I think the simple answer is: there is always going to be a bit of "backyard" machining. Finding a straight bolt in transmission will be quite difficult and if one is considering this type of modification to their truck the one should be prepared to spend the dough and invest the time and effort to do it right. I just installed a Clark and it wasn't an easy task. But it is now functional. Looks good and does everything I ask.
Is your Clark an over drive ?? What was involved with the conversion ??
Discussing this is a way to see what others have done and maybe there is a "simpler" solution.
After talking with several transmission rebuilders/recycling yards over the past few days, the NV4500 swap would best be done with the conversion bellhousing. The Dodge seemed the easier route but none of the rebuilders/recycling yards had ever seen one with a parking brake on the tail shaft. That makes the swap considerably more costly with adding those parts from a GM trans. One may as well use the bellhousing and avoid a total one-off trans. Using the conversion bellhousing also brings another needed modification in that the bell in these trucks was the rear engine/trans mount and the conversion doesn't provide for that. It would be necessary to fabricate a new crossmember mount under the tailshaft of the trans. Most of these conversions require a list of necessary shop equipment that many people just don't own or have at their disposal. Putting collective experience together to research a "bolt in" swap would benefit many...
