Dual Transfer cases: Do they affect hwy driving?

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FL cruiser

FL cruiser

Joined
Jul 22, 2004
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Location
St Petersburg, Florida
New to rockcrawling. Just hit the trails at GSMTR for the first time, got the fever came back home and purchased an 82 FJ60. Stock drivetrain, SUA, 3" body lift, 37" MTR's, 4:11's.
The gearing seems like it will be fine for the 12 hour each way up and back trip to Tellico. But doesn't seem like it would be much for rock crawling. I don't have the luxury of a tow vehicle, and don't want to change gears and loose the highway gearing, so a gear reduction box seems like it might work for me.

Found an NP203 locally for $50. Thinking this might be a good option to go between my H42 and split case. Just curious if the added rotating weight would affect my long range highway driving? Should I expect any reduction in power, extra heat, noise or vibrations?


Thanks!
 
I have a NP203 between a TH400 and a cruiser case in my FJ-55

I really like it. The pig had very nice road manners until it became a trailer queen. I drove it on the highway regularly to get to the trails.

In the pig things like vibrations, noise and extra weight weren't really all that noticeable though.
 
I heard that it adds some slop to the driveline but I am not sure how much you'll notice the power decrease. My guess would be hardly at all. Skip re-gearing the diffs. I wish I had. That 650 dollars I spent on the diffs I should have spent on an h41 that I have in it now. It allows a granny first gear that is great for pulling out with big tires and doesnt mess with highway speeds. Plus it ends up being a lower gear ratio than just re-gearing your diffs. despit the fact I got sold a bum h41 that grind in nuetral its been great on the rocks.

I would def say re-gear before you get to the diffs. either a 203, a few guys in 60s tech are running them 82SOA guys is one, so is Mace...You could ask Mace how it preforms in the driveway ;)

both adapters for the 203 come in at 500 a piece putting you at 1000 bucks...300-600 more puts you in a toy box. The nice thing about the 203 is that you can buy it in parts instead of one chunk like the Toy Box. Allowing a softer blow to the wallet.

Your welcome to drive my rig this weekend if ya want. Its got about 60:1 before the Toy Box goes in( thanks brokenparts).. I lucked out and got a used Toy Box and can't wait for the thing to go in...

-Al
 
Running a 350/Th400/NP203/3speed only requires one $500 adapter.

If you can pick up a 350/TH400 or 350/TH350 with the right adapter to the 203 you'll get lower weight, auto and mo' power.

Or, since you like it so much, you can get a 6.5/TH400 for not much more than that $500 H41/203 adapter.
 
i run 3 tcases in my mini truck and love it
but it is not my DD
 
He is talking about running it between the h42 and split case....Running an auto would prob cause him to get another adapter to mate it up to the 2f.
 
no real effects on the hwy..

Al
:flipoff2:
 
lowtideride said:
He is talking about running it between the h42 and split case....Running an auto would prob cause him to get another adapter to mate it up to the 2f.
Click to expand...

Yup. Got that. The point was that he could go to a V-8 and GM auto without much more investment.
 
Doubler does not effect hwy manners...now if I could keep the damn thing between the lines.
 
Just curious to see a pic of your rig .. SU and 37" more than I thought you wil runn great with 4.56 at least .. did you cut your fender to allow room for 37" .?

Just and other option it's the marks low gears .. with those, you reach hi 8% low gearing and 3.05 low gearing .. and no have to deeal with shorten drive shaft and deal with cross member fabrication, location.
 
Or, since you like it so much, you can get a 6.5/TH400 for not much more than that $500 H41/203 adapter.
Click to expand...
Great point. I even got a spare diesel and Turbo 400, but I'm a knuckle dragger and like a manual.

Just curious to see a pic of your rig .. SU and 37" more than I thought you wil run great with 4.56 at least .. did you cut your fender to allow room for 37"
Click to expand...
The front fender wheelwells were cut and lengthened for the 37"s
aaabeast.jpg
 
FL cruiser said:
Great point. I even got a spare diesel and Turbo 400, but I'm a knuckle dragger and like a manual.


The front fender wheelwells were cut and lengthened for the 37"s
aaabeast.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks .. pretty nice .. you know, your cruiser ( at this time I never know you was the owner ) was my first ispiration to make my ragtop Tencha :D
 
Great cruiser...closeup pics of said fender trim, please. Especially, the inner fender mod. Thanks

FL cruiser said:
Great point. I even got a spare diesel and Turbo 400, but I'm a knuckle dragger and like a manual.


The front fender wheelwells were cut and lengthened for the 37"s
aaabeast.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Thanks .. pretty nice .. you know, your cruiser ( at this time I never know you was the owner ) was my first ispiration to make my ragtop Tencha
Click to expand...

I wish my rig was half as nice as Tencha!

Have you wheeled an auto?
It's pretty nice.
I seem to remember that the NP203 came behind a SM465 too
Click to expand...

I never have. Most people agree an auto is better for wheeling. My own mind is holding be back from putting an auto in a Landcruiser. I'll get over it someday and try it. Research has told me that GM put the NP203 behind an SM465 one or two years, around 1974. The piece that goes between an SM465 and NP203 is very rare.
Great cruiser...closeup pics of said fender trim, please. Especially, the inner fender mod. Thanks
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'll take some pictures this weekend and post them up.
 
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