FINALLY got Old Green after 20 years.

[71gmcC15]

My dad bought old green in 2001. It was an old construction pickup. It did not run vary whell. So like a reasonable person he put a big cam an intake and carb on it and it was the fast. You know 4 year old me thought it was. It stayed like that for a long time it. Then my oldest brother started driving it to hi school. He would win drags against gtps and it would also jump log piles. We would use it to get cows and horses back it going 70 throw fields and swaps. I leanded to drive manual in it to.Then it blow up. It sat for 3 years. Then we moved off the farm and into town. My dad had a 02 chevy at the time but decided a house was better then a pickup and let the 02 go. So like normal people do he hot a crate 350 and put a mild cam in it and reused the intake and carb. But also added long tube headers. Me my brother and dad happily voided the warranty on that new crate engine. Later in life dad sold old green to my older brother he used it for quiet a while. I kept after him about trading my tahoe for old green straight across. Whell the day finally happed. I was driving it home for him and a u joint whent out and exploded the transfer case. I asked him again. He said yes. 2 days later I had old green back up and running with a fresh trasfer case form the junkyard out of a k20. Mine you this is 3 days ago. So after 20 years I finally got old green and I we still all just learned something about it. The drive shaft is k20 on the front and k10 in the back. I know this was alot but the pickup as it sits now is vary rusty and any normal person would of parked it after the t case exploded. But I've wanted that thing for so long I had to fix it.

[kglowacky]

I love it. Keep driving it.

[71gmcC15]

Originally Posted by kglowacky

I love it. Keep driving it.

Heck ya I'm going keep driving it. And fixing it.

[1976gmc20]

Aluminum transfer case

I bet an NP205 wouldn't have busted. On the other hand, would be a greater loss if it did.

[71gmcC15]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

Aluminum transfer case

I bet an NP205 wouldn't have busted. On the other hand, would be a greater loss if it did.

Definitely agree with you on that one. Thought about swapping it out to a np205 but decided I did not want the extra work involved and the 208 held up vary good and died at no fault of it's own.

[71gmcC15]

I'm going to post all updates and what not here so I gess you can call it a "build " thread. I got some green doors for it off of a 73. There are have zero rust. Probably cuse they whare off a 2wd. Also got a different bench seat for it. The one in thare is blue vinyl but the driver side is blown out. I found a blue cloth one in better shape. Also stared to take the dash apart to " restore "the gauges cluster. My brother swaped in a AC gauge bezel a long time ago. I found a non AC one that I will be putting back it. Took the chrome overlay off it so it's just black textured like the original one was. Now I'm just waiting on some used gauges form evilbay. I only needed the water temp but found a set cheaper then just the one. So I will have extra incase I brake a needle repainting them. Wow that's a lot sorry. And I dont even have pics. Will get some this weekend.

[v30crewcab]

208's had some oiling issues. 241 is a nice replacement without changing driveshafts.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by v30crewcab

208's had some oiling issues. 241 is a nice replacement without changing driveshafts.

My ideal would be a 203/205 doubler behind an SM465.

And a 292 straight six in front of that would be nice

[71gmcC15]

The 208 is not the best t case that's forsure. But it isn't bad ether.

[sweetk30]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

My ideal would be a 203/205 doubler behind an SM465.

And a 292 straight six in front of that would be nice

After running my 203/205 doubler now i can say this . . Go a tiny bit further and do a magnum box setup . This gets you a 3 speed over the 2 speed .

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by sweetk30

After running my 203/205 doubler now i can say this . . Go a tiny bit further and do a magnum box setup . This gets you a 3 speed over the 2 speed .

I thought it was all about how you set up the shift linkages ???

Three levers: gets you hi-range (direct), 205 low, 203 low, and 205/203 low = four speed t/c - right...? (2wd or 4wd in all of those)

Plus the granny gear that must get you a crawl ratio about 150:1

[sweetk30]

203 box to 205

1:1 = all high range
2:1 = 1 high / low
4:1 = both low

then magnum box is this combo .

1:1 = all high
2:1 = np205 in low
2.72:1 = magnum box in low
5.33:1 = both in low

sm 465 / 4.10 / 38" tires

203/205 low/low/1st = 105.43:1 crawl
magnum/205/1st = 143.39 crawl

reason i say magnum is if you have no range box stuff and need to buy it then its about a wash for 203 or magnum to a 205 .

plus i find the 2:1 or 4:1 o.k. but would LOVE that middle 2.72:1 at times .

[hatzie]

You don't need a 205 because the chain drive cases are "Weak".
The NP205 is 1.96:1 low range, the NP208 is 2.62:1 low range and the NP241 is 2.72:1 low range.
The NP241 with the correct drop for the RV squarebodies is not as plentiful as the T400 CK version but it has the best low range and it's not so popular that it costs a mint to buy.

As far as weak goes...
I've plowed snow with a 78 W200 Power Wagon 360/A904 with a "weak" NP203, an '86 F250 with an NP208 transfer case behind a C6 & 460, and an '89 GMT400 K2500 with a NP241 transfer case behind a 4L60 and a 350. I flogged all three of them like a red headed step child.
The equipment dead list included the Ford Dana 44 IFS front axle that I swapped out to a Dana 44 straight axle, two 4L60 transmissions, and one A904 transmission gave up on me but that NP208 was not a problem no matter how hard I worked it and neither was the dead stock NP203.
The 460 was pretty rough on the wallet at the gas station with the 4.10 gears in that F250 tho.

[1976gmc20]

I thought the 203 low range was a lower ratio than a 205 low range?

Though it's hard to imagine needing anything lower than an SM465 granny and NP205 low range. The first and reverse in my 89 K1500 5 speed is so fast that I use the low range (241?) around close places even not needing 4wd. But my old 2wd 76 with the SM465 would do just fine until I had to climb or more often back up a steep slippery hill. Seems like the 465 granny/reverse is just about as low as low range and 1st/reverse in my 5 speed (3500?).

I had a 91 Suburban with apparently the 208 and never had any problems with the t/c but I also never pulled stumps and semi trucks like I did with my old 205 pickups

[71gmcC15]

Here's some better pictures of old green. I cleaned up the interior and put a different seat in it. The old one was blue vinyl and the driver side was blown out. So i found this one for free along with the green doors.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

I thought the 203 low range was a lower ratio than a 205 low range?

Though it's hard to imagine needing anything lower than an SM465 granny and NP205 low range. The first and reverse in my 89 K1500 5 speed is so fast that I use the low range (241?) around close places even not needing 4wd. But my old 2wd 76 with the SM465 would do just fine until I had to climb or more often back up a steep slippery hill. Seems like the 465 granny/reverse is just about as low as low range and 1st/reverse in my 5 speed (3500?).

I had a 91 Suburban with apparently the 208 and never had any problems with the t/c but I also never pulled stumps and semi trucks like I did with my old 205 pickups

The NP203 & NP205 are roughly the same ratio in low range 1.96:1 IIRC.
You can get 3.6:1 gear sets for the NP203 range box. Or just run a NP241.
The thing that killed more than a few of the 208/241 boxes was leaving out the brace between the transfer case and the engine.

The 89, if stock, would've had one of the less reliable Getrag forefathers of the NV3500. I've forgotten what they were called, HM290 maybe??? IMHO The 1st & reverse ratios in those gearboxes were more suited to an automobile than a pickup truck. They work OK within their limitations. The 300ft-lb limit was fine in a V6 S/T 10/15 truck but it had no business in a fullsize truck if you intended to tow with it. I've broken a couple of them towing in early 1/2 ton T400 trucks.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by hatzie

The NP203 & NP205 are roughly the same ratio in low range 1.96:1 IIRC.
You can get 3.6:1 gear sets for the NP203 range box. Or just run a NP241.
The thing that killed more than a few of the 208/241 boxes was leaving out the brace between the transfer case and the engine.

The 89, if stock, would've had one of the less reliable Getrag forefathers of the NV3500. I've forgotten what they were called, HM290 maybe??? IMHO The 1st & reverse ratios in those gearboxes were more suited to an automobile than a pickup truck. They work OK within their limitations. The 300ft-lb limit was fine in a V6 S/T 10/15 truck but it had no business in a fullsize truck if you intended to tow with it. I've broken a couple of them towing in early 1/2 ton T400 trucks.

Yeah (sorry to digress into a different vintage), I didn't know about the different five speeds when I bought it cheap from a neighbor after a divorce. It ran good, but it had no 4wd and the brakes were bad. I shimmed the front axle actuator and spent a small fortune getting the rear brakes totally rehabilitated. I still don't have a parking brake because I need to find the part in a junkyard.

It works "okay" for getting firewood and running to the dump, but I hate to put much more money into it since it's only a half ton and I discovered that I don't like the x-cab for the purpose that I'm using it for. It's just too long and that vintage IFS doesn't turn too sharp anyway, compared to the open knuckle squarebody pickups.

[hatzie]

It works. A pickup truck is much better than no pickup truck.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by hatzie

It works. A pickup truck is much better than no pickup truck.

$800 plus some repairs

[LT7A]

Looks like you're getting it rehabilitated at least. What are your plans for it? Cool that it's been in the family so long.

[71gmcC15]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Looks like you're getting it rehabilitated at least. What are your plans for it? Cool that it's been in the family so long.

Fix the cab rust completely new wiring and put a bigger cam in it like it had. Then just drive and enjoy it. I'm shure thare are other thing that I will also do but the cab rust is my number one concern and priority. And I'm only fixing the cab rust the box sides and fenders are just fine for me.

[71gmcC15]

Started on " restoring" the gauge cluster. It usaly one of the first things I do. It dont cost much and makes a huge difference. Just waiting on a new lens cover for it. Also got all my door seals for the green doors. Might get them put on this weekend.

[71gmcC15]

Just waiting on the new lens cover and it will be done. Old green got an upgrade here to. He now has a numeric temp gauge. And the needle is not broken. Also replaced every bulb while I was here. My brother had green leds in it. I whent back to stock 194s.

[hatzie]

I had a mid 80's Subaru GL with red cluster lamps. Cutting out the blue spectrum light does help your night vision.

[71gmcC15]

Originally Posted by hatzie

I had a mid 80's Subaru GL with red cluster lamps. Cutting out the blue spectrum light does help your night vision.

Red is the best color for dash lights . I justed wanted stock. Thare not that bright anyway.