I'm looking to buy a late 70's 4x4 and Ive seen a few that say 'full time 4x4'. I'm sorry if this is a stupid question but does that mean literally FULL TIME 4x4?? As in you cant take it out of 4 wheel drive? If someone could explain this to me a little more I'd greatly appreciate it. Sorry for the ignorance. Also while on the subject, could someone also tell me exactly how the locking hubs work. They have to be 'locked' to engage the 4x4? So if they are locked and you shift out of 4x4 does the 4x4 disengage? If their unlocked and you shift into 4x4 what happens? Sorry for the silly questions but I'd like as much knowledge as possible before making my purchase. Thanks

 

Well for the locking hubs part if they are manual hubs that you have to get out of the truck and turn the little black **** in the middle of the hub that locks it in if you put into 4x4 and they aint locked in simple no power to front wheels im not to sure if that harms the 4x4 system or not

But if you have auto locking hubs you just have to put into 4x4 and go dont have to get out and turn them they are automatically locked into 4x4 hope this helps...

 

full time 4wd uses a np203 transfercase your front and rear axle are linked though a differental type unit in the trafercase when the tranfercase is in 4hi or 4lo power shifts between the front and rear axle during normal driving when you go off roading you can put it into 4 hi-loc or 4lo-loc this basicly locks the front and rear driveshaft together so power is going to both driving axles at the same time.The down side to fultime is you are allways turning the front diff,they use a hi-vo chain in the tcase wich gets loose and gives you alot of driveline slack and they crowhop around shaper corners.Parttme 4wd uses a np205 transfercase it has 4hi-2hi-n-4lo and Lockout hubs wich disconect the front drivining axles from the hub spindle so when the hubs are unlocked its just like a regular 2wd frontend. yes you can leave the hubs locked in and drive in 2hi the axles and driveshaft turn but thats all, you can pull it into 4 hi wich give a solid lock between the front and rear diffs but you cannot go from 2hi to 4hi without the hubs locked in. you should never drive in hi-loc,lo-loc,with a full timer on surfaces like dry tar.Same goes for a part timer with the hubs locked in and in either 4hi or 4lo as this will cause the driveline to bind up eventually breaking exspensive parts. hope this helps in your search. Also it was quite common to put a "part time kit in a full time truck wich made them work just like a part timer in an effort to save fuel and wear on the truck

 

Thanks alot plowpusher for taking the time to type all that, you explained it very well. One more for ya........."Divorced" transfer case?? Thanks in advance......

 

A divorced transfer case has an extra drive shaft between the transmission and the transfer case. This is typical of all F-250's built before 77. I dont think its any better or worse than a married transfer case which is mounted directly to the transmission other than there are 2 more u-joints to maintain.

 

plowpusher and FordTrucksKickGM, explained both really good.

I wouldn't want the divorced t case, b/c of the 2 extra u joints(just more weak points that need to be upgraded).
The NP203(full time t case) uses drive flanges not manul lockout hubs. It is about 100 lbs heavier, very bulky, and is chain driven. It can also be converted to Part time 4x4, but is a pain, and the linkage is know to mess up, and need to be readjusted (which is hard to do). The only good thing about converting it to part time is the truck would now have 2wd, but the fact that you have a 2wd Lo option now.

The NP205 (part time t case) is gear driven, much stronger, lighter, and more desirable.

 

OK well I just bought a 78 F150 4x4 C-6 from an old farmer. He insisted on taking me down his dirt(mud) road while we were discussing price etc. We got out and locked in the hubs so its definitely not full time 4x4, but the shifter has:

LO-Locked
LO
N
HI
HI-Locked


I thought I had this all figured out but now I am confused again. Is it possible some one just put that old **** on the shifter? I was hoping it was a NP205 but now I'm not sure.

 

You should just shift through all the 4x4 gears and see if it has the usual 4hi-2hi-N-4Lo, or if it has the 5 listed on the ****. The one extra click will tell you...

 

it could have a part time kit in it alot of people did that to conserve fuel

 

OK well I'm starting to think I got a full time transfer case thats been converted to part time. It wouldnt have lock out hubs if it was full time right? Or maybe they swapped out transfer cases and left the old shift lever in there. Is there a sure way to ID the transfer case? Thanks alot guys sorry if these are stupid questions.

 

Right. Full time 4wd would have just bright caps over the hubs.

 

part time case has a small cover on the back in the middle a full time has a large aluminum center cover the part time case has one shift rod from the shifter to the tcase a full time has two shifter rods. There is sometimes a tag on the rear also.

 

Here's pictures of my NP205 C6 Married. Sorry the pics aren't too good, just ran out and took them in the dark, just aimed the camera, and the flash let me know what I was pointing at.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i44/ihateminimumwage/DSCN5116.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i44/ihateminimumwage/DSCN5115.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i44/ihateminimumwage/DSCN5114.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i44/ihateminimumwage/DSCN5113.jpg

Take a look and compare to what's under yours.

EDIT: I've always thought mine to be a 205, but Plowpusher's description doesn't match... I have two shifters, large aluminum rear, and a part time 4x4. Just confusing me at this point...

 

Well, if these ARE stupid questions, I'm glad it's you askin 'em . . . cause I'm new to this 4wd thing myself. I need to know the same things. Recently bought a '78 F-250. It's got manual hubs but I'll have to go look to say for sure what the shifter says.

This is why I've started lurkin around here.

Thanks for asking wyazel!

Mitch

 

Sure looks like the 205. It has the PTO plate. I don't think the 203 has a PTO plate. I've never seen a 203, so I can't confirm this.