Anyone else think fulltime 4x4s are cool.

[Cabcorner]

I was gonna swap my 203 out to a 205 but then I noticed how I got a lot better traction in high unlock than a part time truck in 2 wd .

[zieg85]

Yes as a matter a fact I do.  After I get a few of my projects done I will try to find a fulltime Blazer with a 6 cylinder in it.  My buddy had a retired Pinkerton Security white 78 K5 blazer with a spot light smack dab in the center of the roof in front.  I couldn't believe how well it went through the snow with the stock L78-15 snow tires all the way around.

[Irish_Alley]

i can kind of see the traction part but then i think of the wasted energy it takes to turn those parts. if i want to turn all four i would just put the 203 in hi loc then be dont then for street cruising i would shift to hi unlock with a part time kit installed and save the mpgs

[Cabcorner]

I know what your saying but I think full time trucks have advantages over part timers. Take snow plowing for example ,as you clean up the snow you go from slippery conditions to dry pavement.My 1980 with a 205 would bind up and I'd have to rock it back and forth to shift in and out of 4 wheel. Winter street driving as well ,I'd always worry about having the rear kick out in the slick or binding up in the dry spots.I mean I've seen all the negative posts on the 203 ,I'm trying to show the other side of the story.If your truck is driven on dry pavement 99 percent of the time fulltime is not for you ,but on the farm or in the snow the 203 is superior.

[Irish_Alley]

I guess I see what you mean also about farm and snow.

[zieg85]

If you are looking for one additional positive point, the front end is always going, getting lubricated and the front axle u-joints don't rust up from lack of use.  My buddy would just remove the front drive in the summer and put it in 4 hi loc and his fuel mileage went up a couple of mpg's, course it wasn't much a concern at $1.25/gallon

[bake74]

If you are looking for one additional positive point, the front end is always going, getting lubricated and the front axle u-joints don't rust up from lack of use.  My buddy would just remove the front drive in the summer and put it in 4 hi loc and his fuel mileage went up a couple of mpg's, course it wasn't much a concern at $1.25/gallon

     Someone is showing his age.  I remember when it was around $1.25/gallon.   

[Blazin]

Have never had the binding up problem coming off slipery conditions to dryer on any of my 205s, or 208s!

[WilliamBos]

I would love to Own one.

[ehjorten]

My '77 has the NP203.  It has been converted to part-time.  It is recommended practice to lock the hubs every few hundred miles and drive it for a while to lubricate the forward bearing in the transfer case.  I drive mine all of the time with the front hubs locked in, especially in winter.  If I get to a point where I need 4wd, I just put it in 4-Hi while driving down the road!  It is especially fun to lock in the hubs on a miserable rainy day and pull up to a little rice-rocket at a stop light!  Just put'er in 4-Hi and hammer on the throttle!!!  Little guy never knew what hit him! 

I thought about converting back to full-time, but it is pretty hard on the front u-joints and your mileage does suffer.  Not that it is that great to begin with.

[velojym]

I had it on my '74, and when I had it converted with locking hubs, it didn't really give me any noticeable gains in the MPG department... not that I really did it scientifically or anything, as my odometer was broken anyway. Heck, I delivered pizza in the thing. Imagine doing that with these fuel prices!

[DustyRusty]

The 203 T-case has got an undeserved rap over the years as being weak.  It's a very strong unit and can take a lot of abuse.  Perhaps there have been a few plagued with chain slop but these units can be rebuilt with very little difficulty.  It's been my observation that there is very little mileage gain by converting to part time 4wd.  In Alaska, people like the full time 4wd.  My truck has a 205 T-case but I would take a truck with a 203 any day.

Rusty

[thirsty]

I used to do a lot of wheeling and had a few 203s. Not once did I ever have a problem with them. I used to convert them to part time if they weren't already. It gave me the option to drive it home in 2wd in case I broke something.

[1979C20]

I used to do a lot of wheeling and had a few 203s. Not once did I ever have a problem with them. I used to convert them to part time if they weren't already. It gave me the option to drive it home in 2wd in case I broke something.

205s are great for the just in case scenario. If you split shift a 205 you can have

Fwd high
Fwd low
4wd high
4wd low
Rwd high
Rwd low

So if you break something in your rear end you can drive home on the front, and vice versa.

[beastie_3]

I used to do a lot of wheeling and had a few 203s. Not once did I ever have a problem with them. I used to convert them to part time if they weren't already. It gave me the option to drive it home in 2wd in case I broke something.

205s are great for the just in case scenario. If you split shift a 2wd you can have

Fwd high
Fwd low
4wd high
4wd low
Rwd high
Rwd low

So if you break something in your rear end you can drive home on the front, and vice versa.

I can still do that with my 203, and actually have done it. Yo! Check out my FWD K10!