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'89 R3500 Crew Cab 2wd to 4wd conversion & beyond

Started out with 2wd TBI350 with SM465 to current 4wd with 454, 700r4, NP241
Overview Gallery Discussion
mrk5 said:
You know I had always wondered how I would use a double reduction setup. I figured downhill crawling was obvious but I also figured there had to be more to it than that. I decided a short way into the trail that I should just put it into double-low and see how it worked. It was amazing how much more capable the truck is. I only used the lockers at the double whammy and that was done preemptively. There's so much more finesse and control. Obviously it was really nice coming down the back half of Chinamans. After I put it in double low, I never took it out.

I'm still looking forward to some of the easier trails we run with the local club and being able to use the NP205 low range. Most of the time the NP241 low was deeper than I wanted since we could move faster on the easier trails. The NP205 low should make those runs a little better. I also think the combination of the 454 and the NP205 low range should be great in the snow (on the 1 snow run I allow myself each winter).

My only complaint would be how difficult it is to shift the NP205. The NP241 wasn't ever super easy but usually it would only require rocking the truck a little.

I did get confused with all my levers. At the start of the trail I figured I would put the Magnum in low range since it would be same gear ratio I was used to. So it put it in LO and thought okay now I need to put the NP205 in HI. I kept pushing on the lever but I couldn't figure out why the rear output wouldn't go into HI. I tried putting the Magnum back in HI, but that didn't help either. Finally I said to hell with it and decided to put the NP205 in LO. It was when I moved the rear output lever to LO, I realized my error. The rear output was already in HI, it had been all morning or I wouldn't have been going anywhere! :doah:
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haha, yeah, 205's are always pretty difficult to shift. You will find the sweet spot with how to shift it all. I have noticed with mine, if I'm ever going to shift the 205, I make sure the titan box (or your case magnum) is in high first as that one is a lot easier to shift usually. Then when shifting the 205, I always try to shift the front output into N first, then shift the rear output into H or L (whichever you are going to) and then match the front after that. That just seems to work a bit easier for me to get them each to shift a bit smoother. But most times I have to go back and forth between R/N/D on my tranny until they start to shift. Sometimes it's just the way it goes with the 205...but well worth it.

I hear ya man...It's one of those you never really know how nice it is to have all the gearing/gear selections until you experience it. It really does change the whole characteristics of the rig while wheeling. You will love it more and more as you keep using it
 
I liked the doubler. That was the first time I really got to use it
Noticed I used the rear locker less
 
Kay86K5 said:
But most times I have to go back and forth between R/N/D on my tranny until they start to shift. Sometimes it's just the way it goes with the 205...but well worth it.
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Yeah, that's what I did. Felt like a dork doing it. When we left the trail I just ended up driving down the access road a little ways, then the NP205 would come out of LO. Then I drove down to the end of the county road so I could unlock the hubs. They don't want to unlock until the truck's been out of 4wd for a little ways.

One interesting thing of note, the Magnum instructions specifically say to only shift it when in Park. If you do it in Neutral it has to be quick or if you miss the gear they will grind.
 
It doesn't look like much in the picture but I did get some rock rash on the skid plate.

2018-04-10 10.05.06.jpg

That's why I wanted it on there. There would have been the passenger side where the tcase is most vulnerable.

I'm finishing up the detail work on the skid plate. Every time I move it to a different position, more ATF drips out of a new spot.
 
mrk5 said:
It doesn't look like much in the picture but I did get some rock rash on the skid plate.
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Scott, that's usually what happens when you wheel a land yacht...:rotfl:

j/k man...your crew cab is so sick, I always loved wheeling behind that thing and watching it work :waytogo:

ashman said:
Leaks are the worst!
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Psshhh, my K5 leaks from just about every place it could, haha. I have a leak between my Titan Box and the trans/tcase adapter cause I didn't get a very good seal when installing the doubler...and at this point I don't give a crap cause I'm not pulling it again just to put more RTV on there, I just put some cardboard under it when it sits, and put a bit more ATF in the tranny each time I take it out...but that's the luxury of a trailer queen I guess, haha
 
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mrk5 said:
One interesting thing of note, the Magnum instructions specifically say to only shift it when in Park. If you do it in Neutral it has to be quick or if you miss the gear they will grind.
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I've got the same thing going on with my case. I've been told, and watched video of shifting at speed but I have yet to have the cojones to float a shift.
 
I can't remember if I posted about the other lesson I learned with the NP205. You have to put some sort of thread sealer on every damn bolt! I didn't and I've already had 3 leaks because of it. I just didn't think about the how so many bolts get threaded into the fluid space. :doah:
 
Tnsejed said:
I've got the same thing going on with my case. I've been told, and watched video of shifting at speed but I have yet to have the cojones to float a shift.
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Yeah, I'm too worried about messing up my cool new toy.
 
ktmoutfront said:
Obviously the this is not the first time someone has had that problem.
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That's what I was thinking; there must be a need for them. I did a little searching about it and saw discussions about using them on pulling trucks.
 
205 shift sequence when changing ranges, pick up some speed if your going slow, kick the transmission into N, shift front of 205 into N, shift rear of 205 through N into other range with gusto, slam the front into gear, Transmission into gear and peal out.
 
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