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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 12:23 PM
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4 low

When is first time they put a 4 low in ford trucks? I have a 76 F-100 standard and it didn't have one from the factory.
 
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 05:01 PM
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You sure? I have (2) 1974 F100. One with the NP205 t-case the other with the NP203 t-case. They both have 4 low, just different configurations on where to find it.

Not sure if they used any other t-cases in these years, so you may be right.
 
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 05:09 PM
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from what i found only the 205 and 203 were put in 73-79
 
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 05:19 PM
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Some stated sometime in '76 or '77, but there are people who have 4LO in earlier trucks.

jcd, they also used Dana 21 (or 24) transfer case. It went away in favor for the NP 203/205 sometime in 1976 or 1977.

1976 was the last year for the F100 4x4.
 
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 07:25 PM
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i have a 73' and it does NOT have 4 low which bites. its the dana 21 i believe. oh well i guess it will have to have the 205 swapped into it
 
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 08:48 PM
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yeah it is a dana 21. my buddy has a 73 4x4, and it dont have a 4lo. but the 4x4 it does have pulls alot better than a 4hi in a 205 i think.
 
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 10:37 PM
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I have the dana 21 in mine, so far its holding up to 38's, for now. My truck is a 74 f100.
 
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 10:48 PM
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Ive got a 73 f100 with a dana 21, if that helps
 
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Old Feb 11, 2009 | 06:29 AM
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Well what do you know, you learn something everyday. Now why would Ford need a 3rd t-case for there trucks? You have the NP203 and NP205, why would you spend the money on tooling and such to set up for a 3rd t-case? What is the benifit of the Dana 21? Is it 4wd all the time like the NP203? or can you shift between 2wd and 4wd?

I'm just wondering why they even offered the Dana 21 t-case?
 
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Old Feb 11, 2009 | 08:17 AM
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they have 2wd and 4wd mode. I believe ford also used the 21 in quite a few broncos and they were around in some other vehicles as well.
 
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Old Feb 11, 2009 | 12:14 PM
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From what understand the 21 is pretty much indestructable im locked in the rear so ive only wished i had low a few times to save the clutch mainly but that granny gear does alot for us i would like to run dual t casaes so then i could have a one piece driveshaft carrier bearings scare me
 
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Old Feb 11, 2009 | 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by IZZYAZ
Well what do you know, you learn something everyday. Now why would Ford need a 3rd t-case for there trucks? You have the NP203 and NP205, why would you spend the money on tooling and such to set up for a 3rd t-case? What is the benifit of the Dana 21? Is it 4wd all the time like the NP203? or can you shift between 2wd and 4wd?

I'm just wondering why they even offered the Dana 21 t-case?
*shrugs*

The Dana 21 was the first transfer case used on these trucks. NP203/205 didn't come till '76 or '77. By then, the Dana 21 was phased out.

The Dana 21 was a single-speed part-time transfer case.

Since you said you have a '74 F100 with a NP205, do you know its history? Did you swap in the transfer case?
 
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Old Feb 11, 2009 | 03:45 PM
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You sure that the Dana 21 was the only thing avalible?

My good truck had the 203 in it, I am in the process of swapping in the 205 from the parts truck. My good truck was owned by my neighbors father since new, and he isn't the type of person to swap parts around. Not saying he didn't, but I will have to ask him. Plus, who in there right mind would convert a truck to full time 4wd (203)?

Now the truck that I am taking the 205 out of could have been swapped in. It has a '66 Mercury 390 in it, so never know what transformation that truck has had.

Now would it matter if it was an automatic or manual tranny? Both my trucks are C6 autos. Was the Dana 21 used in the manuals only maybe?

Also, JBG lists 203 and 205 parts for 73-79.
 
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Old Feb 11, 2009 | 05:41 PM
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For the part-time 4WD, yes.

Yes, it would matter. Ford never offered a manual in the NP203. They offered both with the part-time Dana 21/NP 205. From what I've seen, the earlier 4x4 trucks usually had a manual, so they are more likely to come with the part-time transfer case. If it's an auto, I would suspect it has a NP203. The last Highboy I looked with an auto had caps on the hubs, so it had a NP203 but I couldn't verify that.

JBG is a parts catalog. They list that to be generic.
 
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Old Feb 11, 2009 | 08:36 PM
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74 F100 Ranger
i have a 205, original case, no swapping.
 
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