You are really making progress! It's looking so great!

David

 

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Lovely old highboy. That thing cleaned up wonderfully!

 

Installed a new heater core today

 

Converted the 203 to part time with mile marker 501 kit, fairly easy took about two hours. Definitely glad I did it while I had the bed off makes it much easier. Also painted the bottom of the bed and installed it on the truck. Installed the tailgate gate and wiring for the rear lights.

 

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That’s less than a 30 day build , that’s rolling .

 

Make sure to use a proper lubricant in the transfer case. By "proper" though I'm not exactly sure what would be best. Back then there seemed to be several choices based on who you talked to and what book you read.

But the reason I even bring it up is that after a few years of availability, we had more and more converted 203's come into the shop with severe wear in the planetary area. Only with the 501 kit though, as the really expensive one with the new shaft and gears never had any issues that we saw.
I wish I could remember the exact damage seen, and back then we rarely took pictures of anything. But it was "a thing' so keep it in mind.

What is the recommended lube for the 203? Wasn't ATF the go to lube for awhile? I wonder if there wasn't enough protection in that. Or if people started putting heavy gear oil in and were not getting proper splash lube up into the depths of the case.
I guess no way to know unless someone kept track of that kind of stuff and posted it up on the internet somewhere.
Heck, for all I know the only ones that had issues were the guys out there abusing their rigs with 40's and mud-bogging!

Have fun with that great truck. It's a real piece of history I think just for having those words on the door.
Not to mention it's a gorgeous Explorer model!
I would have been tempted to leave the ugly old factory mirrors on it, maybe painted white? But I have always liked the look of the Type 9's on our trucks. In fact I just bought a set and they don't fit for crap. Right style, but like they were designed for a different truck.
Where did you get yours?

Thanks

Paul

 

I read a good article on a k5 blazer forum on the conversion, did not say anything about lube. But he did say to fill the the housing where the shaft is with oil. I filled it with gl5 through the speedometer gear hole . He also said to run it in 4x4 every now and then to get oil up to the rear output shaft assembly. Luckily this truck doesn’t have many miles on it an everything inside case looked great. Only difference I came up on from the blazer instructions is rear output shaft nut is 1 1/8 and you have to remove 4x4 light switch and detent.

Mirrors came from lmc truck originally had this style had holes in the door all ready. The fit the holes in my door, also have some on a bronco if you don’t keep them waxed brackets will rust. Mirrors are stainless and arm is aluminum but brackets are steel.

 

NP203 does not get standard gear oil, its too thick. I believe you want a 30W and if its a conversion for lockouts they want you to put it in 4wheel drive frequently so the chain can throw oil around the case, other wise its not getting the oil as it should... I put 10-30 in my 203 case, but its full time with no conversion, so its always slinging oil around...

 

At one time Mile Marker said to engage the transfer case at least once a month for 1-2 miles on a hard surface road. I think gravel roads would be best.

 

Ok thanks for the info on the oil, I drained gear oil out of it so I figured that’s what it takes.

 

Vabow,

All this 4wd actuation and special T-Case oil nonsense sounds like a real hassle.

I suggest that you sell this excellent HB example to me at your total investment cost ASAP to get it out of your hair.

Truck looks great!!!

 

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A calendar worth shot if there ever was one!

Paul