FRONT wheel drive!

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Y'all!
Just out in the FRANKENTRUCK in about five or six inches of snow,…15 degrees, and in FRONT wheel drive! Did just fantastic!
Amazing how the vehicle no longer feels like a P/U when in front wheel! The truck acts like there’s more traction, steering, and acceleration available. That "slippery rear end trying to get out front" feeling just disappears.
Feels JUST like front wheel drive cars I’ve driven in the past.
I do notice that around fifty-five, I get some minor vibration that I don’t feel in RWD, but 4x4 and FWD are meant for extremes and snow, so higher speeds are not an issue. And that’s a lot of torque and horsepower to turn 180!
I’m in the midst of troubleshooting my fuel gauge/sender, so I’m doing a study of the system. I have a working '78 fuel gauge that I’ve tested using a 9V battery. Positive is right, sender left, and ground bottom. Sender open results in the gauge pegging past full, grounding it pegs the gauge below empty.
If it ever warms up a bit, I'll test my new rear half of the system (rear of the fuel sender in-line connection near the starter) with the gauge. The front half has already flunked the grounding test,...my in-dash gauge remains pegged beyong full constantly (no connection, "open"). I suspect the instrument panel plug connection,...a common source of problems in GMs.
More soon on the fuel sender business.
Todd.

[3r!c84]

you put it in 4x4 and took out the back drive shaft?

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Sorry, I shoulda guessed some might not remember FRANKENTRUCKs' configuration.
I combined a proven 350 V8 build of mine, a TH400 with 1200rpm stall, and a machined twin-stick NP205 with Warn hubs.
FRANKENTRUCK can brag RWD high/low, 4x4 high/low, and FWD high/low.
Today was an excursion in FWD high over powder and packed snow. Just amazing!
Todd.

[3r!c84]

ohhh thanks im not educated in the 4x4 thing so thanks for helping me out

[asphaltburner]

Yo! The NP205 is an older gear driven transfercase and is quite tough! Off Road Design in Carbondale, CO rebuilds and machines NP205s to twin-stick, giving them the capability to independantly control the front and rear axles, giving them the capability I refer to. Other companies do this, and a rebuilder can do it also.
FYI.
Todd.

[3r!c84]

do you still have to get out and lock the hubs.or just put it in FWD and go?

[b454rat]

If you have lockout hubs, then you need to turn the dials. If you have slugs, it's "on" all the time. Or if you have the selectables, only when the front driveshaft has power do they lock.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! I prefer getting out and locking the front hubs for FWD and 4x4,...it gives me the chance to check the road surface for traction. If it's ice, then you'll know it!
If I wanted to, I guess I could leave my front hubs locked in, but this way I'm not driving my front axle and shaft constantly.
Todd.

[2tons of fun]

Originally Posted by asphaltburner

Yo! The NP205 is an older gear driven transfercase and is quite tough! Off Road Design in Carbondale, CO rebuilds and machines NP205s to twin-stick, giving them the capability to independantly control the front and rear axles, giving them the capability I refer to. Other companies do this, and a rebuilder can do it also.
FYI.
Todd.

and any one else with a grinder and 1hr.

i have done 3 setups so far.

it real pimp to have 3!! shifters for your transfer case, it just gets old have to explain it to everyone.

[2tons of fun]

did you make sure that you cant accidently shift in to high/low at the same time?

[willett]

hey is there any way that you can put a picture up of your sticks?

is it possible to do that to a 203?

[2tons of fun]

no, you can not get front only from a 203, because 203 are super :rainbow:.

people do twin stick them though because the factory shifter is junk, but it only gives you high/low 4x4 or high/low 4x4 loc, just like stock but you are locking it it with a seperate stick.






ther is only one way to get front only from a 203, its a 203/205 doubler, then you get 3 sticks.