wont go in 4x4 high or low...

[midnite]

so i finally got my truck and fixed a bunch of small things wrong, but i cant seem to get the 4x4 working...

the truck will go into 2h, n , 2l but wont go into either of the 4x4's , the shifter seems to just stop, but the other rod under the truck doesnt move....

any ideas

[ghettoluxury]

So the transfer case has 2 shifter rods? That is a NP203 and they are know for that. Take the shifter out and pull the cover off, clean the inside of it out and re-grease it with white lithium grease this should give you back the full range of motion.

[LONGHAIR]

ghettoluxury is correct, NP203s are known for shifrter issues, but they are easy to "fix". Nothing is "technically" wrong with it, they just get muddy/gritty and stick. The shift lever of the shifter itself is works with a spring loaded mechanism and a little hook-lever that makes it move. All of this "works" is in an open (un-sealed) metal housing, so it gets water/mud running through it. A simple tear-down, clean-up, and re-assembly w/some grease will fix it.

[midnite]

I was kinda hoping I didn't have to pull it apare but u guess i'm going to have to pull the transfercase, unless the transmission humpbon the floor unbolts like it did in my old ford.

[midnite]

i ended up having to pull the tranny to change a front seal,

in the process i tool the linkage and the shifter box thing apart and cleaned and re greased,
but on the transfercase the lever for the 4x4 seems to have too much play on the shaft for my liking so im going to have to get a new one of the tabs that goes from the shift rod to the shaft on the tcase

when i took the tcase off and set it on the ground(my god it was heavy....well heavier then i expected) the fluid all ran out of the bottom bolt holes from where it bolts to the tranny, is this normal?

in the shift linkage box when you pull the shifter into 4x4 it moves the secone lever to engage the 4x4, is there suposed to be a spring or something in there to return the 4x4 lever to the disengaged position?

and when i go to put the transfercase back in how much and what kind of fluid do i use?

[OrrieG]

Drainage out of the holes is now they are designed, no drain plug.

203 shifters will wear and stop going into the low range AND when you try to disengage the shift lever will move but the lever to the trans stays put. You get to crawl out with a big screw driver and force it back into place. I had this problem and bought two shifters and they both had the same problems after complete disassembly, cleaning and reassembly.

I finally modified mine to a twin stick no springs, cams or little shims to get gunked up. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=360447

[midnite]

That's a good idea, I think I might do the twin shifter idea

[ghettoluxury]

That is what I did and let me tell you
won't regret it.

[midnite]

have any pics in the truck once finished?

[OrrieG]

Mine is still in the assembly stage, cab is still off. Hopefully in a couple of months the interior will be painted, seats installed then I can post a pic.

[midnite]

well i got the transfercase and tranny out ... out of all the bolts in the whole set up there were 4 that were tight.... no wonder it was leaking tranny fluid i could turn the bolts on the front of the tranny plate by hand....

while i have it all out i built the twin stick setup for the transfer case now all i need is another shifter for the other lever, but there is nothing to get gummed up now....

gotta get some gaskets and time to re assemble ... on my next set of days off,

thanks orrieg for the idea for the twin stick.


i still need to know what fluid to put in the transfercase and how much, thanks

austin

[OrrieG]

You are welcome. My second lever is a 70's Mr. Gasket shift lever my welder (before I had my own) had laying around his shop. We heated it and bent it forward to miss the stock seat. I'm playing with the idea of making some out of big box end wrenches if I can find some cheap at a yard sale. Or you can make your own out of bar stock and weld a stud to the end for a knob.

[ghettoluxury]

I used some broken tools for mine a 3/4" drive rachet handle and a 1/2" drive breaker bar.


Excuse the mess the truck is in tear down right now

[midnite]

how much and what fluid does the np203 take?
and how much atf will the tranny hold if i dont drain the torq

[70 beast]

do you have any picks of how the linkage looks underneath the boots?

[midnite]

i dont have any at the moment, my truck is still apart, i can get some once i get it all back together

[ghettoluxury]

Originally Posted by 70 beast

do you have any picks of how the linkage looks underneath the boots?

[midnite]

well i got it all painted and ready to be put back on

[OrrieG]

Cool midnite looks good; ghettoluxury looks like we think alike, I have some of those laying around too.

[midnite]

im thinking i might paint it black tho... the orange doesnt do it for me...

[84 400]

Fluid it recommend is straight 30W motor oil if i rember right. Some say 80w90 gear oil and others say ATF..... I ran the 30W and have had no problems.

[midnite]

Yeah I was looking online and 30w oil is the recommended fluid, the 80/90wgear oil is too thick and doesn't lube properly

[midnite]

well its all back together and the twin shifters work great, but i still have a atf lean in the front right corner of my tranny pan.... i put a new gasket, still leake took off again and put rtv sealant on the gasket and still leaking... any ideas?

[OrrieG]

Stock steel pan? Might be a little warped. Or maybe it got hit and there is a hairline crack in the flange or it warped the pan??. It is hard to stop those leaks from the outside, been there done that. I always check my pans, valve covers, etc. with a straight edge.because the tin can get pulled out of shape from over tightening too, especially around the bolt holes.

[midnite]

I was told by a local mechanic today that there is 2 bolt along the front closest p the torq that need to have silicone or Teflon on because they go into the tranny and the fluid just runs down the thread, did that and sea to have helped