what would cause a 208 to blow apart

[84CUCV]

Well, this was in a m1009 that was given to me. just wonder what would cause something like this? low on atf maybe? the truck is all stock. thanks

 

[rcamacho]

Catastrophic case failure like that is generally caused by running without a support rod to the bell or bottoming out the front driveshaft. I have a spare 208 listed in the classified section if interested.

 

[Steve GMC]

my buddys 208 blew apart when the chain broke. i cant see the pics so idk what yours looks like. only one little link on the chain poped out but it shattered the whole side of the case

 

[84CUCV]

no cucv i have ever seen had a support rod. what do you mean that the shaft bottoming out? thanks

 

[rcamacho]

no cucv i have ever seen had a support rod. what do you mean that the shaft bottoming out? thanks

For SBC/BBC rigs there is generally a rod that attaches from the two large holes on the passenger side of the case to the transmission bellhoursing/block. I don't have a picture handy but you can search on transfer case support or torque rod in the forum.
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=139806

For the front driveshaft, there is a limited amount of travel available. If the slip spline bottoms out, compression of the suspension is transmitted through a now solid link to an aluminum transfer case - bang.

 

[gmc4cw]

no cucv i have ever seen had a support rod. what do you mean that the shaft bottoming out? thanks

basically you use up all the slip in the front shaft and the suspension comresses more. the shaft pushes back on the t-case and cracks the housing. Maybe someone jumped the truck and came down a little harder then they thought they would. you have remember that these trucks are driven by teenagers who are not financially responsible for them.

 

[84CUCV]

OK i got it. the 208 blew up on the guy who gave me the truck. he used it foe while before that took place.

 

[MEK5]

OK i got it. the 208 blew up on the guy who gave me the truck. he used it foe while before that took place.

Did that happen during the winter? Maybe it was full of water and froze,and he tried to drive off!

 

[84CUCV]

i dont think so. i dont see how water could get in there

 

[adamforsythe]

Thats a np208 for ya. In my old '85 k5 right before I junked it I would be going down the road and my 208 would start making a sound that sounded like a guy was under there beating it with a 20lb hammer. When I yanked my motor and trans I found a few hair line cracks all the way around the case. When I bought the '86 k5 that I have now the 208 in it was fine. Never came out of gear on me or nothing. That was with the stock motor. When I changed out the motor and tranny with a 400 horse 350/th-350 it didn't take long after for me to start tearing the 208 up. When I would jump on the gas the chain would start to slip. The last time I took it off-roading the 208 fell apart on me and I was not beating it to bad. It locked up on me and I hit the gas and it jumped the truck HARD. But I made it out now my 4 wheel drive does not like to work. It starts sounding like a old time fire truck if I have my front shaft installed. But I dropped the 208 last summer and pulled chunks of metal out of it. Plus I found that my NEW Th350 had a few splines ripped up on the output shaft. I have a good np205 setting right next to my truck I just need to get the tranny out to install a shorter shaft in it.

 

[84CUCV]

ok good luck with it

 

[wildmouse216]

cast aluminum case. My dads 2001 HD duramax duallie pickup cracked all around the rear output. I couldn't believe they put that cast aluminum t-case in a one ton truck. I'll keep my np205 thank you. Check out the new lomax np205. 3 to 1 low range. Or get the atlas t-case.

 

[goofy1]

Well, this was in a m1009 that was given to me. just wonder what would cause something like this? low on atf maybe? the truck is all stock. thanks

I do not have a digital camera but my pics would be twins if I had one.My 208 was jumping out of low range when I first started driving it but I found the problem and fixed it ( adapter bolts were 1/4 inch too long into the case ) had no more problems until after a motor swap that took about two years. the transfer case started to leak around the shifter rod and I found small cracks in the area, that night driving home the case broke off of the front ring of the case and fell with the drive shafts playing catch. I will never forget the noise or sinking feeling in my stomach( brand new rebuild on the motor top to bottom). When I did the swap to a 205 I found that my front shaft slip-joint was rusted solid so when the axle mooved up or down the case had to flex and I don't think a 205 would last long either under those conditions. Now I use better grease( high temp synthetic more water resistant) and regrease after every off-road adventure.

 

[84CUCV]

ok thanks