Project "Might as Well Make it Right While I'm at It!"

[Yukon Jack]

Not sure on the driveshaft - my present two piece driveshaft is new u-joints and carrier barrier as of about 1,000 miles at the most ago so I'd sure like to make it work. I'm sure I will have to shorten it a little - have to see how it works out.

I got the transfer case side mount brackets all drilled today and two spacers made. Also got the drop down bracket that my carrier bearing mounted to cut off. I'm ready to install the transfer case for the final time and then I can figure out the layout of the driveshafts. Good progress today.

I sure enjoy documeting my projects - I hope it can be helpful to someone else for sure.

[Captainfab]

So Yukon, if I'm reading this right, you're using the original crossmember from the 221 for the 205?

I'll be following this thread since this is what I'll be doing with my recently acquired '69 running gear......'cept with a small block.

[Yukon Jack]

Yep, I'm using my existing T221's crossmember. From what I have read on the board, the NP205's crossmember is 1" deeper so if I didn't have a body lift I would probably need to drop the crossmember a bit to avoid the top of the transfer case rubbing on the floor of the cab. I checked my angles and it looks like not dropping my crossmember isn't going to cause me any driveline angle problems.

[Yukon Jack]

No progress to report, but just gotta say, I love the sound of my bbc - I had to cut the exhaust off so I have open headers right now and I find myself firing it up about every time I step into the shop just to hear it roar.

[Burt4x4]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

No progress to report, but just gotta say, I love the sound of my bbc - I had to cut the exhaust off so I have open headers right now and I find myself firing it up about every time I step into the shop just to hear it roar.

RAT a TAT TAT RAT RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAT

[harrdawg54]

I would like to know if you had to go with one drive shaft or if you were able to keep the ones you had. I am trying this conversion now and am running into a few snags. any help would be great.

[Yukon Jack]

Haven't had any free time to touch the project - hopefully soon I will have an answer about the rear driveshaft.

[Jtrux]

So have you been driving the blazer since the truck is down??

[Yukon Jack]

Not as much as I would like - I've got the top off still and I take my daughters to school in the mornings and I've been INFORMED by my wife that the resulting hairdo from the drive isn't okay. What? They can't wear a baseball cap

[68,69 K20]

ttt, Any progress here Mark?

[Yukon Jack]

Sadly, no! I've just had no free time lately. I hang my head in shame when I go to the shop to feed the cats. They laugh at me and call me weak, my K5 thanks it is pretty fun too, the K20 has resorted to throwing things at me when I get near it - I'm tell you, it's bad out there!

[68,69 K20]

Understood!! I haven't had much time myself. I hate it when my K20 laughs at me

[Yukon Jack]

I don't want to alarm anyone but yes, I've actually found/made some time to work on this again. About time, I know, I know. Since last working on it my website has gone down so all my prior pics are down until I figure that out.

Anyway, got the NP205 bolted up and now addressing the rear driveshaft. As you can see from the attached pics, the upper crossmember that the carrier bearing hung from is in the way and of course the driveshaft is too long now.









My local driveshaft shop was nervous about making a single driveshaft 61" long - I see from looking at Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts website that they will make a 3.5" driveshaft that is good for up to 70" with a maximum operating rpm of 3,000. That would be one option. The other is to just make the existing work - I'm inclined to do that as the carrier bearing and u-joints are basically brand new.

Right now I'm leaning towards moving the upper crossmember back and hang the carrier from it, then have the rear portion of the driveshaft cut to fit. That does increase the operating angle of the driveshaft, but I think it will be okay.

[onlyifihadachevy]

hey, i got a question about the weight of the bed. HOw much do you think, it weighted and how much heavier than the stock bed?

[Yukon Jack]

I honestly don't have a clue how much heavier it is, not even a guess. Sorry.

[Yukon Jack]

Got the short portion of the driveshaft shortened and temporarily placed in position last night. Now need to design and get a bracket made to position the carrier bearing in the proper location.

Clearanced the upper crossmember and then move the lower one about 1 1/2" so the carrier bearing can be affixed from it.

[onlyifihadachevy]

Glad to see your making some progress even if its not much.

[Yukon Jack]

Me too!

[Yukon Jack]

Last few nights have gotten some stuff done but nothing really picture worthy. I should be putting the interior back in next time I get to the shop! That is a great step in the right direction.

Last night I sanded and painted both shifters since they were a bit rough looking. Also got around to installing an electric speedometer that I've had for quite some time. Will be awesome to finally know how fast I'm going :-)

[onlyifihadachevy]

don't you think 160 mph is a litttle high and 10000 rpm is a little much? Or is that the lowest they come because i would hate seeing the speedo at less than half.

[Yukon Jack]

What, you don't think that 454 will hit 10,000 rpm and push the brick to 160 mph?

Nope, there weren't much in the way of options when I bought them.

[onlyifihadachevy]

You might hit 10,000 rpm right before you hear a click-click-knock-pow, and then no power then you stop to see what has happened and a rods thru the pan seen it happen to a powerstroke after a full tank of nos

My uncle was trying to scare me.

[Yukon Jack]

That's funny. This 454 is pretty tapped out by the time it hits a bit more than 5,000 rpm, but it sounds good getting there!

[68,69 K20]

Glad to see you getting back at it.

You must be itching to drive it again after being down for for an extended time, I know I would be.

[Yukon Jack]

Here are a couple shots of the carrier bearing support reinstalled. From the factory it hung from the crossmember located at the top of the frame but due to how high the NP205's rear output is, I had to hang it from the bottom crossmember.





As you can see from the second pic, the splines are about half engaged in the sleeve - about 2 1/2" to 2 3/4" engaged. The driveshaft shop said he'd like to have about 1 1/2" of exposed spline so there is more engaged spline - anyone have any thoughts on this issue?

Last night I spent some time getting the interior back into place. Seats are in but not bolted down - hopefully get that done tonight.



Truck has gotten awful dusty from sitting for 1 year and two months



Maybe I'll be heading to the exhaust shop in the next few days