NOS Rockwell T-221 Transfer Case

[Chaparralman1974]

Good morning everyone!

A few weeks ago I was able to score a NOS Rockwell T221-N5 transfer case. The guy that I bought it from acquired it in the early 90's as part of a warehouse sale of old GM parts. Apparently, it had sat in an open air warehouse since the early 70's.

This case is slightly different than the one in my 1967 K20. Mainly because the vent on the outer cover seems to be in a different location. Other than that, it is identical.

The case has surface rust on it, but the original cardboard protectors for the output shaft splines is still intact. Additionally, it has all of the bearing covers on it to keep it sealed up.

There was no oil in it, nor were there any linkage compents attached. It would seem that in the event that the case needed to be replaced, the yokes, and all linkage from the original setup would be transferred to the new one.

I popped open the case to see what was inside and it was spotless! You can still see the machine marks on the teeth. A few years back, I know there were some threads regarding slop in the idler gears. The questions were around the amount of slop that was supposed to be there. I can say definitively that in this case, there is ZERO slop in the idler gears and shaft.

I am going to keep this case as a spare in the event that mine ever gives up, but I thought that I would post this along with some pictures for anyone who is curious. I would be happy to take any additional pictures if anyone wants. This thing is kinda like a time capsule! :-)


Clay

[Chaparralman1974]

More pictures....

[Chaparralman1974]

Still more....

[Chaparralman1974]

Even more....

[Chaparralman1974]

More....

[Chaparralman1974]

More...

[Chaparralman1974]

The specks that you see on the teeth is bits of gasket and dirt that fell in when I opened the case up. The gasket on the cover plate was brittle as hell and crumbled when I took it off. Some of the debris fell inside. Other than that, the inside was immaculate.


Clay

[Chaparralman1974]

I forgot to post a picture of the data tag.

[LukeandI]

Great find. First NOS T221 I have seen or even heard of. 👍😎

[Chaparralman1974]

Originally Posted by LukeandI

Great find. First NOS T221 I have seen or even heard of. 👍😎

It is the first one that I have seen or heard of as well!


Clay

[Yukon Jack]

That is so cool!

[Short 3/4]

That’s a great find Clay!
If it was me, I’d use that rebuilt one for a spare and run the NOS one. I bet you’d have the quietist 221 on the planet. While it’s a great museum piece, IMO this stuff was built to be used.
Kind of hard to read the date code in the picture, but looks like 73? If so must have been one of the last ones built.
Checked out your build thread. That project of yours is looking really nice, keep up the good work!
Tom

[Chaparralman1974]

Originally Posted by Short 3/4

That’s a great find Clay!
If it was me, I’d use that rebuilt one for a spare and run the NOS one. I bet you’d have the quietist 221 on the planet. While it’s a great museum piece, IMO this stuff was built to be used.
Kind of hard to read the date code in the picture, but looks like 73? If so must have been one of the last ones built.
Checked out your build thread. That project of yours is looking really nice, keep up the good work!
Tom

Hi Tom! I may do that. It would need to be taken apart, cleaned and resealed with new gaskets. Also, I am thinking that the oil seals in it are probably toast. Honestly though, I am looking forward to the sound of the transfer case and transmission. I have not heard that old Chevy whine for a long time now. LOL

Clay

[Short 3/4]

If you get to missing that whine too much I’ll gladly trade you for mine 😊!
Heading out next week on about a 800 mile trip in my old Chevy to see how it wheels in the snow. While the sound of a 221 is music to my ears too, on this trip I might get tired of that song 😬
Tom

[raylube]

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