Hi all,


I am wondering if the 1978 K5 Blazer ever was delivered standard with locking hubs? I have a NP203 transfer case and on the front wheels I cannot find anything that indicates I have locking hubs. But I would like to verify...


Thanks!


Alain

 

The NP203 is a full-time 4wd transfer case; having 4HI Locked, 4HI, Neutral, 4LO, and 4LO Locked transfer case shift positions. The transfer case itself has a differential mounted in the rear housing that is unlocked in the 4HI & 4LO positions and locked up (no differential action) when in 4HI LOC & 4LO LOC positions.

In standard configuration, the front hubs will have a solid drive flange inside with a dust cover over the opening in the end of the hub.

Mile Marker does sell a part time kit for the transfer case that locks in the rear output 100% of the time and allows for the use of lockout hubs on the front axle. Without the part time kit for the transfer case, if lock out hubs were used, you would have to drive in either of the LOC positions to actually move the vehicle as well as keep it in place once parked. If you did not have it in a LOC position with the hubs unlocked, the vehicle could roll where ever it pleased and would not move under power due to the differential in the transfer case.

 

Now i remember why i hated 203's. LOL. 205 is cool all kinds of neat tricks you can do with them. Even twin sticking them.Heavy as hell though . My kid brother had a 78 K5 with the 205 and locking hubs. Had to pull that sucker out to change a motor once. ONCE.

 

My '74 has the NP203 in it that has been part time converted and has lockout hubs. I have another NP203, two NP205's, and an NP241C (passenger drop) from a '91 K5. Before I found the NP241C, I was planning on taking the range box off my extra 203 and making the adapter plate to mount it to the front of one of my 205's, twin sticking the 205 to get a doubler setup that can do front and rear digs.

 

Yeah that's what i'm talking about.

 

that 203 is bigger and heavier then the 205, i remember that thing being so awkward to take out, after like the 3rd time i had to pull mine out i scrapped it and just put in a np208.

just a heads up a lot of times you cant just slap on another transfercase, on my 77 that had the np203 the output shaft out of the transmission was so short i had to have it changed out to accommodate the np208

 

Thanks for all the answers. And yes, the NP203 is f*cking heavy. Heaving experience with it. Taking it out is not the problem (just drops), but putting it back in...