[MJN]

Originally Posted by kipps

Someone else on a different group said the reason the full-time np203 was only offered behind automatics for several years had to do with the annoying jerkiness when turning. The automatic transmission helped damper some of that jerkiness.

I also saw that post and can attest to the jerkiness while turning. I would also imagine production take-rate had a part to play along with the customer feedback. My '74 K20 was a 465/203 combo from the factory but I swapped it to a 205 to make it more drivable and less wear/tear on all the driveline parts. I kept the transfer case, adapter and drive flanges if I ever decided to return it back to as-built. I also would say the NP205 wasn't a 'special' order item, rather just a production option when the NP203 was standard equipment based on base model code. Same treatment to getting any other RPO (mirrors, trim package, etc) when buying your truck.