New Process 203 chain

[CSHADES]

Last winter the old 77 plow truck was clanking pretty bad in 4wd under a load. I pulled the rear driveshaft because it was shaking the truck pretty bad at 55mph. The shaft was very crusty and the slip joint was very worn. so the driveshaft place built me a new shaft which cured that problem. When I pulled the shaft I put the truck in hi lock to move it and figured out my clanking noises were coming from the transfer case, so we pulled the case out yesterday and pulled the tail shaft and covers off and had a look. the chain is very stretched and needs to be replaced. Anybody out there have any ideas where I may obtain a new chain? I have looked online and also called the drivetrain place here in town and have had no real luck. I know there has to be one out there, I did find a used trans and case on craigslist for $275 but my concern is if it is going to any better than what I have.

[Jake Wade]

Have you Googled NP 203 transfer case chain? I did and several hits came up

[Jake Wade]

Here is just one example

http://www.drivetrain.com/parts_cata...rts/np203.html

[andyh1956]

Is the chain just worn or is it slipping?
My suggestion is to repair your rear driveshaft & re-install it & drive the truck & see if the chain slips. Don't usually change the chain until it slips.
When it does start to slip you can take a link outta the chain. Or more precisely when it starts slipping BAD take out a half link. It will never slip again after that!
I wish you had posted this before you pulled the transfer out, this repair is done w/ the transfer in the truck!

[CSHADES]

Ok guys I don't want to sound like a know it all but--- yes I have googled it and I did see the listings that you are talking about. The problem is the fact that they list it doesn't mean they actually have it. Every where I have checked they show out of stock.
The truck has been clanking in 4wd under a load when plowing snow for the last couple of years, last winter really bad. We have tried to figure out where it was coming from on the drive on hoist a few times. This spring it was vibrating very bad in 2wd on the road, I had a really bad rear u-joint and very worn slider joint. I had a driveshaft made, that fixed the 2wd vibration. When I removed the rear driveshaft I moved the truck using the front drive it clanked rear bad, to the point that I could make it do it by power braking the truck on the hoist. I have the transfer case out of it and the rear tail and covers are off. The chain has so much slop in it, that there is no doubt it is stretched beyond its life expectancy. What I was looking for out of you guys was some advice outside the normal ways of looking for this part.

[andyh1956]

Originally Posted by CSHADES

Ok guys I don't want to sound like a know it all but--- yes I have googled it and I did see the listings that you are talking about. The problem is the fact that they list it doesn't mean they actually have it. Every where I have checked they show out of stock.
The truck has been clanking in 4wd under a load when plowing snow for the last couple of years, last winter really bad. We have tried to figure out where it was coming from on the drive on hoist a few times. This spring it was vibrating very bad in 2wd on the road, I had a really bad rear u-joint and very worn slider joint. I had a driveshaft made, that fixed the 2wd vibration. When I removed the rear driveshaft I moved the truck using the front drive it clanked rear bad, to the point that I could make it do it by power braking the truck on the hoist. I have the transfer case out of it and the rear tail and covers are off. The chain has so much slop in it, that there is no doubt it is stretched beyond its life expectancy. What I was looking for out of you guys was some advice outside the normal ways of looking for this part.

Well my advice is to fix it where it will never wear out again, for what it's worth... & I'm about as outside normal as you can get, according to my wife...

[jocko]

If you’re actually considering a different t-case, an NP205 will never have a chain stretch problem because it’s gear driven. They came in the older K10s and 20s thru 72 and even some of the early squares with manual transmissions for a year-ish, I believe. They aren’t full time fwd either, so pair em up with locking hubs if you don’t already have them added. What trans do you have? 350 and 400 adapters are available for 205s. This would not likely be the “inexpensive” approach though.. unless you got lucky and were able to source the parts on the cheap.

[Getter-Done]

^x2
If you are going to keep the truck.
I would definitely recommend a 205NP also.
Since you are pushing a snow plow this would be a better choice.
That’s just my 2 cents.

[CSHADES]

I have heard about doing the NP205 change over, have any of you guys done it? What is involved?
I have no intentions of getting rid of the truck. This is the truck in my thread---rebuilding my 1977 plow truck for all you guys that haven't seen it.

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by CSHADES

I have heard about doing the NP205 change over, have any of you guys done it? What is involved?
I have no intentions of getting rid of the truck. This is the truck in my thread---rebuilding my 1977 plow truck for all you guys that haven't seen it.

You need the correct adapter plate and the gear in the transfer case needs to match your trans shaft. I can get pics later if no one else responds
Posted via Mobile Device

[Getter-Done]

Here is the plate you have.

[Getter-Done]

The small circle plate in the middle with the three bolts is the easiest way to identify the 205

[Getter-Done]

you need a 205 with these splines and this plate for turbo 350.

[buffydores]

http://www.transfercases.com

These guys rebuilt my NP203 last year.

[cadillac_al]

I used to buy used 203's for $50, best transfer case for snow buggies. I didn't know you could take a half link out of the chain while it was in the truck. That would be the cheapest and maybe easiest way to go. You da man andyh. I'll bet there isn't a youtube video for that one though.

[Getter-Done]

I found a chain I removed from a working 203.


I don't have a use for this.
So ????Shipping????
Measurement is 17 1/4 inches with one side flat and outside to outside measure.
How does this one compare to your chain ?
I would still suggest you get a 205 transfer.

[jocko]

Also, couldn't think of the name earlier, but I like these guys for parts, kits, manuals, etc for T-cases. Their rebuild books are absolutely top notch.

https://torqueking.com/

Also, if you happen to get a 205 and rebuild it, this thread is extremely useful:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=469726

What trans do you have in your truck?

[CSHADES]

After doing a lot of looking and not finding a chain for my 203 (yes I looked hard, everyone seems to list one but doesn't have it) I decided to go at it in a different way. Everything I have read takes me to a np205 conversion, I looked at a bunch of used stuff at different pricing. I found a guy that custom rebuilds them to match my truck drive shaft yokes( do not know if either need to be shortened) and are ready to be installed. I will post pics of the swap in my thread " rebuilding my 1977 plow truck" for anyone who is interested.

[hatzie]

The NP208 and NP241 will have a deeper low range (2.72:1 for the 208/241 vs 1.96:1 for the 205), they weigh less, and they cost less than an NP205.
I plowed and towed a dual-axle landscaping trailer with an 86 F250 with a 460 that had an NP208. Blew up the TTB Dana 40 twice, the C6 transmission once, and the rear axle once. That transfer case refused to die no matter how rough I was on it. I religiously kept track of the fluid condition and level during the plowing seasons... I did that with the axles and the transmission too...

[buffydores]

I think most of these guys are not willing to share their parts unless you are willing to let them do the rebuild. 203 parts are getting rare.

[sweetk30]

the o.p. here stated in his master build thread he has a th350 trans . this fact makes it a 203 or 205 swap . if he did go 208 or 241 he would have to have the WHOLE trans torn down and have the tail shaft swapped out just to let the newer case swap on .

and side note : if i had to do newer i would just go 241 and be done .

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by sweetk30

the o.p. here stated in his master build thread he has a th350 trans . this fact makes it a 203 or 205 swap . if he did go 208 or 241 he would have to have the WHOLE trans torn down and have the tail shaft swapped out just to let the newer case swap on .

and side note : if i had to do newer i would just go 241 and be done .

Depends on how attached to the archaic three speed auto you are...
I'd swap out to a 4L60 not the 4L60E and not the TH700R4 along with the NP208 or NP241. The 4 speed auto isn't any worse than the TH350.

[CSHADES]

The th350 may be out dated but it is tough and I have a lot of parts for it. I don't put very many miles on the truck in a year so I don't really see the point of spending the time and money on a newer overdrive and transfer case. With this 205 conversion and new driveshafts I am hoping this is the end of drivetrain problems.

[hatzie]

There you are. This blue green ball in space would be a heckuva boring place if everyone thought the same way.

[Jake Wade]

Originally Posted by hatzie

There you are. This blue green ball in space would be a heckuva boring place if everyone thought the same way.

I got a kick out of that!