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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 4 Wheel Drives => Transfer Cases and Front Drivelines => Topic started by: gcochran223 on March 18, 2012, 02:54:34 pm
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i am buying a 85 seirra with a np208 and it needs a motor and tranny.i have a 355 and th400 and np205 from another truck. what are some of the pro's and cons of me wanting to swap out that 208 for the 205 i currently have.the only reason im wondering is its one less thing to remove from the ground on a creeper and if there virtually the same. any info appreciated
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While they are both part time transfer cases that were mated behind GM transmissions, they're quite different in every other respect.
The NP205 is generally regarded as the best factory transfer case available for light-duty trucks. However, the NP208 is not a bad transfer case. Chevrolet put them in the U.S. Army CUCV 1 1/4 ton 4x4 trucks behind a Diesel and TH400 transmission.
If you don't want to have to swap them later, then put in the NP205. You're probably going to have to modify driveshafts lengths and even mounting type (i.e., slip yoke vs. bolt on yoke).
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Like jason said, the NP205 is regarded as the better of the 3 that gm used on these trucks. Some advantages of the 205 is that its gear driven and has a cast iron case, which also means its heavier. The 208 is chain driven, has an aluminum case and also has a lower low gear range than the 205.
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What was the transmission in the truck before. If it was an automatic I( am going to assume it was 700R4. If thats the case it won't work with your TH400 as the output shaft splines are not the same. If it was an SM465 then the TH400 will work on it. You also have the transmission to transfer case adaptor to deal with. You would need to get one to mate the 208 to the TH400.
I would stick with the 205. Very rugged, tried and true transfer case.
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the truck im buying the guy who doesnt know much about his sierra on 37s! said it comes with a rebuilt th350 and 208 which are still in. i recently had my th400 rebuilt and it has a 205 bolted to it, the last two being in my 78 k10.i dont trust anyone when buying a car saying things are rebuilt so i wanted to swap in my th400 cause i know its beefed and has less than 1000 miles on it. the truck has half ton axles and im really hoping it doesnt have the 3.08s.
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i would run it till something happens. i would also put the 205 in if i had the option, and if something on the 208 broke. since if the 205 would require new drive shafts its just not cost effective to just swap them out just cause you have the parts.
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The 205 setup, no doubt about it. :)