4wd low max speed (NP208C)

[K5-Einari]

Hello,

I have NP208C behind TH350 in my blazer. It started ticking in 4wd low. Silent in high and 2wd. Disassembled the case, planetary gear has problem with one planet gears thrust bearing. Pieces of that bearing were between gears, that made the sound. So i need new (used propably) planetary gear and rebuild kit and it should be good again.

But anyway i want to avoid this happening again, so I'm wondering if spinning it too fast in low gear could damage the planetary gear bearings? I have spinned the tires in 3rd gear and 6000rpm couple of times. Doesn't the mud trucks do this constantly? or do they drive in 4wd high?

 

[total newb]

and they blow up cases regularly too.

 

[K5-Einari]

Do you know what they blow up? the chain or the planetary gear or what?

 

[total newb]

Its a 208. They blow it up throw it in the shit can and grab another.

I personaly think 208 are the second worst tcase ever. All torrington bearings. Id run a bw 1354/56 before a 208 and theyre fucking garbage too.

Not like swaping to a 241 is gona do anything for you, same design planetary.

Youre in europe. Gm is the wrong vehicle base for you to fucking around with.

 

[Bebop]

Time to get a LT230

 

[arse_sidewards]

Its a 208. They blow it up throw it in the shit can and grab another.

This. The 208 is straight garbage. It's a half ass attempt at a first generation chain driven case. Literally anything newer that benefits from the "well that was fucking stupid, we're not doing that again" hindsight is better.

I personaly think 208 are the second worst tcase ever. All torrington bearings. Id run a bw 1354/56 before a 208 and theyre fucking garbage too.

I see why y'all bowtie maroons always harp on the whole "one bellhousing" crap. You can't even keep two different transfer cases straight.


The BW1345 is BW's 1st gen fullsize aluminum case. It's a actually pretty good (not being under the GM bean counter umbrella probably helps with that), basically a 1356 but with a more expensive to manufacture pump that doesn't risk spinning around 200k miles.

Time to get a LT230

Something from the 241 family of case would swap right in and be way cheaper.

 

[TrailTamer]

To answer OP’s question, I don’t think running it at as fast as your blazer can spin it will hurt it when in good working order.

But try to find a different transfer case to put in it.

 

[total newb]

This. The 208 is straight garbage. It's a half ass attempt at a first generation chain driven case. Literally anything newer that benefits from the "well that was fucking stupid, we're not doing that again" hindsight is better.


I see why y'all bowtie maroons always harp on the whole "one bellhousing" crap. You can't even keep two different transfer cases straight.


The BW1345 is BW's 1st gen fullsize aluminum case. It's a actually pretty good (not being under the GM bean counter umbrella probably helps with that), basically a 1356 but with a more expensive to manufacture pump that doesn't risk spinning around 200k miles.






Something from the 241 family of case would swap right in and be way cheaper.

Hey sideways?

Where fuck is he gona find a gm241 in fucking finland?

 

[arse_sidewards]

Hey sideways?

Where fuck is he gona find a gm241 in fucking finland?

Didn't realize he was in Finland.

In that case he'll get one calling a junkyard (inevitably in Latvia) that bought a bunch of shot up trucks from Ukraine.

There's so many more 241s in the world than 208s that it's probably still easier than finding another 208 since the 241 family of shit made it into so many more vehicles.

I still don't see doing serious work on a 208 as the winning move.

 

[K5-Einari]

Thanks for the comments. Offroading with old american truck might not be the wisest choice, at least in here. It is cool but gets easily quite expensive.

this K5 had originally NP203, which worked surprisingly well from 1978 to about 2023 but finally the chain was stretched too much and there were no new chains available. I found this NP208 with unknown history for 50€, so not a bad deal but that was pure luck here. Normally they would be at least 200€. I think this case had problems already when i got it. Didn't see anything when i opened it to make threads to output shaft for sye. But the oil changes showed lot of "glitter" in the oil. Well now i know where the glitter came..!

Today I found 241, but it is from GMT400, so it has front output on the wrong side. I think it could be possible to find passenger drop 241 if I don't hurry it. I would like to think that 208/241 should last for few years if it is in decent condition in the beginning.

I have seen also some np205 for sale here, i just dont like the "tall" low range gearing so much. Maybe i could do a doubler with it. Seen it done, even here in Finland!

 

[bdkw1]

Do you need high range?

Kecks machine makes single speed low range kits for 205's with multiple gear range choices. Not sure if he has lower gear sets that retain high range.

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[total newb]

241 input gear swap is a no brainer job.
Just buy the input and its matching brg and slap it in.

 

[Bebop]

Do you need high range?

Kecks machine makes single speed low range kits for 205's with multiple gear range choices. Not sure if he has lower gear sets that retain high range.

Kecks Machine and Performance Design | Clarks Mills PA

Kecks Machine and Performance Design, Clarks Mills, Pennsylvania. 2,699 likes · 10 talking about this · 18 were here. Kecks Machine and Performance Design Provides custom machining, design, and...

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"Available in 2.04, 1.96, 1.9, 1.83, 1.78, 1.71, 1.66, & 1.6 ratios"
Not sure that helps.

 

[total newb]

There's so many more 241s in the world than 208s that it's probably still easier than finding another 208 since the 241 family of shit made it into so many more vehicles.

Problem is while yes, theres 1000:1 241:208, only about 20:1000 are p-drop.
P-drop were only for about 4-6 years in blazers and burbs
Gm bolt pattern clocking
There 2 pdrop 241s. Dodge late 80s early 90s and gm. And they dont swap.
ALL other 241 (including gm) are d-drop. Dodge jeep, and gmt400 are d-drop.

I grabed a 27spl p-drop just because i found it. Zero use for 27spl, zero intention to use a 241, but if i need one i have one.


205 are great but can be a bigger headache for op. Multiple inputs and bolt patterns and can be very exspencive to adapt. And if op is winging the fuck out to 6k, may not be any better. At least a 241 is positively lubed with a pump.

 

[LScout800]

I just sold a passenger drop 241 with 32 spline for $1500. They are rare and people will pay stupid money for them.

 

[K5-Einari]

High range is definitely needed for street use, driving to the offroad parks and also just drivin for fun.

That high rpm situation in 3rd gear is not necessasary, can be fully avoided if needed. Usually first gear is enough or little bit of second gear if the mud or snow situation requires it. 95% of driving is slow crawling.

 

[Bebop]

K5-Einari are you close to Tampere by any chance??

 

[K5-Einari]

K5-Einari are you close to Tampere by any chance??

Only about 100miles from it and tomorrow i drive though tampere back to home. Nice town i would say.

 

[Bebop]

Only about 100miles from it and tomorrow i drive though tampere back to home. Nice town i would say.

Did you, by any chance, take part in an event called the "MMC Winter War", back in 2012?
I think I say your truck there.

Edit: MMC is the short for Mansen Maasturi Club IIRC

 

[K5-Einari]

It wasn't me! I have had this truck from 2008 and never visited that event. Seen lot of pictures that event during the years. Now i have to google pics and videos from 2012 to see who that could have been..!

 

[Bebop]

It wasn't me! I have had this truck from 2008 and never visited that event. Seen lot of pictures that event during the years. Now i have to google pics and videos from 2012 to see who that could have been..!

My memory is flakey, I just remember an old army green squarebody.

 

[K5-Einari]

Did you actually visit there or seen videos / pics? There are surprisingly many squarebody chevys here, both street and offroad versions.

 

[Bebop]

Did you actually visit there or seen videos / pics? There are surprisingly many squarebody chevys here, both street and offroad versions.

I tried to send you a PM but you got that turned off.

I studied in Kokkola for a bit 10+ years ago. I was trying to find offroaders there and couldn't. I ended hanging out with the MMC guys in Tampere.

 

[K5-Einari]

wow! it's a small world!

I would have guessed that kokkola had offroading activity, but maybe they are well hidden. MMC is one of the biggest offroading clubs here, so that was a good find!

I think I take a timeout with the transfer case and fix many other things in the k5 and save money for what ever the solution for the tc will be.

 

[Bebop]

I think I take a timeout with the transfer case and fix many other things in the k5 and save money for what ever the solution for the tc will be.

Sometimes you got to back up to hit it harder !
If you need parts shipped to Finland, hit me up. I don't have cheap rates but I would be happy to palettize and ship something for a fellow offroader.

 

[K5-Einari]

Thank you for the offer, I really appreciate it! We actually have few very good shipping companies that can handle the freight and all the paperwork. I have ordered some heavy items from usa to the logistics companys warehouse in L.A. where they pack everything in a container and then it comes in a ship in few weeks or months. Wheels, driveshafts, ragtop etc. And the freight cost is surprisingly low. The Finnish taxes add up to the price a lot though..

The big companies like summit, jegs etc offer just airfreight and it gets crazy expensive on bigger stuff. But sometimes they offer free sipping insid

e usa, so that is a good deal to order to the shipping warehouse.

So the hard part is deciding what TC i want, where to get it and paying it! But the blazer WILL drive again!

 

[total newb]

Idk if the demand still exists (guessing by the way the icelandic hill climbers build now)
Buy if yoi ha e friends in drag racing and formila 4x4 they used to buy sea containers worth of 4x parts from the states.

 

[subybaja]

That's more armor than Blazer! Love it!

Would a gear and some bearings and a lighter foot get it running?

 

[KB6Chris]

If NP208's are cheap over there, I'd just find another and put it in.

 

[K5-Einari]

I think i found a decent deal on a "good" np208 that should get it runnig again. And i promise to not do any crazy stuff with the blazer never again..!