MG Metal Works DIY kit knowledge share

[Turbo]

Originally Posted by Lilnuts2

You can convert your 2wd tranny to a 4wd. You have to replace the main shaft and the tail section. If your thinking about buying a 4wd tranny and rebuilding it, might be cheaper to rebuild and convert the one you have already, plus you know it will connect back up just fine.

I made a few calls and the price to rebuild mine is about the same as buying a rebuilt 4wd transmission. That didn't account for new parts of the main shaft and new tail section.


Having said that, knowing it'll connect back up is a legit reason. I'll add that to the pro/con list.

[Turbo]

Looking for thoughts on NV271 vs NV273. Between the two the price for each unit is about the same, ~800 reman. NV271 cuts a hole in the floor, NV273 one runs wires and replaces one of the 12v plugs with a selector switch. I think I have the NV271 list correct, but heavily guessing for the NV273. Based my guesses off of this post + car-parts.com searching. Would love insight on what I'm missing as the price looks too similar.

NV 271 ($1210)
NV271 $795
Transfer Case Shifter Kit $325
Shifter Trim Kit $90

NV273 ($1245)
NV273 $795
Transmission Harness 4x4 ($150 salvage, only for the selector wiring)
2002 Transfer Case Motor ($150 salvage/reman)
2002 Transfer Case Switch ($25-50 salvage)
2002 Ford Transfer Case Unit GEM ($100-200 salvage)


Started my part tracking. Might be useful for anyone that is giving their van the MG conversion.

[mgmetalworks]

Originally Posted by Turbo

Looking for thoughts on NV271 vs NV273. Between the two the price for each unit is about the same, ~800 reman. NV271 cuts a hole in the floor, NV273 one runs wires and replaces one of the 12v plugs with a selector switch. I think I have the NV271 list correct, but heavily guessing for the NV273. Based my guesses off of this post + car-parts.com searching. Would love insight on what I'm missing as the price looks too similar.

NV 271 ($1210)
NV271 $795
Transfer Case Shifter Kit $325
Shifter Trim Kit $90

NV273 ($1245)
NV273 $795
Transmission Harness 4x4 ($150 salvage, only for the selector wiring)
2002 Transfer Case Motor ($150 salvage/reman)
2002 Transfer Case Switch ($25-50 salvage)
2002 Ford Transfer Case Unit GEM ($100-200 salvage)


Started my part tracking. Might be useful for anyone that is giving their van the MG conversion.

Have I sent you the NV273 PDF? I have part numbers and wiring diagrams in there.

[Turbo]

Originally Posted by mgmetalworks

Have I sent you the NV273 PDF? I have part numbers and wiring diagrams in there.

Nope! That would be a huge help.

[amamdani]

I have a 2013 5.4L, 4r75, NV273 in the midst of a MG conversion.

From the ujoint diy forum, the speedometer needs to be corrected (for 4-lo),
otherwise the ecu gets confused and the van does not go more than 3-4 mph.

i am assuming I will need to do this too. can anybody lend any guidance here?

I am thinking to use the Abbott ERA, but maybe I need two -- one for hi and one for low since I am regearing to 4.56 and plan to run 34" tires.

thank you in advance.

[mgmetalworks]

The ERA is for the 4R100. The 4R75 doesn’t need the ratio adapter.

[amamdani]

Originally Posted by mgmetalworks

The ERA is for the 4R100. The 4R75 doesn’t need the ratio adapter.

thank you MG.

even though i don't require it, can i still use the ERA to compensate for regearing and wheel size, yes? also for the lo gear speedo correction, yes?

thank you.

[Turbo]

What Stabilizer Bar Links should we be using with Stabilizer Bar 8C2Z-5482-B?


Anyone have detailed pictures of the front-end completed (or a thread w/ front end pictures)? Getting organized and trying to lay it together to check my part list. It seems like I might have missed a part or two.

[winnievan]

Originally Posted by amamdani

thank you MG.

even though i don't require it, can i still use the ERA to compensate for regearing and wheel size, yes? also for the lo gear speedo correction, yes?

thank you.

This may just be for the 4r100 -- but...
I haven't seen people needing an abbott for lo-gear speedo correction -- and even if you did -- you'd need it to be a separate one than the one you use for re-gearing and wheel size... since your speedometer sensor is using transmission output shaft revolutions to determine your wheel speed (IIRC) -- this could all be different for the 4R75

Thus -- when you go into 4LO you're getting 2.72:1 gear reduction -- so you're getting 2.72x more output shaft revs per tire revolution -- so you'd need two Abbots -- and a relay to trigger which one is active -- one for when you're in 2LO or 4HI with 1:1 gears in this transfer case and one for when you're @ 4LO with 2.72:1 gear reduction.

This was an issue with my Astro -- where you had to ground a pin @ the PCM to tell the computer it was in 4LO so it could do this math for you -- the F-series (where our axles come from) doesn't have this feature and the speedo signal is sent from the rear pinion on the older trucks. I'm not sure how it is sent on the newer trucks.

That being said -- the even if the speedo is off -- I think this shift points for the transmission should remain the same -- which is the more important part -- but I haven't dug into this very deeply.

The Abbott unit is great - but I'm going with this unit on eBay which is much less expensive and looks incredibly well-built -- I even spoke with the guy on the phone and he knows his stuff.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIVERSAL-S...P/143554785386

You can go your own way there -- and mine isn't quite installed yet -- but the cost savings is significant for a very simple device.

Mind sharing a link to the u-joint thread where this is discussed? It's always had me curious and I haven't really seen it addressed..

[Fork-N-Road]

Originally Posted by Turbo

What Stabilizer Bar Links should we be using with Stabilizer Bar 8C2Z-5482-B?


Anyone have detailed pictures of the front-end completed (or a thread w/ front end pictures)? Getting organized and trying to lay it together to check my part list. It seems like I might have missed a part or two.

I threw mine out yesterday, you might want to try driving your van before installing the sway bar. Mine has been off for several thousand miles and I am not planning on reinstalling.

I'm in OC if you want to see a kit that has been installed.