Transfer Case.

[jason]

Truck: 1985 gmc sierra half ton.
4 W D
automatic hubs.

I need help with my transfer case.
I have been driving around in 4 HI for a while now.. (its snowy in Canada).
Sometimes I take the vehicle up to 80km/h.  ( I'm aware this probably isn't the best idea)

recently, I got stuck in a snow/ ice pile... so I decided.. why not try 4 low...

I tried moving the vehicle into 4 low and it slipped right in.  After getting out of the snow pile... I couldn't get the truck out of 4 low.  The shifter felt locked in place. 

I put the vehicle in park and it wouldn't move.. I put the truck in neutral and I moved the shifter... but I heard a grinding noise. 

I tried moving the shifter in a few different configurations between transmission selection and transfer case selection.  In an attempt to avoid the "grinding noise" of my transfer case, I accidentally found it grinding quite nicely. (dang)

Immediately, I shut the truck off... put it in neutral (on the transsmission) and it went into 4 hi. ( WITH THE TRUCK OFF)

Here are my questions.

#1 What is the proper procedure for switching your vehicle from 2 wd-4wd- 4 low? 
#2 If your transfer case is f-u-b-a-r'd. 
#3 Is it difficult to rebuild them?
#4 Can you remove a transfer case from a 4 wd vehicle and continue driving the truck without the transfer case in 2 wd?
or is the transfer case necessary to have on the vehicle even in 2 wd?

There is a terrible grinding noise now in 4 w hi when I drive it but 2 wd is quiet and sounds perfectly fine.

Any useful tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

[bake74]

     You must either have a np208 or 205, what is your shift pattern for the transfer case,
      The shift positions of the NP205 are as follows from the most forward position (towards the engine) to the rear most position: Four Wheel Drive Low Range, Neutral, Two Wheel Drive High Range, Four Wheel Drive High Range When in Two Wheel Drive, the NP205 does not turn the front driveshaft.
     The shift positions of the NP208 are as follows from the most forward position (towards the engine) to the rear most position: Two Wheel Drive High Range, Four Wheel Drive High Range, Neutral, Four Wheel Drive Low Range The NP208 shift pattern is not straight forward, it has to be pulled to the side and back to enter four wheel drive low range mode.
     I have heard people say you can drive them fast in 4 hi, but I blew one up once doing that, so I do not like to go over about 45 or so in 4wd.
     They are not hard to rebuild if you have rebuilt anything like a engine, trans before.  If you have never done anything like that then it might get a little challenging, but will not be impossible.  Really depends on your mechanical skills and aptitude, everyone is different.

     " Can you remove a transfer case from a 4 wd vehicle and continue driving the truck without the transfer case in 2 wd?
or is the transfer case necessary to have on the vehicle even in 2 wd? "

     This would be a little difficult since both drive shafts are connected to the transfer case, (the transfer case is bolted to the transmission and the rear drive shaft is at the back of the transfer case).

[jason]

I have an NP208 transfer case: The selection is as follows

2 Hi
4 Hi
Neutral
4 low

I can't afford to have another person rebuild it so I pretty much have to rebuild it myself.
I'm planning on getting a spare from a junk yard (only 144.00) to keep me 4x4 capable so that I can rebuild the original without a rush.

Has anyone done this on their rig?.. rebuild a NP208 transfer case?

[rich weyand]

BTW, you can't ever shift a transfer case from high range to low range or low range to high range with the engine running and the tranny in anything but park.  When you go through neutral on the transfer case, there is nothing to keep the output shaft of the tranny from spinning up the input side of the transfer case, and now you can't shift it back into either high or low range.  You also can't get the tranny into park at this point because the tranny isn't stopped -- your brakes have no connection to the output shaft of the tranny with the transfer case in neutral.  The solution at that point is to shut off the engine, and wait for everything to stop moving. 

To review: to shift between ranges on the transfer case (i.e. pass through the neutral position), stop the truck and put the tranny in park.  Shift the transfer case.  Resume driving.

[Irish_Alley]

rich you can shift from low to high on the fly at least on a sm465/ 205. but i think its advised not to on a 208. do you have auto hubs or manual?

[rich weyand]

Stick shift is different, because disengaging the clutch will stop the transmission output shaft.  Note from OP he has an automatic.  I don't know if you can shift the xfer case with an automatic in neutral or not; never tried it.  Either in park or engine off is best. 

[Irish_Alley]

yes you can go to neutral and shift, on the fly i wana say some you can and others no but idk for sure. i saw the op has an auto. this is why i included my manual trans as an example. so maybe down the road he knows there is some cases when you can do this