T-case Shifters

[special-K]

So,did I read here before that the transfer case levers on some blazers were bent to the side towards the driver?That`s how the`70 I have is and it`s original.I don`t ever recall noticing this on Blazers,but seem to recall talk about it.It`s a TH350/NP205 combo in a CST.Was it because of buckets & console?The knob has no shift markings,either.

[DANTES JIMMY]

Could it be different for a manual shift to an auto??
Dont know just a guess ive never even noticed

[vtblazer]

None have ever been bent that I've seen.

CST or otherwise.

[special-K]

This one is chrome and looks like it was never bent.I`ll get a picture.

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by special-K

This one is chrome and looks like it was never bent.I`ll get a picture.

Chrome is CST, bent must be P/O.

[Blazer1970]

I have seen factory NP205 shifters here on the board that have a bend over top of the adapter so they come up on the drivers side of the tranny shifter (SM465). I believe that this was late '69 only or maybe some 1970 models. I have never seen this type of 205 shifter used with an automatic tranny, although it is a rare deal to start with so I can't say it was never done. I would guess that the bend caused some problems in shifting the t-case, or that GM just dropped it to simplify things since you can reach over past the tranny shifter and shift the t-case with no problem.

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by Blazer1970

I have seen factory NP205 shifters here on the board that have a bend over top of the adapter so they come up on the drivers side of the tranny shifter (SM465). I believe that this was late '69 only or maybe some 1970 models. I have never seen this type of 205 shifter used with an automatic tranny, although it is a rare deal to start with so I can't say it was never done. I would guess that the bend caused some problems in shifting the t-case, or that GM just dropped it to simplify things since you can reach over past the tranny shifter and shift the t-case with no problem.

Sounds reasonable.

I was thinking he was describing a bend outside (higher) than the tranny tunnel.

Seeing the pic will be interesting, love learning all these neat little things that GM did along the way.

[jaros44sr]

I have two that bend beloe the high hump, offset about 2" towards the driver...NP205/TH350

[6t727t2]

Hey Tim,
Anything like this? Set-up is in a 69/70 blazer. I've seen these before and they have the interesting aluminum plate/cover. I've seen 2 different types of the plate. Also have a similar set-up in a '68 GMC burb 4sp 4x4?

[6t727t2]

More pics. By the way is anyone else having to resize there pics to post?

[jaros44sr]

I gotta get over there soon...

[Yukon Jack]

st727t2 - that is the same plate that was in my 70 K5 that was missing it's transfer case - that plate is for the Dana 20 transfer case that was in some K5's.

Can you post a pic of the transfer case?

[Blazer1970]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

st727t2 - that is the same plate that was in my 70 K5 that was missing it's transfer case - that plate is for the Dana 20 transfer case that was in some K5's.

Can you post a pic of the transfer case?

Yup, those pics are all of Dana 20 set-ups. That is not the one I am talking about. BTW, the trim plate that was used with the Dana 20 that came in my '70 Blazer (may have been from a '69) is different from the ones in those pics. It does not have all that extra sheet metal on the drivers side of the shifter. Sometimes it seems like they change things just for the fun of it.

[special-K]

Here it is.That`s just old grease and some duct tape residue on it.No dicoloring from heating and no cracks or damage to chrome like when you bend it.You can see it came up through the hump and laid at an angle up towards the driver and pointed straight at the door.

[vtblazer]

That's one interesting shifter right there...

Musta been a knee knocker I'm guessing.

[Yukon Jack]

Haven't seen that style before.

[CPNE]

Got one just like it (without chrome) in a 70 K20, we're rebuilding. It's stock for the NP205 case for that year. I've seen a few like that. There could have been a mid-year change to the upright style we're more familiar with.

Knob is blank, glove box sticker shows shift pattern. Sticker went by wayside in 71 with the advent of the shift pattern on the knob. 70 was a transition year for a lot of things 4WD.

[Yukon Jack]

Originally Posted by CPNE

stock for the NP205 case for that year.

Cool to know - learn something new here every day.

Would be cool if someone would add a good picture like above of the NP205 shifter that you would normally find in a 71 or 72.

I'll get a good pic of the Rockwell T221 shifter I just pulled to post too.

[Classic Bowties]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

Would be cool if someone would add a good picture like above of the NP205 shifter that you would normally find in a 71 or 72.

Here is another one for comparison, the chrome lever on the left was pulled out of a 70 cst blazer with V8/th350/np205 and the one on the right is the common 71/72 th350 or sm465/np205 lever. Note the differences in the bend/lower areas of each, that 70 lever sets about center of trans cover while the 71/72 lever is offset more to the pass. side.

[Classic Bowties]

Disregard above seat pic, all I see are numbers when I download directly from the camera. I know for sure that Tim's (pictured above) 70 chrome lever is for a np205 and I am thinking that it could have maybe been from a 4-speed/np205 combo as I could imagine that GM designers considered clearance issues if and when in 2nd gear and 4-low at the same time?

[Critter]

So are we saying that the "extreme bend" shifter was the first style used on the NP205 and then 71-72 changed over to the more common style? Or did they somewhat intermingle through the years with out any rhyme or reason?

[Classic Bowties]

Originally Posted by Critter

So are we saying that the "extreme bend" shifter was the first style used on the NP205 and then 71-72 changed over to the more common style? Or did they somewhat intermingle through the years with out any rhyme or reason?

Going off memory of what I have seen and or parted in the past, I would say yes, the levers with the longer bend are the first style np205 lever. I am fairly sure that the np205 levers that came up thru the center of the trans hump cover were a 70 and prior deal, same goes for the shift knobs without shift patterns. Starting in 71 the np205 levers sat more to the right/passenger side of trans hump and no more shift pattern decals on the glove doors or visor areas due to it now being on the shift knob.

[Down south truckin]

Here is my take on the deal the more offset shifters come up through the tunnel in the center of the hump in 69-70 205 transfer cases the less offset ones come through a little to the passenger side of center 71-72 and the ones like special-k posted a picture of with the 45 degree bend towards the driver I allways thought came on the 69-70 205 4 speeds so when shifted into 2nd the transmission shifter would'nt hit the transfer case shifter. But since Tim (special-K) said the one he has came out of a automatic truck that blows my concept. I've had a couple 70 4x4s with autos and they both came up in the middle and did not have the 45 degree bend toward the driver.?????? who knows for sure if they were assembling a truck and was out of the correct one but had the other why would'nt they use it if it did'nt cause any problems.

[Critter]

I've also learned that different assembly plants could have used slightly different parts. A lot of this sort of thing was produced by a third party company (i.e. DANA). So a plant in Michigan might have a vender making straight sticks and a vender for a Kentucky plant might be bent, or maybe one plant changed over in 69 and another changed in 70, and so on and so forth. Maybe this idea doesn’t apply to this issue, but I know it happened from time to time in some instances…just my $1/50.

[Jtrux]

I guess i'll jump in, my K5 with a 465/205 has the same ole shifter that all the other 350/205 shifters have that come up on the passenger side. I went and looked at a 70 recently and it was a 350/205 and it came up on the passenger side just like mine.