ok im looking to buy a play truck and i found a 78 f-250 full time 4x4. correct me if im wrong it should be a np 203 transfer case? i was wondering what axle would be in the front? also how well would the axle and transfer case hold up when sled pulling or tug a truck? thanks for any help guys

 

That'll have a HP D44 up front. It's an average axle, unless you're launching the nose 3 ft in the air, it should last a good long time. I'd imagine upgrading axle shafts would probably be a good idea for what you're wanting. As for the transfer case, it's a decent case, but it's chain driven instead of gear driven like the 205. So you stand a good chance of chain stretch and failure with that 203 depending on what you're demanding...which sounds like will be alot.

 

if i change the transfer case will both drive shafts be different?

 

you could probably just yeah grab a 205 ( easy to ****** one up cheap from those who are not in the know) I'm not sure about the swap ability though. Are you looking for a truck to drive in 4x4 all the time.. or literally a " full time 4x4 transfer cased truck" As 704 DentsideMan said those 203's are ok ish.. but if you want a rugged t case 205 GEAR DRIVE is where its at!

 

well it doesnt matter if its all time 4 wheel but it has to be sturdy to handle spinning all four on cement

 

what type of mill are you putting in there lol 4 wheel spin you gotta have light truck or aSe spanking power haha. I would think the 205 can handle that.. make sure you go threw it to make sure theres little to no gear where an so on. i mean in theory its just some gears an snap rings a few seals... and a huge jebus weight be careful moving it around.

 

its gonna be used in tug a truck where the pull on concrete and its got a 460 down in her

 

also what locks the front end in on a full time 4x4? is it like the auto hubs

 

well best of my knowledge an " full time t case " is just that.. but i think its got high an low range.. and then at the front hubs they are locked in.. with no option to turn out. " free wheel" which .. yeah is fine unless your in town or on pavement all the time cause when you turn in 4by.. the front tires will have some bind up as one can't go faster or slower to do the turn.. like a marching band making a turn.. the inside goes slower then the outside. But then again if its a purpose built puller W/E giver hell.

 

well do you know if the front hubs on the full time are stronger? that is my main worry what is gonna be my weak points.

 

No offense but some of you have no clue on full time 4x4. The front hubs are just solid steel connecting the axle to the hub, that is instead of the unlockable hub, so yes they are stronger. You can drive a full time 4x4 truck (NP203) on concrete and in town and turn just fine, it does not bind up. The transfercase has a differential in it to prevent that (its kind of like an AWD Explorer except you cant shift shift the t-case on an Explorer). The NP203 has 5 positions. HI and LOW. You can run either of these on any surface and you are supposed to be in HI when driving down the road. In either of these all 4 wheels are pulling but NONE are directly locked together, all 4 can slip independently of each other. Then there neutral (self expalainatory). Then you have HI LOCK and LOW LOCK. In both of these ranges it's much like any 4x4 in HI or LOW. All 4 wheels are pulling but the T-case is locking the front and back axles together. Basically the differential in the T-case is now locked together. My dad and uncle have had probably 10 full time trucks, they like them a lot more than part time. To each there own and they do have their advantage. They do handle great in the snow.

 

Hey Thanks 331 , ( i was right about the hubs lol ) but i don't mind learning more. Also i really try to make sure that if i'm not 100% on the answer i mention that before i start saying anything. In your opinion if you had to choose would you choose the 203 over the 205 ? and aswell maybe it would be an idea to do a selectable hub delete ? that way he wouldn't have to worry about hubs breaking.

 

I grew up around a lot of full time 4x4s (203) and was kind of raised to think that was the best. lol. Just depends what you like more. I mean really the NP203 is super tough as well, just not quite as much as the 205. But off all the NP203s I've been around I've never seen a problem with any of them. You can't really play around as much with the 203 though. Just think of being in 2wd and spinning some donuts, can't do that with the full time since there is no 2wd range. Sometimes I actually wished my truck had a 203. I've got a pretty healthy 460 and the thing just smokes the tires on the street, street traction is a lot better with the 203 since all wheels are pulling at all times. I'm not swapping or anything like that but I do realize the 203 advantages but I still favor the 205. You don't have to worry about breaking the hubs with the full time, they are solid steal instead of an unlockable mechanism.

 

thats what i was hoping. its only going to be a puller so ill keep the hubs and transfer case the same until something breaks then ill go from there. thanks for all the help. ive heard about the all time around here but have never been around one or even seen one to my knowledge.

 

The np203 while not as bulletproof as the np205 is still a pretty stout t-case if maintained properply (though i still prefer the 205), if converted to part-time the hubs need to be locked on occasion to lube the internals, there's an oil "catch" which the spinning chain throws oil into and lubricates the rear output shaft bearing, this oil catch needs to be refilled occasionaly and the only way to do this after a part-time conversion is to drive in 4wd, many 203's also reach a premature death because some guys fill em with 90w gear lube which is too thick to properly lube the chain, 30w motor oil is the correct lube for a 203.