J5 transmission troubles

[IMP]

I was looking over my J5 last night getting it ready for moose hunting and gave the drive axle a shake to test the U joints and notice way too much side to side movement in the output shaft of the transmission. Anyone know what kind of 4 speed transmission this is for sure and part availability? Its bolted up to a 251 flathead Chrysler. I read somewhere J5's typically come with New Process 435 transmissions but I wanted to confirm that with anyone who's been there and done that if possible. Thanks. This is an ASAP job no time for error

 

[Denver]

Imp, i have a 1974 J5 with a 300 ford engine and the transmission is a NP435. the following link may be usefull to you; http://www.fordification.com/tech/transID-man.htm.

 

[IMP]

Thank You for that info Denver! This morning I talked to Brad at Minnesota Outdoors and he confirmed that it is a NP435 4 speed transmission I'm looking for. Parts are easily available and it's a common rebuild. All good news to me. I wwill try to pull it tonight and get it to a local shop for rebuild ASAP. Thanks to Brad for the quick call back and Denver for the new 435 rebuild manual.

 

[Snowtrac Nome]

the 435 is a common chevy and dodge transmission you should be able to find one in a wrecking yard

 

[IMP]

Transmission removal went smooth. It will be on the repair shop floor tommorow and hopefully hauling a load of moose off the mountain in a month.

 

[IMP]

i just found out this transmission deal is way worse than paying someone to replace bearings. I need to find an input shaft that is unique to J5's. This existing one was cobbled together at some point years ago when rebuilt and now iit has a damaged input shaft. My transmission guy said we wouldn't have gotten far moose hunting with this J5 as is. So I guess this is a good thing it is, where it is, instead of 10 miles out off in a swamp! So What I desperately need right now is a J5 4 speed, NP435 transmission input shaft and pilot bearing. My transmission guy said it will pull right out the front, no need to disassemble the transmission to get at it. But if anybody happens have one they can sell I sure could use it now with no time to waste. 907- 347-4927. Todd
I've already left a message for Brad at Minnesota Outdoors so I hope to be talking to him soon

 

[IMP]

I was wrong about this transmission having Bombardier specific parts. The confusion for me was I thought I had a NP435 transmission when I really had a NP420. That's why some components inside the tranny looked wrong. I knew
the input shaft was going to be tough to find on short notice so I a had a machinist make a bronze Bushing so I could use the old input shaft to temporarily get me through this moose hunting trip. Turns out, at the last minute I did locate a new old stock input shaft for my NP420 in Ohio at Northwest Transmission. Great people to work with, You can tell how old this part is by looking at the MOPAR box. The tranny is all rebuilt with new bearings and seals, J5 is locked n loaded ready for another 2 week moose camp adventure leaving Friday. Hopefully the major mechanical problems are over for awhile.

 

[night-owl]

Nice set-up ? Good Luck !

 

[IMP]

It was a successful trip after all the getting ready hassles. Here's a few photos and videos. No major problems except a broken trailer leaf springs and a bear got some of our moose meat. And If i really worked first gear hard the transmission would pop out of gear So i still have a transmission gremlin to figure out yet. Let me know if anyone has an idea what could cause that to happen. Other than that, tranny was solid. Worked it hard. Looking forward to do it all again next year!

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8jpkhr3qvz1szg7/AABaf-cXprRlkrw-Y0jmGt2Za?dl=0

 

[IMP]

Just to update the transmission popping out of 1st gear issue. We could see nothing wrong with the gears or shifting forks so only thing my transmission guy could think of was a weak shift linkage detent spring. I couldn't find the exact replacement spring so i put a smaller spring inside the existing spring to add too the tension on the detent ball. I'll find out if it works next year moose hunting. It only comes out of first gear when working it HARD. not easy to duplicate that situation anywhere but moose camp

 

[sleddogracer]

mine was ( J5 ) was popping out of first gear at first, then I noticed the gear shift leaver was jamming against the frame of the seat - a slight modification to the gearshift leaver and the problem was cured - likely not your problem, but thought I should suggest it

 

[IMP]

First gear on my 4 speed transmission is in the fully forward shift handle position. So the seat is not interfearing with that shift movement. Good theory though thanks for the input.