205 transfer case/hubs and other ?'s

[AirSpeed]

I recently bought a 72 GMC short/fleet and it came with an extra 205 transfer case, people keep trying to buy the extra transfer case from me. Is the 205 preferable? should I sell it (I dont need the money) or should I keep it laying around just in case the one in my truck fails? What are they worth and if so why are they superior? Another question, I wont be using my truck off road much so I will be using 4 wheel drive only during the winter for snow, this is my first 4 wheel drive with manual hubs and I find it a pain to have to lock them when ever I need them and have to get out and unlock when I'm done. I not a sissy but traveling somewhere in the winter, going 20 miles through deep snow then hitting clear roads for the next 40 makes it a pain. I hate driving on clear roads in two wheel and the hubs locked so I always get out and unlock them until I hit snow again. I am thinking of putting automatic hubs on it. I have talked to a couple of people about this but they are die hard 4 wheelers and tell me I will regret it, will I? If so why? Thanks for any info! Aaron

[onlyifihadachevy]

Auto hubs are supposed to be more prone to failure. But the 205s are supposed to be the strongest, I don't think they are worth much but could be. Why don't you like driving around with the hubs locked? I thought with a 205 in 2wd mode the front driveline spinns freely..

[67chevy2wd]

if you put the 205 in 2wd then the front drive line won't be connected to the transfer case (mechanically speaking) as onlyifihadachevy said. I plan to drive mine with the hubs locked pretty much all the time for the rest of winter as soon as I get it running right.

[tomtuna1978]

those 205 t-cases are crap and you should just give it away !!! No really .... the 205 t-case is the one everyone wants, but they arnt worth much. im told that 150-250$ for a good one is about average. and if you are wanting to sell it ... im looking for one and would be interested !

[OrrieG]

But you are still turning the differential and axles too which equals wear and reduced gas mileage. I'll take 30 seconds every 20 miles to to turn them out. I've would never trust automatic hubs.

[AirSpeed]

When I drive in two wheel drive with the hubs locked I can feel the front tires skipping when I a take a turn, it's really bad turning a sharp corner, if I stop and turn on to another street they grab bad, I can hardly get it around the corner. When I want to unlock the hubs after driving in two wheel drive they bind up, I have to find a dirt road to get the axle out of a bind.
Are auto hubs really that bad? I have them in my 87 Blazer with no issues, have I just been lucky? Thanks for any info and opinions!

[onlyifihadachevy]

Does this truck have a 203 in it or a locker?

[AirSpeed]

It has a 205, I am not sure what axle it has to be honest. How do I identify it?

[71blksuper4x4]

does it say D44 on the center jug on the driver's side in the front? If so, you have a Dana 44, which would have been stock in 72'. I prefer manual lockout hubs as well, and also I would not drive it around on dry payment locked in (hub wise) in 2hi. You are going to lose gas mileage pretty bad. Also, don't forget to go in reverse about 30 ft. after disengaging completely from 4wd. It makes sure everything is out of a bind. Trevor

[special-K]

If your truck is factory you have a Dana44 front axle and we don`t need to start talking about 203 transfer cases either.Let`s keep this simple.FYI,automatic hubs are fine as well as the Gov-Loc.If you abuse them they will break sooner than manual hubs and locker rears.Going 4 wheelin,as we know it,is abuse over original design.Just like a Ford 9" is tougher than a 12-bolt.But,you`ll never know that unless you abuse it.Just like a Dana60 front axle is tougher than a Dana44.But,you`ll never know it unless you abuse it.

Lockout hubs are an enhancement to the original design.They came as an after thought.Originally the option of disengaging the front wheels was not an option.Lockout are the greatest thing since sliced bread.But,when roads are patched with snow it`s perfectly normal to lock the hubs and have shift-on-fly between 4-Hi and 2-Hi.The wear is minimal.The benefit of locking hubs is seen through thousands of mile and a barely measurable improvement in mileage.That`s not my concern when driving in such conditions.Having the advantage of 4wd is.Where do you pull over when there`s snow banked on the side of the road?

[primer]

I'll try to get down there this week and we can take a look at you truck. I'll show you a few things, so what people are saying should make a little more sense. Its good to know what to do, but it probably will help to know why your doing it.

[Gene]

I've had manual and automatic hubs, loved the automatic ones but I never went offroad so I guess I was lucky. I have automatic ones in my truck now