It will always look like that, check my pictures, my hardware is 2yo.

 

Well alright then, I'll just get some new pads then.

 

So I did a little poking around for gathering info on a np203 to np205 swapping the 205 is part time. From what I read the only things I really have to worry about is the drive line lengths and the mounts for it, otherwise it's a direct swap. However, I did read something about sealing full time hubs to part time? Does anyone know what that means? That was off a pirate4x4 forum I think and it was on an f-150 so mine might not matter. I want to make this swap but first I have to pull the motor for a rebuild , I just wanted to get some more info about it.

 

I guess I had one too many beers last night... the 203 is cast iron and the 205 is aluminum, right? Or am I nuts.

 

They both are iron. But, the NP205 has aluminum plates for inspection. I don't know about the NP203 though. If you think about it you can make a NP203/205 doubler .

 

Ah. So the 208? is the aluminum case in the newer (80's) trucks?

 

From what I hear the NP208 is an aluminum case. Which is why I'll swap in an NP205 into my future 1980-1987 supercab F150 or F250.

 

Yep gotcha. Back in my racing days I had an 84 Bronco that I put a Ranger body on. Long story. Anyway, I kept going through transfer cases. Something about coming down from 6' in the air that the aluminum cases didn't like. So I swapped in a cast iron unit from a 78, and I remember it being a bitch because it was a tad narrower than the aluminum one, and there was something to do with the cross member. We just made a new one and made it work. Other than that it was direct bolt up. Well shoot, it was really just C6 to C6 if you stop and think about it.

 

I think the main reason I want to do this is because I don't really like the idea that the 203 is full time. I want all the power directed backwards rather than most of it. I could probably get one for an ok price at the local junkyard and just have it rebuild or at least inspected professionally before installing it. Then clean up my old 203 and sell the sucker. it would be a fun project to do I think but first I need to do some other work to the truck.

 

Yeah, full time is crap. Hard to do smokey burn outs.

 

Haha, at $200+ a pop I doubt these 35's will see many burn outs But my fuel mileage should go up a tiny bit and the bower should increase since it won't be divided to the front. That accompanied with proper rear end gears and a rebuilt motor, that truck is going to drive right out from under the body

 

Hold on buddy ! You might want to get a parts kit for the NP203/205 doubler. It is fairly simple project. It will make your bronco a rock crawler (or a damn good tow/hauler). Not to mention that you will still keep some of the original parts that came with the Green Machine.

 

What do you mean? Running both the 203 and the 205? I also didn't really plan on rock crawling this truck. We don't have many rock crawling sites here in western washington, or at least any that I would risk my truck driving on. As for towing, I don't really know how much I plan to tow or what I plan to tow but I doubt it will go near my 5000~ weight limit. I got the hitch installed as a precaution incase I ever have to tow a trailer or tie a rope to another car on the side of the road. Last time I towed someone's car home via a tow rope, we hooked the rope to my leaf spring hanger and I really didn't think that was very safe. You also never know when a friend who only has a car will say "Hey you got a truck, why not tow this trailer for me to my new house!"

Anyways, so I saw mention of this coupling thing before, I will probably poke around to see what it is but I don't know if it would be worth rigging up. This truck is probably going to be used for daily driving more than offroading.

 

That's when you tell them to get their own truck, and the answer is hell no! haha

 

Well when you get payed $5 to drag a GM car 3 blocks away to the guy's driveway only to find out his aftermarket fuel pump wire came unhooked, it is worth it

On another note though, that 203/205 double sounds AWESOME! I found a link describing the work involved in it: ORD Doubler 4:1 Dual Transfer Case, NP205-NP203 - Fullsize 4x4 Parts

It sound like a really cool idea and would be something to try later down the road. For now though, just a 205 swap would be ideal. It says that the double should be about the same length as the current 203 which is a good thing to see. My issues that I would run into would be, exhaust, crossmember, and the price.

If I get a custom exhaust done before hand I'm not sure if it will have the clearance. No bother though, I can have the pipes repent to fit or something. They mentioned on that website that a custom crossmember needs to be made to support the new double, It makes sense because the current 203 mount on the frame probably isn't in the right place to grab the t-case and it probably isn't strong enough to hold it up.

Lastly is money, that is always a problem though


But regardless on weather or not I do any rock crawling, having a 4.1 low range vs a 2.1 would be great in any situation. And since it only uses the range gears from the 203, I don't need to worry about having the front powered when I don't want it to be.