Rockwell T-221 durability for the long haul

['63GENIII]

As many have said here, the little Rockwell can be run somewhat hard if taken care of, sealed VERY well, synthetics and an extra quart doesn't hurt either. I ended up swapping mine out with a 205 out of a Dodge (divorced) because I didn't have the means to go through the 221 at the time. It was starting to leak pretty bad which led to getting hotter than I was comfortable with.

For several years, I towed a 4500# boat + 1500# in the bed in 3-4 hour stretches at 70 - 75. This was behind a mild 396.

Only toward the end did it start making a little more noise than normal. Thus the swap.

Although the 221's design lends it to running hotter than the 205, it is still a good case if set up right and can work quite well for most all jobs. The 205 is a little overkill unless you have a good one sitting around just waiting to be popped in (which I did and even then it didn't just "pop" right in. It was a lot of work).

My 221 is still patiently waiting for some attention under the work bench. Every once in a while it reminds me by jumping out and stubbing my toes for me.

Make every effort you can to get some good bearings into it which will help keep the seals in one piece and then put some thought into the extra quart of oil and better venting. I ran +1 qt for a while with no issues and it made a difference.

[Short 3/4]

Never heard the +1 oil trick mentioned here, I like it. So just a street 90 with a plug in the top gets it high enough, or is there more? Vent upgrades?
While I love the fact that your truck is still so original, if you do swap stuff out, please consider offering for sale on this site, as I'm sure others (myself included) could use.
Please don't think I'm preaching here, as my truck is certainly not as it left Fremont back in 65, so I will not be casting stones!
Have fun with the project, hope to see you on the trail,
Tom

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by Short 3/4

Never heard the +1 oil trick mentioned here, I like it. So just a street 90 with a plug in the top gets it high enough, or is there more? Vent upgrades?
While I love the fact that your truck is still so original, if you do swap stuff out, please consider offering for sale on this site, as I'm sure others (myself included) could use.
Please don't think I'm preaching here, as my truck is certainly not as it left Fremont back in 65, so I will not be casting stones!
Have fun with the project, hope to see you on the trail,
Tom

I had used a street L + a 3/4" hose barb with about a 2" piece of some clear (poly something or other) tubing on top. It was capped with another HB and a 3/4" cap. Venting was an issue and it would puke some out occasionally. This was an issue I thought could be overcome during a rebuild but never got there.

I kept running dino in it and it kept leaking but I always knew what the level was with the clear tube.

Had the bearings been new, the seals would have held and I would have spent the scratch on some Amsoil, Redline or even Motul synthetic. Im certain it would have run somewhat cooler.... even without the extra quart because that darned idler gear would have stayed well lubed.

Ill go out in a minute and see if I have a pic of the hokey sight tube that I rigged up.

['63GENIII]

Here's a pic of the hokey sight tube. IMO, with the extra oil inside, enough was thrown up at the vent baffle to get out. Extra baffles might control the oil.

Also the seals that I picked up at NAPA. Same SKF part #s for all 3.

Please excuse the mess. Lol, still working on my 10 year plan of organizing the garage.

[Cranemech]

Originally Posted by '63GENIII

As many have said here, the little Rockwell can be run somewhat hard if taken care of, sealed VERY well, synthetics and an extra quart doesn't hurt either. I ended up swapping mine out with a 205 out of a Dodge (divorced) because I didn't have the means to go through the 221 at the time. It was starting to leak pretty bad which led to getting hotter than I was comfortable with.

For several years, I towed a 4500# boat + 1500# in the bed in 3-4 hour stretches at 70 - 75. This was behind a mild 396.

Only toward the end did it start making a little more noise than normal. Thus the swap.

Although the 221's design lends it to running hotter than the 205, it is still a good case if set up right and can work quite well for most all jobs. The 205 is a little overkill unless you have a good one sitting around just waiting to be popped in (which I did and even then it didn't just "pop" right in. It was a lot of work).

My 221 is still patiently waiting for some attention under the work bench. Every once in a while it reminds me by jumping out and stubbing my toes for me.

Make every effort you can to get some good bearings into it which will help keep the seals in one piece and then put some thought into the extra quart of oil and better venting. I ran +1 qt for a while with no issues and it made a difference.

I don't mean to threadjack, but is there a thread somewhere where you documented the process for swapping out the T221 for the NP205?

As far as lubrication in the T221, I was considering using the Lucas hub oil. We've used it on the crane planetarys and noticed a 40-50 degree temp drop over the syn. 85-140. The only bad characteristic we've noticed is that it likes to "climb" out of the breather.

[72cs20]

Thanks for all the input everyone. I'm going to go with the stock drivetrain for now and see how it works out. The only immediate modification I will do is to install a dual reservoir master cylinder and booster for the braking system. Power steering is a strong maybe.

To make it roadworthy I need to go through the front axle first. It definitely needs drivers side king pin bearing work, so might as well go through the whole thing. Also needs a steering box re-build.

'63GENIII, I've read your posts on all the work you've done to your 63. Well done. Excellent information. I may have to steal some of those ideas!

[maxwoof]

Hi. I found the parts list that shows the "high oil level" elbow, if anyone is interested...numbers 197-199.

[Short 3/4]

Originally Posted by maxwoof

Hi. I found the parts list that shows the "high oil level" elbow, if anyone is interested...numbers 197-199.

Nice. What book is that out of, factory or aftermarket? I think my local Ace Hardware stocks that 'kit'
Thanks, Tom

[maxwoof]

Originally Posted by Short 3/4

Nice. What book is that out of, factory or aftermarket? I think my local Ace Hardware stocks that 'kit'
Thanks, Tom

Somewhere along the line, I found a parts book - that's where it is from. The book has all the part numbers for the bearings, seals, etc. I am unable to attach it here, but if you PM me with your e-mail, I will send it along.

I agree, the best solution is to fix the leaks. I am pretty much there, but it still loses about 1/4" over a year or so. Haven't had the time to break it all down and re-seal everything.

Still, being paranoid about the oil level, and the scarcity of parts, I am still considering a high level kit. The street elbow only adds about an inch or so...I was thinking of using a street tee with a sight plug in the end to be able to easily see the level without pulling the plug....

[Short 3/4]

Originally Posted by maxwoof

Somewhere along the line, I found a parts book - that's where it is from. The book has all the part numbers for the bearings, seals, etc. I am unable to attach it here, but if you PM me with your e-mail, I will send it along.

I agree, the best solution is to fix the leaks. I am pretty much there, but it still loses about 1/4" over a year or so. Haven't had the time to break it all down and re-seal everything.

Still, being paranoid about the oil level, and the scarcity of parts, I am still considering a high level kit. The street elbow only adds about an inch or so...I was thinking of using a street tee with a sight plug in the end to be able to easily see the level without pulling the plug....

Thanks for the offer, but was just wondering if that mod was something Rockwell, Chevy or the aftermarket came up with.
Will be going through mine soon, not leaking, but at least one bearing was screaming at me and did not want to wait til it self destructed. It and a spare case are on the bench awaiting surgery, should be able to make at least one good one out of the two.
Thanks to the magic of a divorced case, and a spare 2wd drive shaft, the truck is still on the road (just not off road for now)
Interesting idea about the sight glass. Post a picture if you ever wind up doing that.
Tom