First post & 1969 GMC

[bernd]

Howdy all,

I just bought a 1969 3/4 ton GMC 4x4 Fleetside for plowing. I figured if I need to get a plow truck, I might as well get something fun that's worth restoring. For the VIN hunters out there, its a KE20D-1Axxxxx; model # KE2590D and came with the following options: black vinyl trim, locking hubs, brake booster, 4spd, 16x6 8 stud wheels, dual horns, ammeter & oil gauges, heavy duty front and rear springs, PS, 350 engine, WB 127". There is also a number on the glove box sticker with an SE in front of it (serial number?). The rear axle is a 10 bolt C30255 60, so I'm assuming its a Dana 60 rear, but I don't know what the gear ratio is. The engine is not original and the PO traced the number to an '85 Camaro.

Something I thought was neat is that the original manual came with the truck and still had the original seller and owner listed. It was first owned by a land developer in northern NJ, near NYC.

I have a few questions. Someone put steel decking in the bed, but there is plywood underneath that. Could the bed have originally had a wood floor or was that not an option? I'm guessing if it was an option, it would have been listed on the glove box sticker? I think I would plan on doing one at some point anyway because I think they look really nice.

Also, there doesn't appear to be 4H, just 2H neutral and 4L. Maybe its 4H, neutral, and 4L as I haven't tried unlocking the hubs to see if that will allow the lever to move up more (don't know what's wrong and if that's related or not).

Lastly, where is a good source for miscellaneous parts? For instance, the glove box latch is broken, and I'd like to replace it so it will at least close and stop the original sticker from fading. When I start patching, I found ccg truck online.. don't know if they're any good, etc?

This seems like a good board. Thanks for being here. I'm just looking for as much info as I can about the truck. I'm not sure when I'll get to actually making it a project vehicle.

Bernd

[Rat Bastid]

hey welcome to heaven on earth, Great looking truck

[swamp rat]

Welcome!

I think the transfer case is an NP203 by the discription of the shifter knob, i don't know what came with your year truck, my 72 has an NP205, if ya google both of these you can figure it out pretty fast.. "NP205 NP203 differences"

There are board members here that are venders for these trucks, plus there are threads for folks selling parts from used trucks as well, just keep looking around.

I have bought parts from a number of places thru the years, never had a bad experiance.

[70C10Toejam]

Welcome.
Good looking truck.

[bernd]

Thanks for the welcomes! Not sure what is up with the transfer case. Pretty sure it goes right from 2H to N to 4L. Something to figure out next summer, for now I just want to the get the plow up and running. Will look around for odds & ends parts while I'm figuring out what to do with this beast.

[Ronnny]

i was think it should go

4H
2H
N
4L

From when i had a 205 t-cased 4x4 I think the 203 was

high lock
high
n
low
low lock

And with a part-time kit just low or high would be 2wd since you say it has hubs on the front now.

for a lot of good information on these in 4x4 go to coloradok5.com

Wtg nice work truck

[bernd]

According to the sticker in the cab and the owners manual, its the typical 2H/4H/N/4L pattern. It seems to skip from 2H right into N. Its not a problem at the moment seeing how I'll be using mostly 2H and 4L this winter. I'd like like to find out whats going on. Maybe the linkage is a little messed up.

I checked out the k5 site.. nice articles.

[swamp rat]

Look at the middle picture in this link, if you have the pipe plug in the center between the output shaft cone and the round 8 bolt plate you have the NP203.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...8&postcount=16

If you have a small round 3 bolt plate about 1 1/4" (Going by memory) its a NP205.
http://image.fourwheeler.com/f/techa...asics+case.jpg

The 203 is a full time 4X4 transfer case the 205 is a part time transfer case.

If your truck has front hubs and it has the 203 transfer case then the case has most likely had a conversion installed to make it a part time case.

Heres the whole thread. i cant verify the validity of all the information posted.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=174428

[bernd]

This is what I have (pic attached.. its greasy!). It looks more like the NP205, though not exactly like the one in the other pic. The owners manual talks about a PTO. Is that what the cover on the lower right is for?

[swamp rat]

Is that the front of the case? or back? the pic's posted are the rear. I have heard of PTO's but have not seen one in person, the pic you show does not look like ether if the two rear shots i posted. don't know if its possible to have a different model transfercase?

This is a rear shot of a NP205 with a PTO (blue) mounted to the side

http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/f...NP205-pto2.jpg

Another with a NP205 on the back of a 700R tranny.

Good visual info with a divorced NP205,

http://www.off-roadweb.com/tech/1005.../photo_12.html

Heres some older NP 200,201 202's
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...:1&um=1&itbs=1

[Jacfourteen]

I know nothing about this but going by the earlier descriptions it looks to be an np205, I say this because I see the small, round 3 bolt plate mentioned earlier.

[bernd]

The pic I posted is of the back of the transfer case. Perhaps it is an NP205 and the other ports are stock for this case being mounted in different vehicles?

[JJorgensen52]

You've got none other than the infamous Rockwell T221 transfer case

The T221 carried through until mid-year '69 trucks. The shifter on the left hand side of the tunnel is a good giveaway.

Your pattern is 2H/4H/N/4L. To get into 2H you need to roll the truck backwards (or forwards but back works better) and push the shifter forward HARD. It will go down until it almost touches the floor, that's 2H. (4H is about where you would expect 2H to be, and 4L will touch the bench seat).

It's a great (and really beefy!) case, but they're heavy and tough to find parts for. Mine still worked great, but it leaked a lot and I didn't really want to try and adapt it to my new NV4500. Only reason I removed it.

[bernd]

That's great, thanks for the info!

[ChevysandSchwinns]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

You've got none other than the infamous Rockwell T221 transfer case

The T221 carried through until mid-year '69 trucks. The shifter on the left hand side of the tunnel is a good giveaway.

Your pattern is 2H/4H/N/4L. To get into 2H you need to roll the truck backwards (or forwards but back works better) and push the shifter forward HARD. It will go down until it almost touches the floor, that's 2H. (4H is about where you would expect 2H to be, and 4L will touch the bench seat).

It's a great (and really beefy!) case, but they're heavy and tough to find parts for. Mine still worked great, but it leaked a lot and I didn't really want to try and adapt it to my new NV4500. Only reason I removed it.

Thanks for the great info I was wondering what transfer case I had in my 68 half ton as well and now I know. I have the Rockwell T221 as well. Thanks Matt

[planewhisperer]

Thats one cool truck.........................Welcome............

[magwakeenercew2jh]

PM me your address. I'll send you a glove box latch. I have an extra.

[swamp rat]

Mystery solved! i have been scratching my head on this as i knew in my gut that somewhere i had seen it before many years ago.. Probably about 30 years ago actually. LOL!
So i just googled it and found a thread on another forum:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...light=rockwell

[bernd]

magwakeenercew2jh: pm sent.

Thanks, folks. When it comes to my mechanical skills, I'm more like the shade tree mechanic. Transmissions and transfer cases are at the low end of my knowledge. I did get it into 2H, so that's great. I was worried there was something wrong with the transfer case. I googled that thread from pirate as well. I'll clean that thing off and keep an eye on the oil level as that seems to be a potential problem with these.

This was a CL find and I only started looking because I needed a plow. I did a rather low-key restoration on a 72 LeMans many years ago and have been thinking about getting a late 60's truck for a while now. Everything just seemed to fit. Its in pretty decent shape for a NY truck with a few rust holes in the floor, rear cab, and bed although someone painted it with this 200-grit military green.

[swamp rat]

Well i think you have a great plow truck! if your anything like me ya have to keep the truck running so no frame off can happen, just a little down time here and there to keep her fixed up, for me nexr summer is the rust repair to the cab... Best of luck with her!!

[bernd]

This thing has an awesome homemade plow frame.. if I get some decent tires and chains I think it will really push. Frame off is a little bit more than I can handle though I definitely see its appeal for getting to the root of the problem. I will most likely take the bed off and start from there, and if I can tackle that, the cab won't be so scary!