NP203 tail housing passenger side speedo output

[my kids took the truck]

A shop told me they ordered the wrong replacement tail shaft--they said they accidentally ordered a passenger-side speedo output and need time to reorder. I don't see anything online about a passenger side NP203 speedo. Please confirm these exist.

 

[Recon 78]

My 78 203 had the speedo output on the passenger side

 

[Recon 78]

 

[6872xtc]

I am fairly certain that I have seen mostly passenger side.
But where the speedometer gear exits shouldn't make a difference for the tailshaft.

 

[my kids took the truck]

Driver side on this '74 -- so it looks like the transmission guy is just having a bad few weeks: couldn't find a few bearings, a shim washer in the part-time kit was ground to nothing and where do you find a part from a 1982 kit but he found/made it, wrong tailshaft on the 4 spd (it had a small hairline crack drip and he didn't want to have it tig welded), and then the front input seal leaked (he put a new input housing) which meant everything had to come back out of the truck because they didn't test for leaks. They're doing it nice because they are doing it twice.

 

[my kids took the truck]

Finding a shop was difficult. I called the shop that rebuilt my steering box, I called who they recommended (which tried to sell me a rebuild--but I needed a 32-spline shaft). I called who those shops recommended. I called rando shops. This is a major metropolitan region so not finding anything was weird.

One shop agreed to take the rebuild. The guy called me 'boss' but otherwise seemed ok and a friend had used the shop. Later, I learned they'd never rebuilt an NP 203. They said three days which was what it took me to replace the output shaft on an SM 465 and input shaft on an NP205 years ago.

All Standard Transmissions
861 Camden Ave, Campbell, CA 95008

 

[my kids took the truck]

The transmission to transfer case splines were ready to be replaced

 

[my kids took the truck]

As soon as the shop got the transmission back from Campbell and put oil in it was leaking out the front somewhere. They pulled it and sent it back.

 

[my kids took the truck]

Leak was somewhere up past the bell housing: there was a discussion about how it couldn't be the front bearing retainer because it was replaced.

 

[Chickntrk]

I’d bet most shops have never even heard of an NP203, you need a shop with an old gray haired guy in the back that looks like he hasn’t showered in a month and only drinks coffeee all day….

 

[nvrenuf]

The 4 spd / 203 truck is pretty cool. I'm not a fan of the 203 tcase in general but that's combo is a really rare deal which makes it neat.

 

[my kids took the truck]

The shop owner, dad of guy doing work kept trying to sell me a 205 they have laying around and I finally explained I have a 205 for this 203 if I ever feel the need

 

[TJ1978]

Pretty sure mine is on the driver side.. but I'm not sure what year 203 I have. I'll snap a pic when I get home

 

[my kids took the truck]

I’d bet most shops have never even heard of an NP203, you need a shop with an old gray haired guy in the back that looks like he hasn’t showered in a month and only drinks coffeee all day….

If anyone needs a 203 rebuilt, there's a new expert in Campbell now: by the time this job is done they probably will look just like you described (they are one more wrong/cracked tail-housing order away from losing it)

 

[Chickntrk]

My 78 203 is on the passenger side, if you want it you can have it but shipping will be a bugger

I like the 203 for the wintertime on the road, just get in and go, but the lack of parts anymore, the weight and the terrible low range are why I took mine out.

 

[TJ1978]

.. driver side for me. I got it this way. My old 203 was driver side as well... I think.

 

[my kids took the truck]

End of the thread: got the Blazer back and that annoying slop in the transmission-to-transfer-case coupler is gone. The day Off Road Design came out with that 32-spline shaft for the SM465 to NP203 I should have got one https://www.offroaddesign.com/sm465-32-spline-short-output-shaft.html

No more watching it with the clutch, throttle, and locker lockup so carefully on u turns.

 

[my kids took the truck]

The tail housing got figured out: this one has no crack and speedo is on driver side. Idk if the mechanic and transmission guy are on speaking terms anymore but they got it worked out.