Questions regarding transfer cases

[craig32]

Greetings all! I have a question or two for the square body guys about 4WD units. I bought a 56 awhile back that had what was supposed to be 76 Blazer axles under it. I had no intentions on keeping it that way and removed the front axle (apparently a corporate 10 bolt with lock out hubs, not a Dana 44) in favor of a stock straight axle. The transfer case, which should be a NP 205, and what I think is a SM465 transmission remain. I did get a new transmission of the same type without the transfer case, but it has no crossmember mounts. The PO hacked out the original crossmember and fabbed up one that goes under the transfer case, so it'll be a little while yet til I get it changed.
Sooo, my question(s) about the transfer case: There was no knob on the shifter, or floor plate with it indcating shift pattern, how do I know what gear it is in, by the positioning of the plungers or otherwise? If it is in 4 high, will the yoke for the now vacant front axle still turn? I ran it all last summer (not many miles though) and it worked good, just not the greatest milage, but the 400 might account for that.

Thanks!

Craig32 (from the Task Force section)