Rockwell or 205 transfercase? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**rs74** · 07-27-2013, 07:03 PM

I know the Rockwell's come out factory in these trucks but just wondering if they are any better than the NP205's. Is there any advantage as to having the divorced Rockwell. It seems from what I have read that when the rockwell TC is not is a truck of this vintage that they are disappointed. Any reason for that other than that is what they come out with. Seems like they are harder to find too. More curious than anything.

**rs74** · 07-28-2013, 08:42 PM

???

ky-donzi · 07-28-2013, 08:43 PM

I prefer 205... Bullet proof, can be had in married or divorced, and plenty of parts...... 221 parts are are to find
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'63GENIII · 07-28-2013, 09:47 PM

My Rockwell is starting to make more noise than before. I know its just a matt,er of time before it blows up. I'm going to swap in a divorced 205 instead of rebuilding the Rock. I like to the fact that it still has the original t-case but the 205 is just quieter and stronger.
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**rs74** · 07-28-2013, 09:53 PM

What is the reason some are divorced and the others not? The divorced TC thing is kind of new to me and I am trying to understand why they were built that way. Was it just the way they did things back then since all of the trucks that are newer are all married applications. Does the divorced give any benefits?

jtrichard · 07-28-2013, 09:59 PM

you can generally lift a truck more with a divorced case ....front shaft is longer

ky-donzi · 07-28-2013, 10:07 PM

My guess is that in the early year of 4x4 it was easier to source the transfer case and transmissions from vendors as divorced.
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'63GENIII · 07-28-2013, 10:08 PM

Agreed. Less drastic drive line angles. Greater versatility to change transmission type if you're like me and change your mind on occasion.
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61K10 · 07-29-2013, 12:43 PM

what years are the 205 divorced tc

ky-donzi · 07-29-2013, 12:53 PM

Depends on the manufacture, ford, international, and dodge used divorced later than GM. Ford will be driver side drop (think ford high boys) last year 73ish. The rest will be pass side drop... Seems like international never used married in there pickups. Idk bout Dodge ... Sometime in the mid 70's prolly
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61K10 · 07-31-2013, 01:35 PM

A few more questions--are the 205 divorced a direct bolt in when replacing the RW 221? cross-member the same? D/shafts?

padresag · 07-31-2013, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 61K10

A few more questions--are the 205 divorced a direct bolt in when replacing the RW 221? cross-member the same? D/shafts?

no; but it is not that hard. it is advisable to get the mounting brackets from what it comes out of. mine came out of a 72 scout. the dodge 205 is also a r/hand drop but has oddball flanges on it. you can take the parts from a ford 205 and put them into a r/side drop case and I believe that you can use the married 205 case. fed-mogul trans o/haul kit for a 205; kit nbr T-172 (ihc # 412122c91 for 205 w/3.1496 o/d input brg
the noisy t221 above can more than likely be tuned up with new brgs.,shims and seal. they are not the quietist of t/cs to start with. I do have some t221 parts inc the aluminum end caps
ron
I could more than likely take some pics for you as to how mine is mounted

maxwoof · 08-01-2013, 12:00 PM

The upper input bearings are often the first to go on the t221. Usually because the oil level gets low at some point. I changed the rear upper in mine with the case in the truck. Fairly easy to do. Might be able do the front in the truck as well. Also was able to replace all seals while in the truck, and found that removing bearing retainers and shims, cleaning and reinstalling with permatex eliminates most leaks.
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07-27-2013, 07:03 PM	#1
rs74 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,957	Rockwell or 205 transfercase? I know the Rockwell's come out factory in these trucks but just wondering if they are any better than the NP205's. Is there any advantage as to having the divorced Rockwell. It seems from what I have read that when the rockwell TC is not is a truck of this vintage that they are disappointed. Any reason for that other than that is what they come out with. Seems like they are harder to find too. More curious than anything. __________________ Roy 85 Short Bed Silverado- Work in progress. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=564818 1987 R10 shortie

07-28-2013, 08:42 PM	#2
rs74 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,957	Re: Rockwell or 205 transfercase? ??? __________________ Roy 85 Short Bed Silverado- Work in progress. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=564818 1987 R10 shortie

07-28-2013, 08:43 PM	#3
ky-donzi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: madisonville ky Posts: 313	Re: Rockwell or 205 transfercase? I prefer 205... Bullet proof, can be had in married or divorced, and plenty of parts...... 221 parts are are to find Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 61 GMC 4x4 1-ton flatbed 4bt cummins, ranger od, sm465, np 205, d60F, d70R 4.11 10,000 ramsey PTO winch.... SOLD 73 k5 gm crate 350-265 / sm465 / np205 3.73 posi

07-28-2013, 09:47 PM	#4
'63GENIII Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Carlos, Ca. Posts: 3,048	Re: Rockwell or 205 transfercase? My Rockwell is starting to make more noise than before. I know its just a matt,er of time before it blows up. I'm going to swap in a divorced 205 instead of rebuilding the Rock. I like to the fact that it still has the original t-case but the 205 is just quieter and stronger. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29

07-28-2013, 09:53 PM	#5
rs74 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,957	Re: Rockwell or 205 transfercase? What is the reason some are divorced and the others not? The divorced TC thing is kind of new to me and I am trying to understand why they were built that way. Was it just the way they did things back then since all of the trucks that are newer are all married applications. Does the divorced give any benefits? __________________ Roy 85 Short Bed Silverado- Work in progress. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=564818 1987 R10 shortie

07-28-2013, 09:59 PM	#6
jtrichard Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: joshua tree ca. Posts: 1,484	Re: Rockwell or 205 transfercase? you can generally lift a truck more with a divorced case ....front shaft is longer

07-28-2013, 10:07 PM	#7
ky-donzi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: madisonville ky Posts: 313	Re: Rockwell or 205 transfercase? My guess is that in the early year of 4x4 it was easier to source the transfer case and transmissions from vendors as divorced. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 61 GMC 4x4 1-ton flatbed 4bt cummins, ranger od, sm465, np 205, d60F, d70R 4.11 10,000 ramsey PTO winch.... SOLD 73 k5 gm crate 350-265 / sm465 / np205 3.73 posi

07-28-2013, 10:08 PM	#8
'63GENIII Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Carlos, Ca. Posts: 3,048	Re: Rockwell or 205 transfercase? Agreed. Less drastic drive line angles. Greater versatility to change transmission type if you're like me and change your mind on occasion. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29

07-29-2013, 12:43 PM	#9
61K10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: pleasant valley--placerville ca Posts: 3,039	Re: Rockwell or 205 transfercase? what years are the 205 divorced tc __________________ 1961 chevy K10 my build is------------61K10 build

07-29-2013, 12:53 PM	#10
ky-donzi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: madisonville ky Posts: 313	Re: Rockwell or 205 transfercase? Depends on the manufacture, ford, international, and dodge used divorced later than GM. Ford will be driver side drop (think ford high boys) last year 73ish. The rest will be pass side drop... Seems like international never used married in there pickups. Idk bout Dodge ... Sometime in the mid 70's prolly Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 61 GMC 4x4 1-ton flatbed 4bt cummins, ranger od, sm465, np 205, d60F, d70R 4.11 10,000 ramsey PTO winch.... SOLD 73 k5 gm crate 350-265 / sm465 / np205 3.73 posi

07-31-2013, 01:35 PM	#11
61K10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: pleasant valley--placerville ca Posts: 3,039	Re: Rockwell or 205 transfercase? A few more questions--are the 205 divorced a direct bolt in when replacing the RW 221? cross-member the same? D/shafts? __________________ 1961 chevy K10 my build is------------61K10 build

08-01-2013, 12:00 PM	#13
maxwoof Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edgewater NJ Posts: 159	Re: Rockwell or 205 transfercase? The upper input bearings are often the first to go on the t221. Usually because the oil level gets low at some point. I changed the rear upper in mine with the case in the truck. Fairly easy to do. Might be able do the front in the truck as well. Also was able to replace all seals while in the truck, and found that removing bearing retainers and shims, cleaning and reinstalling with permatex eliminates most leaks. Posted via Mobile Device



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