Np205 bracket

[SunSoaked]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Congratulations with your luck guys. GM stopped tying the tcase to the frame in ’73 for a reason. As I have mentioned in other threads, that reason was related to broken trans to tcase adapters on manual trans trucks and broken bellhousings on automatics due to tcase mount. That was straight from a retired GMC truck engineer that 3 of us members personally know and worked with for several years.

Manual trans rigs have a higher fatality rate of the adapter just due to the greater torque load passing through the driveline and the design of the adapter itself. Automatics didn’t suffer much of adapter (there isn’t much to a TH350/NP205 adapter to begin with) issues but more of cracked transmission bellhousings due being twisted apart by that bracket holding the tcase to the frame.

Think about it, the engine will want to twist with the rotating mass. The engine, trans and tcase all need to rotate together as one assembly. With the tcase to frame bracket in place the powertrain is restricted and something will eventually be twisted beyond its giving point and break. The weakest link is the trans to tcase adapter on 465 rigs and the thin aluminum bellhousings on TH350's in the torque converter area of the bell. The carnage will be worse and happen quicker with worn engine mounts that allow excessive torque rotation. I would imagine a good set of Energy Suspension polyurethane engine mounts would mitigate powertrain movement if one must keep their frame mount.

One thing is for sure, when the day comes when your lucky horseshoe gets lost and you notice a trans fluid leak on the ground then find that nice crack in your adapter or find a broken bellhousing on a 69-72 automatic 4x4, I bet this thread will quickly come to mind and the frame bracket will find its way into the iron pile.

Ya, what he says