Transfer case only has 3 positions, no 4x4...Help!

[benbloom]

Hi guys, Ive got a 69 k10 with a 4 speed and granny low gears. The transfer case shifter is on the drivers side of the hump, and i can't for the life of me figure out how to get into 4 wheel drive.. only 3 positions on the transfer case:
shifter all the way forward- 2 High
shifter in the middle - Neutral
Shifter touching bench - 2 low

Everywhere says that there should be 4 positions, 2hi, 4hi, N, and 4lo. anyone know the reason for this? is the only way to engage 4x4 to lock the hubs? any input would be greatly appreciated. will post pictures when i can.

[benbloom]

ALSO, there is this stiff brown foam all around where the transmission meets the cab floor, you can see if from under the truck. anyone else have this? or is it possible this tranny isn't stock?

[special-K]

Is it grease that has been flung from the yoke being greased? That is typical and a great rust deterrent . Could you take some pictures? I assume you have a Rockwell T221 transfer case. In your other thread I described the NP205 pattern. The Rockwell is forward to back: 2HI-4HI-N-4LO...backwards from the NP205. You should feel those 4 distinct postions. As far as not having 4wd, I would look at the hubs. If one isn't locking-in you will have nothing happening up front. The driveshaft will spin but the wheels won't be driven. You can check to see if the transfer sae is engaging with truck static by turning the driveshaft by hand. It should turn when in neutral and 3HI and not spin in 4HI and 4LO. That is where I wouls start. With front wheels in air you can spin check static whether the hubs are engaging. If the wheels will spin directly with the shaft they are engaging

[benbloom]

/Users/benbloom/Pictures/iPhoto Library.photolibrary/Previews/2015/06/24/20150624-101656/rJcxlY0yRuyF3bozVTmGKg/IMG_3698.jpg

[benbloom]

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These are the only 3 distinct positions, all the way back is low gears, middle is neutral, forward is high. there are some very short little clicks that it makes when its far forward, but no difference in the way it drives.

[benbloom]

i only feel one position distinctly on each side of neutral, but your saying that without my hubs engaging I'm not going to ever be in 4wd truly? the front driveshaft will spin and not engage the front wheels without it being locked ?

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by benbloom

without my hubs engaging I'm not going to ever be in 4wd truly? the front driveshaft will spin and not engage the front wheels without it being locked ?

Exactly. The front driveshaft will turn when the t-case is in 4WD (either high or low range) but the hubs must be locked to send power from the axles to the front wheels.

[benbloom]

so is there no 2 lo? or is 2 low just 4 low without engaging the locking hubs

[BLT gmc]

That is a Rockwell T221 transfer case. 2WD-4HI-neutral-4LO pattern. 2WD is all the way forward toward the firewall. 4HI is only a couple of inches back towards the seat from 2WD. 4LO is all the way up by the seat. Sounds like a bad detent.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by benbloom

so is there no 2 lo? or is 2 low just 4 low without engaging the locking hubs

Yes, that's right. No 2LO, but that's what you get in 4LO with hubs "free". Everything is spun up to the hubs. Do you have lock-out hubs? They were an option. It's a shame your truck didn't come with the right transfer case shifter knob. That started you off blind.

[BLT gmc]

FYI. The Rockwell T221 shift knob has no markings on it. It has the small thread as the SM465, but the knob has a larger diameter than the SM465 knob
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[stacerbob]

Like said above, check your hubs, I don't think you are getting all the way forward. My lever touches the floor all the way forward. Yours looks like you are in 4 hi to me

[fp1967]

I agree with the above, I don't think you are getting it all the way forward into 2wd. On a few of the 221 transfer cases that I've seen, they were hard to get into 2wd. A trick that worked on these was to drive in reverse while putting pressure on the lever. They would usually pop right into 2wd after 20 or 30 feet.

[benbloom]

thats exactly what i needed! thanks guys, but if I've been driving around in 4 high... what does that mean? have i been wasting gas and screwing up my transfer case?

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by benbloom

but if I've been driving around in 4 high... what does that mean? have i been wasting gas and screwing up my transfer case?

If that's what you've been doing, you didn't hurt anything but your wallet, from burning a bit more fuel because of the extra driveline drag from rotating the front DS, diff, and axles. This assumes your hubs were not locked in -- if they were, you'd notice the driveline binding up and maybe even suffer some damage.

[benbloom]

great, thanks, no the hubs were not locked. fp1967, is that stock suspension on your grey truck?

[fp1967]

Originally Posted by benbloom

great, thanks, no the hubs were not locked. fp1967, is that stock suspension on your grey truck?

Yes, stock suspension.

[benbloom]

and what size tires?

[fp1967]

Originally Posted by benbloom

and what size tires?

31x10.50 tires