Dodge RamCharger Central banner

full time to part time 4x4

9K views 11 replies 8 participants last post by  shanker 
#1 ·
76 rc full time 4x4 dana 60 not sure about t case but how would i make it part time? do i just need to put locking hubs or what. do they make a kit to change it. knew to ramchargers and 4x4s.
 
#2 ·
#3 ·
you can check with mile marker, warn, or super winch .. also look into summit racing or JC whitney i know they carry those conversion lines.

i have the conversion kit on mine but its not a dana 60.. it was the stock 1/2 ton axles.. but if i remember correctly you can get Selectro hubs for the front and bolt them up with the np 203 conversion.

or you could change your t case to a divorced 205.

theres many differant options.

actually putting a conversion kit in a 203 is difficult if you dont have alot of experience with it.. so thats really up to you.
 
#4 ·
If you have a dana 60 front(which wouldnt be stock in a ramcharger)then you have it pretty easy.If you have internal hubs you can choose from several brands that fit '77-'87 k30 chevy(crew cabs through '92)and'91-'93 dodge dana 60's.If you have external hubs[locking hubs bolt on to the hub assembly] you have to go with the old selectro style.(if you have a fulltime front dana 44 things are more complicated]
On the transfercase end there are two style kits,one is a full shaft setup that is much stronger and more $$,and a cheaper deal that isnt as strong .Either kit is pretty easy to install.
 
#6 ·
2 wheel low is a great feature and doesn't put any more stress on the rear axle than a granny gear in a manual transmission.  You do have to be careful if you have both as that much gear reduction can break things if you horse on it but it is a very useful thing offroad to save front axle joints in certain situations.  Also, why would you want a divorced NP205?  I love them but in a truck with a mated transfer case, it would seem to me more reasonable to swap in another mated transfer case like the mated version of the NP205 that I have.  It would require a tailshaft and adaptor housing swap on Mitch's transmission but it would be a lot less complicated than swapping to the oddball short tailshaft automatics or a 2WD NP435 and adding the divorced case and having to modify all the driveshafts and make the short intermediate shaft.  With a mated NP205 (or a NP208 or NP241 for that matter) it would be pretty simple to use the existing shafts with a little shortening or lengthening.

But still, the part time kit in the NP203 seems to work well for those who use them so that would probably be the best option that only requires tearing down the transfer case and not the entire drivetrain.
 
#7 ·
Elwenil said:
2 wheel low is a great feature and doesn't put any more stress on the rear axle than a granny gear in a manual transmission. You do have to be careful if you have both as that much gear reduction can break things if you horse on it but it is a very useful thing offroad to save front axle joints in certain situations. Also, why would you want a divorced NP205? I love them but in a truck with a mated transfer case, it would seem to me more reasonable to swap in another mated transfer case like the mated version of the NP205 that I have. It would require a tailshaft and adaptor housing swap on Mitch's transmission but it would be a lot less complicated than swapping to the oddball short tailshaft automatics or a 2WD NP435 and adding the divorced case and having to modify all the driveshafts and make the short intermediate shaft. With a mated NP205 (or a NP208 or NP241 for that matter) it would be pretty simple to use the existing shafts with a little shortening or lengthening.

But still, the part time kit in the NP203 seems to work well for those who use them so that would probably be the best option that only requires tearing down the transfer case and not the entire drivetrain.
sorry i don't know why i said divorced ::) i meant mated

and yeah i have the NP435 and that's what i meant by using the 2wd low with mine.. guess i should have clarified
 
#9 ·
Hi-jack!

After doing the conversion on the full time xfer case what are you left with as drive options?  I have heard many many things and of course none of them are the same.


Cheers

Chris
 
#11 ·
I've just changed mine over, but I have the d44 front. I took my 435/203 out, and put in a 435/208 from my 85. I have been a mechanic for years, so I did it with more time than money. I pulled my fulltime hubs and knuckles and then the axles. slid in the axles from my 87 axle housing, put the 87 knuckles on, and then bolted up the lockout dana style hubs from the 87. The only down side to this is that you have to drive with the hubs locked in until you change/ modify the t-case. and the new hubs I put on had the newer 5 on 51/2 bolt pattern, so I had to change wheels. I went down to the parts store (junkyard) and bought the rear axles,backing plates, and drums for converting the rear to 5 on 51/2 next. I also had to have the rear driveshaft lengthened because the 208 is shorter than the 203. the front driveshafts are identical for most all years.
 
#12 ·
thethinginaz said:
I've just changed mine over, but I have the d44 front. I took my 435/203 out, and put in a 435/208 from my 85. I have been a mechanic for years, so I did it with more time than money. I pulled my fulltime hubs and knuckles and then the axles. slid in the axles from my 87 axle housing, put the 87 knuckles on, and then bolted up the lockout dana style hubs from the 87. The only down side to this is that you have to drive with the hubs locked in until you change/ modify the t-case. and the new hubs I put on had the newer 5 on 51/2 bolt pattern, so I had to change wheels. I went down to the parts store (junkyard) and bought the rear axles,backing plates, and drums for converting the rear to 5 on 51/2 next. I also had to have the rear driveshaft lengthened because the 208 is shorter than the 203. the front driveshafts are identical for most all years.
Any chance you still have your old knuckles and they are not grooved from bearing failure?

-Patrick
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top