NP 205 question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chevypete396 · 11-17-2002, 10:30 PM

I have a 1968 3/4 ton long bed with a SM465 and a ten spline NP205,

I have had 5 guys at NAPA, a guy at a driveline shop in vegas, various "Expert Friends", and the latest, a guy at a drive line shop in Reno tell me that the 205 Transfer case was not available in 68. Most think they were not made available in these trucks untill 70 some said 72. What the??? I was under the impression that was an original transfer case untill the latest guy just told me otherwise. He seemed to know his $hit and got me wondering...

Am I wrong???

Any Ideas on why the previous owner would have changed it over? As near as I can tell, the truck came as a 68 3/4 ton long bed 4X4 with a 4 speed and a 396ci

Pete.

teeitup · 11-17-2002, 10:51 PM

Hey Pete, I don't think they made 4x4 with big blocks in them but I'm not for sure. I think the np205 came out in 70 but not for sure on that either. My 67 and 68 have rockwells in them and the three 72's have np205's. Good luck Randy

**JIMs70GMC** · 11-18-2002, 06:13 AM

Sounds like everything from the motor to transfer case was swapped in. I believe the SM465 was not offered until 69 as well as the NP205. Big blocks(396 or 402) were 2wd only in 67-72. I believe the biggest engine you could get in a 4wd in 1968 was a 327. In 1967 and 68 the 4 speed was the SM420 and a rockwell TC.

Blazer1970 · 11-18-2002, 12:29 PM

What others have said is correct. Your truck would have come originally with an SM420, a Rockwell/Timken T221 t-case, and nothing bigger than a 327 small block. The first time you could ever get a big block in a 4X4 was in 1988 with that new body style.

Dean · 11-18-2002, 01:14 PM

Ditto on the no big blocks in 67-72 4x4s.

A previous owner must have wanted the extra strength of the NP205.

Dean · 11-18-2002, 01:16 PM

And I'm sure you could get big blocks in 73-87 4X4s. We bought a 86 K30 new with a 454.

HeavyK20 · 11-18-2002, 03:55 PM

How do you tell the difference between an SM420 and Sm465?

Blazer1970 · 11-18-2002, 05:14 PM

SM420 reverse is down to the left and the tranny has one PTO cover. SM465 reverse is down to the right and the tranny has PTO covers on both sides.

chevypete396 · 11-19-2002, 09:10 AM

Holy crap! I wonder what the hell my truck was origionally. Hell, I don't know anything about my truck anymore.

I thought for sure big blocks came in 4x4's

Thanks guys... Pete

11-17-2002, 10:30 PM	#1
chevypete396 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fernley, Nevada, USA Posts: 540	NP 205 question I have a 1968 3/4 ton long bed with a SM465 and a ten spline NP205, I have had 5 guys at NAPA, a guy at a driveline shop in vegas, various "Expert Friends", and the latest, a guy at a drive line shop in Reno tell me that the 205 Transfer case was not available in 68. Most think they were not made available in these trucks untill 70 some said 72. What the??? I was under the impression that was an original transfer case untill the latest guy just told me otherwise. He seemed to know his $hit and got me wondering... Am I wrong??? Any Ideas on why the previous owner would have changed it over? As near as I can tell, the truck came as a 68 3/4 ton long bed 4X4 with a 4 speed and a 396ci Pete. __________________ 1968 Chevy - 3/4 Ton - 4X4 - Longbed - 383ci - TH350 - NP205 Building the motor, painting the engine bay, rewireing everything... (775)-527-1199 / ryanspeterson@msn.com

11-17-2002, 10:51 PM	#2
teeitup Just like to part out trucks!! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Meriden, Ks-North of Topeka 10 miles Posts: 27,395	Hey Pete, I don't think they made 4x4 with big blocks in them but I'm not for sure. I think the np205 came out in 70 but not for sure on that either. My 67 and 68 have rockwells in them and the three 72's have np205's. Good luck Randy __________________ 67 Chev swb stepside 4x4 283 4 speed SOLD 72 blazer 4x4 4 speed Cheyenne 72 GMC swb 4x4 fleet 4 speed, original paint 1958 Cameo (one of 1405 built, it was my dads) 2020 chevy Apex 4x4 crew cab 1969 Z28 with the 302 1980 chevy swb 4x4 1964 chevell Malibu SS 1976 K20, sold new originally out of my dads chevy dealership Members that I've met, over 200 probably closer to 300 in the 12 years I've been on this site, everyone I met "It was a pleasure"

11-18-2002, 06:13 AM	#3
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Sounds like everything from the motor to transfer case was swapped in. I believe the SM465 was not offered until 69 as well as the NP205. Big blocks(396 or 402) were 2wd only in 67-72. I believe the biggest engine you could get in a 4wd in 1968 was a 327. In 1967 and 68 the 4 speed was the SM420 and a rockwell TC. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

11-18-2002, 12:29 PM	#4
Blazer1970 Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Old Mission, MI, USA Posts: 2,507	What others have said is correct. Your truck would have come originally with an SM420, a Rockwell/Timken T221 t-case, and nothing bigger than a 327 small block. The first time you could ever get a big block in a 4X4 was in 1988 with that new body style. __________________ Tim

11-18-2002, 03:55 PM	#7
HeavyK20 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New Richmond, WI Posts: 547	How do you tell the difference between an SM420 and Sm465? __________________ Eric 1969 K20, 465/205 package

11-18-2002, 01:14 PM	#5
Dean Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 1,492	Ditto on the no big blocks in 67-72 4x4s. A previous owner must have wanted the extra strength of the NP205.

11-18-2002, 01:16 PM	#6
Dean Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 1,492	And I'm sure you could get big blocks in 73-87 4X4s. We bought a 86 K30 new with a 454.

11-18-2002, 05:14 PM	#8
Blazer1970 Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Old Mission, MI, USA Posts: 2,507	SM420 reverse is down to the left and the tranny has one PTO cover. SM465 reverse is down to the right and the tranny has PTO covers on both sides. __________________ Tim

11-19-2002, 09:10 AM	#9
chevypete396 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fernley, Nevada, USA Posts: 540	Holy crap! I wonder what the hell my truck was origionally. Hell, I don't know anything about my truck anymore. I thought for sure big blocks came in 4x4's Thanks guys... Pete __________________ 1968 Chevy - 3/4 Ton - 4X4 - Longbed - 383ci - TH350 - NP205 Building the motor, painting the engine bay, rewireing everything... (775)-527-1199 / ryanspeterson@msn.com

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