np203 is it an ok transfer case?

[shipma2]

is the np203 an ok transfer case?

[duallyjams]

They are good for a doubler.

[Dooley]

Originally Posted by shipma2

is the np203 an ok transfer case?

I never had any problems with the ones I've owned. The best year for a GM 203 were the 1979's and some of the late 78's as they had different drive gears/chain,(steeper pitch) and were less likely to skip over if the chain was worn and stretched,(2" chain were in the newer setup as opposed to the earlier 2.5" chain).

[Redcap]

The 203 is a boat anchor. Only part of it that is worth anything is the range box.

[OrrieG]

I ran one in mine with a Doug Nash shaft conversion from 85 to 2000 as a daily driver I estimated about 80K miles (I had it rebuilt when I put in the shaft kit in 85). 3.74 open front and rear end. Got me in and out of anything I wanted to do, I used it for winter hunting in the Idaho mountains, and have had it in some pretty hairy situations, deep snow, mud and forded streams with it. If you run them in the full time mode the chain will stretch (mine was when I got it out of a 74 with 90K on it) and start to jump the gear. I checked mine and there is not much play. Yes, when it and the spare I have blow up I will convert to a 205, but it works for me.

[donut]

If I had one that was working, I wouldn't throw it out.

[Redcap]

Originally Posted by donut

If I had one that was working, I wouldn't throw it out.

I pull the range boxes and scrap them. 205s are common enough that there is no reason to even mess with the inferior 203.

[special-K]

I was driving older 4wds when new trucks came out with 203s and I never saw them as an improvement. They seemed like cheapening the trucks,IMO. Maybe a transfer case doesn't need to be as bullet proof as a 205 but that's what has always suited me. As time went by (and not very much) my suspicions were confirmed when guys still making payments were having to replace drive chains and converting to part-time 4wd. I've always steered clear of them and have no experience to report. They may be ok,but from what I've seen out of 203,208,241,and 205 they'd be last in line for me. And,with all the others around I don't foresee ever using one,not even for a doubler.

[Dooley]

Originally Posted by special-K

I was driving older 4wds when new trucks came out with 203s and I never saw them as an improvement. They seemed like cheapening the trucks,IMO. Maybe a transfer case doesn't need to be as bullet proof as a 205 but that's what has always suited me. As time went by (and not very much) my suspicions were confirmed when guys still making payments were having to replace drive chains and converting to part-time 4wd. I've always steered clear of them and have no experience to report. They may be ok,but from what I've seen out of 203,208,241,and 205 they'd be last in line for me. And,with all the others around I don't foresee ever using one,not even for a doubler.

Well, I can only talk of my real experience with the 203's. I had plenty of them and never had to replace a chain. Anyone that knows me or my trucks know I didn't baby them. They towed, they pulled, they pushed, they plowed, and they hauled. No one had to part time a 203. They did it because they wanted to. I did a couple of mine and the rest I left be. I have a T400/203/w pto setup in the garage now waiting to go into one of my 1 ton square body trucks replacing a busted 208.

[willett]

The shift linkage gets gummed up pretty quickly as well as the above mentioned. I'm going to twin stick mine one of these days to get around that issue
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[special-K]

Everyone I know in the mountains where they get a lot of snow changed to part time because in full time their trucks were grabbing when the didn't want them to and pulling them straight off of curves. The rest did it to reduce wear and get better mileage. I stopped paying attention to them 30 some years ago once that system was discontinued (for some odd reason). Back then I knew of many people with sloppy chains that needed replaced. I think it's great if these things have given someone good service. But,I'm just to type who doesn't jump to modern conveniences in favor of sticking with tried and true simplicity. The OP asked for opinions and I gave mine. To me,if I need a transfer case and there's a 203 laying there with a 205,208,or 241 the 203 will still be laying there when I leave. That's me. I'm strong in my opinions,yet am able to allow each their own.

[odog]

Your original question is pretty broad. I guess my question to you would be how are you going to use it. If you are Rock crawling and mud racing, get rid of it, it will break. If you are just going to putt around in the hills and stuff, its fine. The 203 is not a gear driven unit, it is a chain drive, as mentioned by others, and I guess the chain can be considered the weak point. I guess it comes down to your preference, budget, and how tough you are going to be on the unit. Just my opinion. Good luck.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by willett

The shift linkage gets gummed up pretty quickly as well as the above mentioned. I'm going to twin stick mine one of these days to get around that issue
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This might help.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=360447

[powerdriver 1958]

Lets stay on topic , the trollfest is over .

[powerdriver 1958]

Only thing I can tell you is I have had two 203's . One worked fine , One I need to replace the chain in now .

[Dooley]

The NP 203 was a fairly tough unit. Dodge, Ford, and GM used it throughout most of the 70's. It was very heavily built. After the passing of new CAFE mandates in 1978, one of the manufacturing changes companies selected to improve their CAFE ratings was to shed as much weight as possible. The heavy cast iron units were replaced with lighter aluminum case chain drive units to help meet the new CAFE mandates passed in 1978 beginning in the 1981 model year. The lower/sleeker look of the restyled front of the square bodies was also designed with intention to help increase the ratings.

[big10ratrod77]

i like the 203 in my 79 k10 except when it gets hung on 4 lowbut ill have it rebuilt eventuly and put a twin stick on top

[mud.man.rj]

The 203 has a cast case which is a lot better for wear than the junk aluminum case of the 208, but as mentioned the chain is the weak point, neither is as good as the 205 gear drive a better score unless you are just driving around town and not abusing the 203. The thing is by now it is old no matter how you look at it so prob needs a chain.