hot np203
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hot np203
howdy guys...
I was wonderin' if any of ya had any trouble in the past with a unmaried np203 t-case geting hot in 'bout 40 miles or so. it is still full time and it has about 108,000miles on it. it does not seem to run any cooler even in 4hi loc and front driveshaft removed. I took the driveshafts loose and it turns nice and smooth. it didn't mater what gear oil I ran either, I tried 80/90 and 50wt. it was geting hot enough to cook the grease out of the input u-joint! I have since pulled it out and replaced it with a 205, but I would like to use it in another truck if I can fix it. any input would be helpful thanx.
Will
I was wonderin' if any of ya had any trouble in the past with a unmaried np203 t-case geting hot in 'bout 40 miles or so. it is still full time and it has about 108,000miles on it. it does not seem to run any cooler even in 4hi loc and front driveshaft removed. I took the driveshafts loose and it turns nice and smooth. it didn't mater what gear oil I ran either, I tried 80/90 and 50wt. it was geting hot enough to cook the grease out of the input u-joint! I have since pulled it out and replaced it with a 205, but I would like to use it in another truck if I can fix it. any input would be helpful thanx.
Will
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Kansas
hot np203
Will,
My looking says NP 203's use 10W-40. Hope that helps.
Also, would like to "talk" with you about your t'case swap. I plan on doing the same, and want all the info I can get. Thanks.
Matt
My looking says NP 203's use 10W-40. Hope that helps.
Also, would like to "talk" with you about your t'case swap. I plan on doing the same, and want all the info I can get. Thanks.
Matt
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Senior User
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hot np203
>Will,
> My looking says NP 203's use 10W-40. Hope that helps.
> Also, would like to "talk" with you about your t'case
>swap. I plan on doing the same, and want all the info I can
>get. Thanks.
>
>Matt
It was pretty easy really, depends on what year and if its a f150 or f250. Mine is a f250 so I didn't have to mess with the transmission. You will need the driveshafts, speedo cable, shifter and its linkadge. glad to help!
Will
> My looking says NP 203's use 10W-40. Hope that helps.
> Also, would like to "talk" with you about your t'case
>swap. I plan on doing the same, and want all the info I can
>get. Thanks.
>
>Matt
It was pretty easy really, depends on what year and if its a f150 or f250. Mine is a f250 so I didn't have to mess with the transmission. You will need the driveshafts, speedo cable, shifter and its linkadge. glad to help!
Will
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 167
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From: Kansas
hot np203
Will,
Unfortunatly, mine is married, so I will have to mess with the transmission. A guy at the local Auto Zone made the same swap in a Bronco, and is going to sell me a shifter, so he's invited me to crawl under his with him and see what changes he made, as they should be identical.
On the other hand, this is just a "play" truck. I'm not an abusive driver, so if your F250 had an NP 203, I'd think my F150 would probably wear out before the 203 t'case does. It might be more trouble than it's worth to mess with the swap.
I don't suppose you know where I could find some full-time hubs for a Dana 44, do you?
Thanks for the response.
Matt
Unfortunatly, mine is married, so I will have to mess with the transmission. A guy at the local Auto Zone made the same swap in a Bronco, and is going to sell me a shifter, so he's invited me to crawl under his with him and see what changes he made, as they should be identical.
On the other hand, this is just a "play" truck. I'm not an abusive driver, so if your F250 had an NP 203, I'd think my F150 would probably wear out before the 203 t'case does. It might be more trouble than it's worth to mess with the swap.
I don't suppose you know where I could find some full-time hubs for a Dana 44, do you?
Thanks for the response.
Matt
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hot np203
Matt,
If you are not having any trouble with the np203 and the truck is just a play toy I would not change it. mine had been in the truck since it was new and it was probably just getting tired. Mine is now also a play toy, but it has pulled trailers and spent most of its life on pavement. unless you are going to abuse your truck it will do fine.
not sure on the full time hubs you asked about, are you looking for lockouts or the stock splined cap (no lockout). my brothers 77 half ton has lockouts and his has a 203. but it has a conversion in it to make it part time. it is nice because it gives you a 2 wheel low. but I didn't mean to ramble on but I thought this could be a easy out if you want to make it part time and you wont have to do a lot of swaping around. the kit just replaces the diff. in the t.case.
Will
If you are not having any trouble with the np203 and the truck is just a play toy I would not change it. mine had been in the truck since it was new and it was probably just getting tired. Mine is now also a play toy, but it has pulled trailers and spent most of its life on pavement. unless you are going to abuse your truck it will do fine.
not sure on the full time hubs you asked about, are you looking for lockouts or the stock splined cap (no lockout). my brothers 77 half ton has lockouts and his has a 203. but it has a conversion in it to make it part time. it is nice because it gives you a 2 wheel low. but I didn't mean to ramble on but I thought this could be a easy out if you want to make it part time and you wont have to do a lot of swaping around. the kit just replaces the diff. in the t.case.
Will
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 167
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From: Kansas
hot np203
Will,
The splined cap is probably what I want. Since I haven't actually seen what was there to begin with, I'm not sure.
I have looked into the kits to make an NP 203 part time. The one that seems the strongest, and what I would likely do if I decide to change it, is a kit from Milemarker that changes, what I am assuming is, the output shaft. The only down side to this that I've heard is that you have to drive 10 miles of every 200 either in 4 hi or lock the hubs. Since the t'case has no pump, spinning the front drive chain is the only way to splash the oil around in the case, and without it, there is an oil catch in the rear housing that will get dry and can burn things up. I need to look into it more, but it seems like something easy to forget and expensive to forget, too.
Really, though, I'm not planning on doing any trailer towing. I don't now, and if I need to, my 2 wheel drive 74 F100 would do that nicely (390, C6, 9in). I bought the truck for less than 1k so I would have something for snow and maybe some dirty play. For right now, though, until I get this lifter tick resolved, it's just a project. Plan was to rebuild the 360 into a 390 anyway, I just may need to do it sooner. Plus, rebuild the driveline. Basically, I want a tank.
Thanks for the input, Will. I appreciate the help.
Matt
The splined cap is probably what I want. Since I haven't actually seen what was there to begin with, I'm not sure.
I have looked into the kits to make an NP 203 part time. The one that seems the strongest, and what I would likely do if I decide to change it, is a kit from Milemarker that changes, what I am assuming is, the output shaft. The only down side to this that I've heard is that you have to drive 10 miles of every 200 either in 4 hi or lock the hubs. Since the t'case has no pump, spinning the front drive chain is the only way to splash the oil around in the case, and without it, there is an oil catch in the rear housing that will get dry and can burn things up. I need to look into it more, but it seems like something easy to forget and expensive to forget, too.
Really, though, I'm not planning on doing any trailer towing. I don't now, and if I need to, my 2 wheel drive 74 F100 would do that nicely (390, C6, 9in). I bought the truck for less than 1k so I would have something for snow and maybe some dirty play. For right now, though, until I get this lifter tick resolved, it's just a project. Plan was to rebuild the 360 into a 390 anyway, I just may need to do it sooner. Plus, rebuild the driveline. Basically, I want a tank.
Thanks for the input, Will. I appreciate the help.
Matt
