Opinions? Turbo350/NP205

[Mike Phillips]

Opinions?  Turbo350/NP205

I was out in the local salvage yard and found a Chevy 4x4 that looks to around a 1978 or so.  It has an intact Turbo350/NP205 transmission and transfercase combination in it and all the mounts and shift linkage plus the front driveline.  

This would be going behind a 454 big block engine in my pavement pounder project here,

1978 Chevy 3/4 Ton 4x4 Project Pavement Pounder


Everyone always says to get the Turbo 400 version but I've been looking and so far no complete systems have shown up.  The owner of the salvage yard is my friend and will pull the truck up to the shop and let me remove everything myself instead of having his guys cut and yank it out.

Then the transmission would go in for a rebuild.   So any opinions or suggestions?  I want a Turbo 400 for the obvious reasons but I've been told a good tranny guy can take the Turbo 350 and beef it up to be a tough transmission.  Also, this truck I'm building is just a pavement pounder.  I like to light up the tires a lot but that shouldn't be a problem for this application.

I have a Turbo350/NP208 combination already but would prefer to go with the NP205 gear driven transfercase versus the chain drive version.

Here's a few pictures...

[motion427]

Don't want to bust your bubble.But that is not a NP205 t-case.It's a NP203.

[Irish_Alley]

x2
a np205 will have a drain plug under the fill plug. a 203 will use the bottom bolts as a drain plug. lot of people will tell you the 203s are tough and the 208s can be put some stuff also. i think blazin plows with a 208. if its not going to see mud up to the axles i would give the 208 a try

[VileZambonie]

How about an upgrade? 4L80E would be nice

[Mike Phillips]

Thanks guys... I'll leaver her be...

Glad I asked... forums are so helpful...

[Captkaos]

I have a 700R4/208 I pulled out of my Blazer.

[DustyRusty]

I wouldn't be afraid to use the TH 350/NP 203 t-case combo.  The NP 203 has been given an undeserved, bad rap over the years.  That combination behind your 454 would be no weaker then the 700R4/NP 208 combination.  The main advantage of the 700R4 is that you have an overdrive and would likely have more mpg's and, arguably, longer engine life.

Your decision may be determined by the relative costs betwen the two options discussed.

Rusty  

[Big Katz]

As far as running a TH-350 behind a big block I wouldn't worry. I run them behind both of my big blocks and abuse them regularly. I have had more longevity with them than a TH-400. As far as the NP203 you can by a part time conversion kit and run it if you have troubles finding a different t-case. The are fairly tough, but I shy away from them because they are heavy and all of them that I have had didn't shift very smoothly.