NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

FROM AWD'S TO 2-SPEED MANUAL SHIFT, IF IT LINKS THE REAR AXLE TO THE FRONT AXLE, POST IT HERE.

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LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Got the parts painted on Christmas day and then proceeded to chip the paint at home. ](*,)

Image

Image
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
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HPbyStan
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Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by HPbyStan »

Thanks for the write up and pics. Very interesting...HP
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....

Topic author
LiftedAWDAstro
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Location: New Haven, NY

Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Pulled the tail shaft housing off and installed the new bushing and seal I bought for the stock NP136 transfer case. They fit perfectly! :supz: Heading up north for New Years tomorrow so no more updates until I get it installed next week.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

Topic author
LiftedAWDAstro
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Posts: 4379
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Location: New Haven, NY

Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Got home from New Years' early this afternoon and got started with the swap. Pulled the NP136 out by removing both drive shafts, the support brace that runs from the t-case to the engine block and disconnecting all 4 connectors. I also pulled the ATC fuse in the under hood fuse block. I had to use a small floor jack and block of wood under the transmission pan to lift the tranny up after disconnecting the tranny mount.

NP136 on left...

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This is the space you are left with. You can see all 4 connectors. 3 of them will not be used.

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The NP233 did not have any mount studs so I pulled them out of the 136 to reuse in the 233.

Removed from 136:

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And into the 233:

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Now it's a matter of bolting in the NP233 to the stock adapter.

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Install the rear drive shaft. The NP233 must be a little shorter than the NP136.

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Ty-rapped the unused connectors and wires to the loom and plugged in the VSS. Just a note here but when I grabbed the NP233 transfer case I grabbed the short harness from the VSS. This harness is about 1 foot long and has the correct connector to go to the stock Astro VSS connector.

Image
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

Topic author
LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Supposed to finish the install today...
Attachments
DCP_1066.JPG
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

photo_van
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Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by photo_van »

I like your shop, it looks just like mine! :)
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710

Topic author
LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

It does doesn't it! :muhaha:

Got it done. Just need to do a test drive either today or tomorrow.

This shows the clearance between the front shaft and the crossmember. Not sure why my 233 was indexed different than T_low's but mine is a few years newer so maybe that is why.

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You can see where the cable comes through the floor. I just looped it in a gentle sweep.

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Mounted to t-case bracket and sprayed with Fluid Film to keep corrosion at bay.

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High range 2WD.

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High range 4WD.

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I just need to make a trim piece for around the cable and mount it to the floor.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

photo_van
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Posts: 592
Joined: Wed May 18, 2011 4:38 pm
Location: 7000' in the Mountains of California
Been thanked: 3 times

Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by photo_van »

A true bolt in swap, doesn't get much cleaner then that! =D>
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710

Topic author
LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Nope. :supz: It'll be nice having a true 4WD for plowing that's for sure. I use low range most of the time while plowing so that will save the transmission.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

photo_van
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Joined: Wed May 18, 2011 4:38 pm
Location: 7000' in the Mountains of California
Been thanked: 3 times

Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by photo_van »

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:It does doesn't it! :muhaha:

This shows the clearance between the front shaft and the crossmember. Not sure why my 233 was indexed different than T_low's but mine is a few years newer so maybe that is why..
What year and model 233, did I miss that?
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710
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mdmead
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Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by mdmead »

Very nice!
Matt
Selah, WA
-96 GMC Safari AWD Hi-Top Conversion -->Stalled 5.3L swap & 5" lift
-74 Ford Bronco -->Far from perfect but mine!
-99 V-10 Ford Super Duty Super Cab 4x4 -->Stock with 285 Cooper ATs
-00 Ford Focus Wagon -->The Red Turd
-95 Ford 24' Class C Motorhome -->My big block sleeper
-07 Can-Am Outlander XT -->My yellow 4x4 quad for work & play
-04 Ski Doo REV Summit -->Still several chassis behind!


No new projects until the current ones are done!

Topic author
LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Mine was out of a 2000 Blazer LS 2 door.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
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mdmead
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Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by mdmead »

LiftedAWDAstro wrote: Image
Redline Revolt?! Is this a poster on your workbench or what? Cool!
Matt
Selah, WA
-96 GMC Safari AWD Hi-Top Conversion -->Stalled 5.3L swap & 5" lift
-74 Ford Bronco -->Far from perfect but mine!
-99 V-10 Ford Super Duty Super Cab 4x4 -->Stock with 285 Cooper ATs
-00 Ford Focus Wagon -->The Red Turd
-95 Ford 24' Class C Motorhome -->My big block sleeper
-07 Can-Am Outlander XT -->My yellow 4x4 quad for work & play
-04 Ski Doo REV Summit -->Still several chassis behind!


No new projects until the current ones are done!

Topic author
LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Sure is! Wish they would have went into full production...probably would own one now. I was about ready to put a deposit on one about 6 months before they died off.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
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Stroverlander
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Re: NP233 electric shift to manual shift swap

Post by Stroverlander »

Nice work and good to know about the differences in indexing on some 233s!

How's it working so far and can you engage/disengage while moving or have to stop?
2004 Astro LT AWD Stroverlander
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