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school me on the 203

J

Jester1

1/2 ton status
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May 8, 2011
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Location
Belgrade, MT
Being as every 4x4 I have ever owned has had 2wd/4hi/n/4lo with and without auto hubs how does the 203 shifter work. I know it is full time 4wheel drive but the shifter list 4 lo loc/4lo/n/4hi/4hi loc. Just curious as to what the different shift pattern gives you?

Thanks
 
Just in case you where wondering.

IMAG0265_zpsed43c735.jpg
 
Loc puts equal output to the front and rear via the diff unit in the 203 case.
 
You want the shifter in "lock" when you're in low traction or offroad type situations, then high or low depending on the terrain.

You want it in normal high (unlock) for street driving.
 
Thanks for the replys guys.

So in loc it drives the power 50/50 to the axles?

So when not in loc what is the power division to the axles?

I have heard the 203 is a better (stronger) TC than the 205, but the 205 gives you true disconnect for 2wd. I have an option of getting a 205 what say you about a swap (and yes I know about the drive shafts).

Don't plan on this rig being a high milage driver nor a rock crawler. More than likely it will have gravel/dirt under its feet 50/50 of the time and on occation haul the boat to the lake an hour away. Kind of a weekend toy, light expo, hunting rig.
 
when not in "loc" the differential acts according to axle input...in loc it splits it 50/50, like locking an axle diff.
I don't think the 203 is stronger by any means....the 205 is all iron/all gear....the 203 has that chain for the front output.
 
In my opinion the 203 is a much maligned t case. It usually survives the wrong oil being put in it, is truly awesome in the winter months and is a very strong case overall. Stronger than a 205? In some ways yes in others no.

It is a stupid heavy case though with close to the same crap gearing as a 205. Shifters are annoying for sure. Unless a 203 was broke I would not swap it out.

The other thing is I have rebuilt a bunch and talked to a couple tranny rebuilders that did quite a few of them back in the day and they all said the chain drive rarely stretched out. If you read on the Internet this is a huge problem, I have found this to be less than true
 
right Eric, especially compared to later aluminum transfer cases. That chain is bigger than most and the unit itself is stout for a chain unit....BUT I still love the bulletproof 205...it just needs a little company, like the 203 range box!
 
Yah given a choice I would use a 205 on a wheeler but I may use a 203 on a daily driver/ wheeler. Man I loved having full time 4 wd in the winter
 
yeah, but turning them hard sucked unless they were slipping!
 
Thanks for input. I guess Eric lives fair close and we are probably doing the same kind road wheeling. As far as the real whelling Eric does not so much. When I say light wheeling thats a little out of place to cause some our light trails are tougher than a lot of orv park trails.

That said the tranny is getting swapped and I will end up with 2-203's and if I choose a 205. So if the build is slow and budget rises then maybe zim's idea. Besides everybody starts with changing the radio and ends up linked on tons it seems.
 
I hate NP203's, but that is just me. I am also not a big NP205 fan. Unless it is a wheeler, an NP208 (or NP241) is better.

Martin
 
82355 said:
I hate NP203's, but that is just me. I am also not a big NP205 fan. Unless it is a wheeler, an NP208 (or NP241) is better.

Martin
Click to expand...

Yeah but you hate slush boxes to. Not to say I dislike manuals, I have 3 of them but as of now it's getting another th350 unless I come up with a 700 in the same price as the 350 I am getting, which would be free. Actually I have to install 4 outlets in a guy's shop but wire and boxes are in place so 30 minutes of work and that includes taking my bags out or the truck and drinking the first beer.

Now as Greg says it the journy of owning the vehicle and this thing will probably be under destruction for the rest of my life in one way or another. Plus seeing I move at the speed of smell anything is possible. Time will tell.

Thanks for chiming in. Look for the start of the driveway thread this week. It's gonna be fun....
 
Jester1 said:
Thanks for input. I guess Eric lives fair close and we are probably doing the same kind road wheeling. As far as the real whelling Eric does not so much. When I say light wheeling thats a little out of place to cause some our light trails are tougher than a lot of orv park trails.
Click to expand...


The wheeling with a 203 is dang near identical to wheeling with a 205. Gear ratios are the same. If you part time the 203 you get rear wheel drive low without any other mods ( I would leave it full time)

They basically have the same ratios neither one of them is low enough. I say retain the 203 for now and save for a doubler. I have the D&D machine doubler, its the longest and the cheapest. Built my own shifters. I have basically about 600 bucks in my doubler with everything and the doubler kit was 550.

My old blazer had a 203 for many many years. Biggest problems I had with it were the shifters. In fact every problem I had was the shifters somehow or me doing something wrong with it when putting the part time kit in it.

Thats why I think the 203 gets a bad rap. Maybe the reason I have seen more broken 205s is because more guys wheel em.

a 208 or a 241 is much preferred if you are going to run a single case. the 241 being more so because it is more modifiable
 
My points exactly. The gear ratio is too high, and the shifters are awful. They also are no fun to remove or install.

Martin
 
82355 said:
My points exactly. The gear ratio is too high, and the shifters are awful. They also are no fun to remove or install.

Martin
Click to expand...

So if I was looking for a np241 what did/do they come in. We have no pick a parts here so we just look for old farm trucks or jacks$$ teens that drive it till it dies types.

We do have a salvage yard and they pull for you, but just an example I called them about a th350 a while back and they wanted 650 + my core for it good deal to only 110,000 miles on it, then I called our good local tranny shop 650 rebuilt +core and 3 year warranty.

Not many people go to the salvage yard.
 
1989 K5's and 1989 V1500 Suburbans will have a 27 spline NP241 behind TH700R4's and have a mechanical speedometer. 1990-1991 K5's and V1500 Suburbans will be the same but with an electric speedometer.

Martin
 
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