Married vs. Divorced T-Case

[zainyD]

Hello everyone, just joined the site and I'm looking forward to learning from you all.

I just picked up a very rough 1972 F250 which I plan to return to roadworthiness. The truck appears to have the original drivetrain 360/np435/Dana 24. I have another NP435 from a later model truck with a married NP205 transfer case. Would there be any benefit to swapping out the original NP435 and divorced t-case for the other NP435 with a married t-case?

I realize I would need new driveshafts and I imagine the rear shaft would need to be a two-piece unit with a carrier bearing.

Any input and experience you can provide would be appreciated.

[cep62]

Welcome to our site.
The NP 205 is a stronger T case, but it's up to you and what you're planning for the truck.
If you're building lots of horse power you might need the extra strength. in which case you might look for
a divorced 205, it might be an easier swap.

If it was me I'd probably wait until I broke one (or two),then upgrade.

[1972hiboy]

Welcome to our site.
The NP 205 is a stronger T case, but it's up to you and what you're planning for the truck.
If you're building lots of horse power you might need the extra strength. in which case you might look for
a divorced 205, it might be an easier swap.

If it was me I'd probably wait until I broke one (or two),then upgrade.

Pretty much that right there. I would even venture to say unless you were tractor pulling with serious power. Many of these trucks have had bigger engines / tires swapped onto them over the years and kids still dump clutches and smoke tires and ive never seen one spit a tcase. Seen a spun driveshaft but id rather replace that then a bigger component. I have my big camper on my 72' most of the time and I crawl that on dirt roads / hills / rocks in the Sierras. I only thing i have considered doing was bolting on a tcase brace.

[zainyD]

Thanks guys, all too often I get the mentality of 'if it ain't broken, "fix" it until it is' rather than, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.'

[cstoyer]

Thanks guys, all too often I get the mentality of 'if it ain't broken, "fix" it until it is' rather than, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.'

Yep, easy to do because its easy to say "well, while I'm doing this I might as well do that" Then ball goes rolling out of control.

CStoyer

[JoshT]

Nope you don't need it, I'll be glad to dispose of it for you.

Seriously though, its a good transmission and transfer case combo. If I had the NP435/Dana 24 case combo like you do, I don't think I'd swap it out. Now like cpe62 said, if you were running high power and needed the extra strength it might be worth it. I agree with him hold on to it for spares in case you break what you have.

Having a F-100 I got stuck with the NP435/Dana 21 combo. The 21 is a single speed case. I'd love to upgrade to the NP435/Dana 24 combo. Maybe someday I'll come across a good deal on the parts around here somewhere.

[Lee]

Hi,

I contemplated the same swap as you due to my D24 constantly popping out of 2H and leaking oil from just about every seal.

I then searched for a rebuild kit for the D24 and after much research found that I would be better off replacing the 24 with a divorced 205.

I found a 205 out of a 1976 F250 at the local Bone yard. Bought a complete rebuild kit for it, new mounting bushings, and it was a direct swap replacement for the 24,.... except the end of the speedo cable had to be changed.

Lot less work than installing a married tranny/transfer case setup in my opinion.

Lee

[stpackard]

Lee, what seal kit did you use, and did you take your speedo cable to a shop to change out the end?

As far as I know, the speedo gears can be changed. Anyone know what gear color might need to be there for 35” tires?