73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 4 Wheel Drives => Topic started by: Buddy on November 30, 2010, 07:18:52 pm
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I have a 205 and i hear some talk about a 208 and maybe another kind just wanted to know what the best one is/ dont know anything about any of them just looking for a little info on each and what everybody thoughts are.
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There is no "Best" when it comes to T-cases. It all depends on the desierd use of the vehicle. The np205 is a gear driven,strong and has a cast iron case so its heavy. The np208 has an aluminum case and is chain driven. Both have there good and bad points.
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205 (best) will hold up to some power, rock crawlers use them and mud trucks 203 (better) mud trucks use them and rock crawlers use the gear box mated to a 205 for real low gears 208 ok for everyday use
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I am fairly new to the 4x4 stuff as well. My burb has a 208 in it. From all my research and reading, for aggressive use, the 205 is preferred as it is a generally stronger unit since it's all gear driven and has the heavier cast iron case. The 208, IIRC is lighter being it has the aluminum case, but is considered by most to be weaker due to the chain drive aspect. But, the 208 has around a 2.7:1 reduction, where the 205 is around 2:1 (again, that's if I'm remembering things correctly). So for some, that might be considered an advantage.
I've pretty much decided to re-seal my 208 and run it til it breaks, then if it does break I'll replace it with a 205.
Also, someone on this site (I believe) installed a bracing bracket on their 208, and says it helped prevent failures in the case area due to stress.
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If you have a 205 and it works I would keep it in there, but if I was building another medium duty truck I would use a 208 behind a 700r4. It's sort of a poor man's doubler because of the low 1st gear in the trans and the low 2.61:1 in the 208. For daily driving and not hardcore 4 wheeling it works very well.
I personally don't see the gear drive as an advantage over the chain drive, and that topic has been debated and beaten to death for 30 years.
Some 205's didn't use a slip yoke, which some see as advantageous, and the cast iron case is pretty much bulletproof.
The 208 is lighter therefore a lot easier to R&R when you are lying under the truck working in your garage.
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I had a 205 with slip yoke
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I do Allot of rock crawling. And the 208 that came in my jeep wagoneer held up great for a while. Then i swapped to a 203/205 doubler..that was ok but made for a rear drive shaft shorter then i liked. Then i made a deal to get a Atlas 2 wich is whats in there now.
For anyone that lives in snow country and does alot of back highway driving on roads that dont get plowed a whole lot i recomend a chain drive case. Gears drives dont like allot of highway use and chew them selfs up after awhile. My dodge has a 203 in it and thats what i drive to work during the winter months. I work at a mine and its 80 miles one way mostly unplowed roads. the 205 in my chevy starts to whine then chatter as it gets hot. never happens with the 203.
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I like the lower gearing of the 208. Me and a friend both run them with some nasty small blocks, and they have held up just fine during hard abuse. I've cooked 2 TH 400s and still have my factory 208. And when it finally does go they are much cheaper to replace.( up here anyways)
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The Military 1028 and 1008 (basicly K30's) are rated at 5/4 tons and the run the 208 behind the Turbo 400.
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I prefer the 205 because its gear driven and you can select 2HI, 2LO, 4HI, 4LO. With a modified shifter, of course.