Removing NP205 from 71

[Madbomber88]

I'm replacing the clutch and therefore removing the transfer case first. Anyone done this and have any tips? should I take the transfer case off from the tranny adapter back? Or should I take it all out as one unit (very heavy). The bolts that hold the transfer case to the adapter were too easy to take out, almost finger tight. What is holding it all together, the bolts to the crossmember? Just want to know when it is going to give to make sure the transmission jack is there and taking up the slack.
Any info is appreciated.
-Tim

[bouncytruck]

I pulled them separate, but I have a TH350/NP203 combo. The 203 was extremely heavy. Mine was just bolted to the adapter. Once that was loose, I could drop it down. To pull the tranny, I put the jack under it, pull the cross member, disconnected the t-converter and then removed all the bolts on the bell housing.

Putting the t-case back in was far more challenging than removing it. It is heavy and the bottom wouldn't sit flat on the jack. I would advise making some blocks the attach to the tranny-jack to hold the t-case flat. The 205 might not be as much of an issue has the behemoth 203!

[jamie72]

you might want to consider,pulling the motor instead of the tranny and xcase,imo it would be easier..
good luck

[Madbomber88]

That was my first instinct, but then I read the chiltons and Hayned and they both said to leave the engine in. I do agree removing the engine would be easier, but can anyone think of why they would have me doing it the other way? are there clearance issues or something that would occur by leaving the tranny in?

[ljbear]

I'd pull the transfer case off the transmission, then pull the tranny out. The reason I say this is that the coupler between the 205 and 465 is one of the areas that often gets overlooked, and is damaged from neglect. If the coupler gets dry the coupler will wear. Take the time and split them apart.

[1969 GMC]

I am doing somehting similar with my truck, only I removed the rockwell t-case and am in the process of swapping in a NP205.

in my truck, i would say that the crossmember supports all of the weight when it is in the truck. the bolts that hold the transfer to the adaptor can hold the weight, but you shouldn't do that for a long time (break off the ears).

to get the transfer case off, i got all the bolts out (incl the 2 large torque bolts on the passenger frame rail, and the 2 that hold it to the crossmember), and when i pulled the last bolt, the transfer kinda fell off the rear of the transmission, but the adaptor was still supporting it. i put a milk crate under the transfer case, jacked up the tranny (it lowered a bit due to it not being supported by the transfer case crossmember any more), and kicked it off the transmission from inside the cab. then i unbolted the adaptor and took it out thru the high hump hole.

sure wish i had a shop to do this work in, i could use more advanced tools than my size 15's

[JimKshortstep4x4]

I am with jamie 72 on changing the clutch. Pull the engine unless there is a reason to pull the tranny/transfer case.

Jim