tranny to tcase questions

Chevyjoe · Jan 14, 2009

ok, so i have a 86 swb 1/2 ton chevy with a sm465 tranny mated to a np208 tcase. not sure if it came with the 208 but thats whats in there now. i also have a sm465 tranny mated to a np205 tcase that came out of my 77 chevy swb 1/2 ton. im wondering if i can pull out the weak chain driven 208 and replace it with the much stronger gear driven 205. are the splines different? am i going to need any linkage parts? im thinkin that it will be a straight swap since they're both mated to sm465's. any info on this would be greatly appreciated. thanks :awesomework:

Corey Y · Jan 14, 2009

208s and 205s have different spline #s, shaft lenghts, and adapters. You would need to swap in the whole 465/205 combo in place of the 465/208 combo.

Chevyjoe · Jan 16, 2009

can i just swap in the adapter with the 205 onto the sm465 thats already in the truck?

wazz · Jan 18, 2009

86chevyjoe said:
can i just swap in the adapter with the 205 onto the sm465 thats already in the truck?

Doubtful, unless you swap the output shaft from the 465/205 into the good trans. Still might have dimension differences from different years of 465's.
:dunno

Corey Y · Jan 18, 2009

86chevyjoe said:
can i just swap in the adapter with the 205 onto the sm465 thats already in the truck?

The transmissions have different output shafts.

Wrongway · Jan 18, 2009

As I think dosent the 208 dump on the drivers side and the 205 on the passenger side?

Chevyjoe · Jan 18, 2009

As I think dosent the 208 dump on the drivers side and the 205 on the passenger side?

no, all factory solid axle chevys are pass side drop. ifs i believe is drive side drop. looks like i got a perfect condition rebuilt sm465 for sale as im gunna keep the 205 for future plans. any takers? :redneck:

454k30 · Jan 19, 2009

It isn't a direct swap for a 208 to a 205. The output shaft on the 465 is different for the two cases, so is the adapter length. If you had a 205 from the back of a th400 then you could bolt it on with the 208 adapter but not with what you have. Best bet is to swap the whole assembly up in there. The sm465 is not that hard to install, and clutches are simple to adjust. That being said your np208 has deeper 4lo gearing than the 205, and really the 208 isnt that week.