np203 info?

[charity case]

would a 76 model np203 from a blazer be part time or full 4x4?

any way to tell externally from a picture?

sorry for the newb question

 

[82355]

All NP203's are full time from the factory. An aftermarket kit had to be added to make any of them part time.

Martin

 

[dremu]

Worse, some folks put hubs on '203-equipped truck and call it "part time" without installing the (internal) kit to actually make it part-time, so the front drive shaft and axle still turn all the time.

-- A

 

[82355]

I've actually done that before, just because I hate the way they drive in 4x4 all the time.

Martin

 

[4X4HIGH]

Worse, some folks put hubs on '203-equipped truck and call it "part time" without installing the (internal) kit to actually make it part-time, so the front drive shaft and axle still turn all the time.

-- A

I'm pretty sure the only way to make an NP203 equipped vehicle move that hasn't been converted to part time inside the case but someone installed manual locking hubs would be to put the case in either of the LOCK positions.

 

[82355]

Correct.

Martin

 

[77 casa grande]

203's have an internal differental. Even in 4wd lock,the truck will not roll unless the hubs are engaged. All the power will be transfered to the axel with least resistance. Like spinning one wheel in the snow.

 

[jonrpick]

Are you sure about that? Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of having 4WDL? My understanding was that the diff is only functional when it's not locked, otherwise locking it would be the same as having a spool in an axle.

 

[owenst7]

203's have an internal differental. Even in 4wd lock,the truck will not roll unless the hubs are engaged. All the power will be transfered to the axel with least resistance. Like spinning one wheel in the snow.

No. 203s have a normally open center diff (AWD). When you engage "4loc" in either higher or low by pushing the shifter all the way forward or back, it locks the center diff (4x4). If you unlocked the hubs at the point, the driver would perceive normal 2x4, but the front axle would still be turning from the front driveshaft.

 

[82355]

203's have an internal differental. Even in 4wd lock,the truck will not roll unless the hubs are engaged. All the power will be transfered to the axel with least resistance. Like spinning one wheel in the snow.

This is not true.

They will work in Loc.

Martin

 

[77 casa grande]

Sorry,You are correct. With manual hubs the truck will roll in 4w loc ,but the front axel will still spin, defeating its purpose. With the hubs unlocked in part time the truck won't roll. It's complicated.

 

[82355]

It doesn't completely defeat the purpose. You are still in 2wd so it doesn't buck when turning, and there is less resistance.

Martin

 

[Poison Oil Racing]

I don't have any experience with a 203 so I apologize for the noob questions but if I am following this correctly the 203 is full time.

Does that mean there is no need for manual locking hubs? I just put the case in 4 hi or 4 lo, shift the trans into drive, mash down on the gas pedal and I am good to go?

If so, in theory this would work great with a spool in the front end so there would not be any question of when I am engaged. I would be ful-time four wheel drive all the time, correct?

I am building a race truck that will never see street duty so yes I can run a spool in the front.