small hole D18, you can just buy the proper adapter, but the kits are the same and interchangeable between cases. No experience with the AA kit, but the Novak one works just fine.
https://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/adapters/transmission-to-transfer-case/sm420-to/kit-422

AA kit with spud shaft
https://www.jegs.com/i/Advance-Adapters/050/50-2401/10002/-1
AA kit with full shaft
https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/advan...ransfer-case-adapter-50-2400/_/R-BDFD-50-2400

 

Ordered the AA kit this morning with index retainer and sealed bearing. Also ordered the Dana 18 rebuild kit from Novak with the hardened intermediate shaft. Time to get cleaning up the tcase for tear down.

 

I did my SM465 a long time ago but Novak's customer service was top notch.

 

Finish product..