How many have a transfer case brace?

[dontoe]

350/208 has two, one on each side of the motor bolted to the motor-mounts that bolt to the dust cover, and one that goes from the right side bellhousing to the transfer case.

 

[ntsqd]

'79 Sub; originally a TH400/NP203. Had both the braces from the t/c cover and the brace from the bellhousing to the 203 down the passenger side. Replaced the 203 with a 208 and modified the 203's brace to fit.

 

[tunedportk5]

I had a 78 blazer with no braces and I beat it perty good and the three years I had it I broke two turbo 350's and I see my 84 has braces so that might have been why the trans broke.

 

[fatbob]

203 and 205 were to the frames most of the time. and 208 was to the bellhousing with a rod.

I have not found this to be true, .
I have a 1980 blazer with the brace to the bellhousing, and a 1988 crewcab
with the same brace and both had a 205.
I have only seen the frame braces on early 70's models. My 1976 400sb/th350/203 came without one but I put one in after the second broken case. But I noticed Desert Rat had a frame brace on his 1976 but Muddytazz doesnt have one on his 1975
One interesting thing is without a brace,[ I broke mine using a tow strap, you know how you use momentum to stretch the strap? ] Well the sudden torque load broke the tranny at the REAR of the case. But CyberSniper and dontoe
mention cracked BELLHOUSINGS.
mrk5 here is a bad pic of the brace where it bolts to motor. I think you use the second bolt from the bottomthat holds the bellhousing on.

 

[mrk5]

Thanks

Thanks for the pic, fatbob.

That is kinda how I envisioned it. I guess that is just enough extra support to help, but it doesn't seem like much.

 

[rcamacho]

I'm running a BBC w/ full length headers, NV4500 & NP208. The brace is missing but I'd like to install one. Given interference issues with the headers, this could be an interesting fab job.

 

[1-ton]

Neither one of my trucks (1985 K30) (1991 V3500) have the transfer case to bell housing bracket because the previous owners removed them, which seems to be the case with many older full-size GM 4X4 trucks; and many people that buy these trucks used are probably not even aware of it, unless you are a person that is very familiar with the older GM 4X4 trucks.

The bracket was removed on my 1985 K30 because of a custom dual exhaust system, which runs down the side of the transfer case. The one on my 1991 V3500 was removed because the engine was replaced, and the people that did the engine R&R where too lazy to put it back on, so they tossed it in the trash probably.

The bracket for my 1985 K30 (205/400 combination) is still available from GM for $30 (GM part # 14020856), but the one for my 1991 V3500 (205/4L80E combination) has been discontinued. What sucks about that is...1991 was the only year the 205/4L80E combination was offered (thanks to NVRENUF for that info), so it will be virtually impossible to find one in a junk yard; thus I will have to make one out of the bracket that is still available for my older 1985 K30.

 

[mrk5]

The bracket for my 1985 K30 (205/400 combination) is still available from GM for $30 (GM part # 14020856),

Now I'm curious if GM still has one available for my 400/208 combo. I'm going to call and find out. Thanks for the idea.

 

[Muddytazz]

I went and looked at my dads 3/4ton burb today with a factory 350/th350/203, and his 203 doesn't even have the brace holes in the tcase

Neither one of my trucks (1985 K30) (1991 V3500) have the transfer case to bell housing bracket because the previous owners removed them, which seems to be the case with many older full-size GM 4X4 trucks; and many people that buy these trucks used are probably not even aware of it, unless you are a person that is very familiar with the older GM 4X4 trucks.

The bracket was removed on my 1985 K30 because of a custom dual exhaust system, which runs down the side of the transfer case. The one on my 1991 V3500 was removed because the engine was replaced, and the people that did the engine R&R where too lazy to put it back on, so they tossed it in the trash probably.

The bracket for my 1985 K30 (205/400 combination) is still available from GM for $30 (GM part # 14020856), but the one for my 1991 V3500 (205/4L80E combination) has been discontinued. What sucks about that is...1991 was the only year the 205/4L80E combination was offered (thanks to NVRENUF for that info), so it will be virtually impossible to find one in a junk yard; thus I will have to make one out of the bracket that is still available for my older 1985 K30.

 

[tomseviltwin]

You absolutely need the brace. It absorbs enough torque to wear a groove into the grade 8 bolt hat attaches to engine block. 208/400 combo

 

[plastrdman01]

no brace

ive had a 85 blazer with the 400/208 and no brace on the t/c. i have a 88 chevy 4x4 p/u with the sm 465 and the 241 t/c and no brace. i wheeled the pee out of both of them and never had a problem.

 

[Sandman]

I run the brace from the Tcase to the frame. I went through three transfer case adapters and broke a recently rebuilt TH350.

After the brace, I have never had a problem.

 

[Ned Kelly]

When I went from a 350 to 454, the original 350 brace would not clear the 454 oil pan. I ended up making some new strut braces using 3/4" solid rod and 3/8 plate. Just took alittle time and easy to do. I ran without the strut braces for a few years, but was always worried about cracking something. I say run braces now and have no worries right from the start. Why wait to crack a tranny case (if auto) or your trans/tc adapter and then go to a brace? Do it now so nothing breaks and save yourself all that future work.

 

[highrider_44s]

my 82 chev with a 465/208 didn't come with one. But the 80 crew cab with 400/205 i bought for parts had a brace.

I now run a 456 with a doubler and i am wandering about putting a brace on it that what do you guyes think.
i made a double crossmember mout but i am still a little concerned about the weight of the 205 hanging off the aluminum doubler adapter

 

[supersize75k5]

I've got one on both trucks. I've heard you can crack cases without them.
Or is that just a story put about by the company that makes them!! j/k

BEING THAT i HAVE A PILE OF DEAD TRANNYS WITH BAD CASES i WOULD HAVE TO SAY YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY!


Of coarse blazer's were not designed to handle jumping a 5 foot tall pile of dirt!

as result of about 10-12 of these jumps I am swapping a tranny in my 75 today

and thats the 5th one installed this year, I really need those braces, or I need to stop jumping it??

hmm I see ball joints in my future some time next week as well..

hell my 86 seems to have fallen victim to the same driver..

 

[K30CJ]

I used to race a '79 K10 in mud drags. It had a 434 small block, TH350, and NP205. In an effort to save weight, I left the brace from the case to the bellhousing off when I built it. Never had a problem, and no breakage. I have left them on other trucks I didn't race.

 

[jays68yak]

Does anyone know the size of the bolts for the rod on the 208/241? I am not running mine and need to.

 

[85mudblazin]

I had one...... till some how it snapped the bolt off in the engine block

 

[seschev3]

You absolutely need the brace. It absorbs enough torque to wear a groove into the grade 8 bolt hat attaches to engine block. 208/400 combo

I have snapped the head off of a grade 8 at the bellhousing with the brace on. Imagine what it does without it.

 

[Muddytazz]

Explain why some rigs came with the braces and some didn't? And why some tcases don't even have the holes for the braces?