all time four wheel drive

[hibby]

im lookin at buyin my first K5. it is a pretty good deal but it is all time four wheel drive. I dont know anything about all tilme four wheel drive...can anybody help me out? are they reliable??? are they junk???

 

[toomany]

If it's full time four wheel drive, than it has a 203 tansfer case. Nothing wrong with the 203. Other than it is heavy and full time 4wheel. Not alot of people break these things. The chain can/will streach, I've never seen one break though. If it has been converted to part time four wheel drive (which sounds like it hasn't), some kits are better than others. The shifter is a little picky about the adjustments, but it's easy to twin stick it. The rear driveshaft will be a bolt on yoke, so no need to worry about a slip yoke.

I had a 203 in my 77 K20, the only reason I took it out was because the Th350 went. I swapped a Sm465/208 in it's place. I would not second guess buying a truck, or driving one with a 203 in it. I've even thought of putting together a tow rig with a 203 in it, but this would mainly be used to pull the snowmobiles in the winter.

 

[hibby]

thanks, i wasnt to sure about buyin it when she told me. It was owned buy her dad who the original owner. it has one cross country trip on a fresh rebuilt 350 so im guyessin it runs pretty good. im waitin for pictures of it before i go driving all the way out to look at it. thanks again...that gives me a little better idea and understanding of what im lookin at

 

[hunter29078]

As toomany said they are not bad. Most people don't like them for whatever reasons but they arent bad. I have a blazer with a 203 in it and it runs fine with it. I converted it to part time which is pretty simple and easy if you have turned a wrench or two. The total kit will cost about $200 if you go with the cheaper mile marker kit and warn prem. hubs. Installing the kit also gives you a 2 low which is pretty cool if you modify later. You can switch from 4 low to 2 low without having to go through nuetral, which make turns easier and shifting faster. However if you go with the kit you will need to lock it in 4wd at least every fill up to keep it lubricated. But they are pretty good left alone, I really haven't seen any great MPG improvement since the kit, but tire wear seems to be better. Overall 203 are good t-cases in my opinion, hell plenty of the old trucks still have them and they are still running, can't be to bad to last for 30+ years.

 

[blazinzuk]

yah don't let it be the decideing factor on buying a truck. I ran a 203 in my blazer for a long time. I had a mile marker shaft part time conversion I bought for 100 bucks off of here a while back and it worked very well. They do suck to take in and out they are HUGE. Terrible low range gearing (but so does the 205) I actually prefered mine without the part time conversion.

 

[hibby]

thanks for all the help guys! I'll definitely take a look at it now and not let that be a deciding factor in buying it.

 

[RootBreaker]

my first truck had a 350sb.... turbo 400 and np203 with full time... was nice in the rain.... i think it is 30% front power and 70% rear power... didnt slip around.... in the woods really didnt need 4wd all the time...

plus if you have one... and swap it out... keep it.. and you can then do the 205/203 doubler...

 

[TDS-MN]

Agreed with the previous thoughts on the full-time 4WD system. Had that on a '75 Suburban I owned years ago, and it was never a problem. I actually spent most of the time on road with that truck, without issue. And the few times I had it off pavement, it performed excellently.

 

[hibby]

thanks for the thoughts on the full time four wheel drive..i actually picked up a 73 K5 this weekend. drove from Riverside to the Arizona border to pick it up. Its a project but im excited..ive wanted one since i was a teenager and finally got it. im gonna have to replace fenders, skirt both doors and replace the tailgate because of rust but it cost me next to nothing so i cant complain