Full time 4WD?

[Ripsnorter]

I'm looking at a truck that says it has "Fulltime 4WD" Its a '74, 460 in it, and I'm wondering if anyone has ever heard of this?

I'm also wondering how well this truck is going to work out mechanically. The idea of "always in 4" makes me nervous for the wear and tear on the truck. He says 60-65 is top speed in it for the low gearing, he wasnt sure what rearends it had in it though. I'm thinking at the least 4.10s or lower. Maybe even 4.56s, which I'm actually looking for 3.73 or higher heh.

Any thoughts?

Its got a bad exhaust leak at the manifold he says, but other than that its perfect according to him. I'm thinking of going and looking at it, but want your opinions first.

[averagef250]

Full time 4x4's have NP203 transfercases. I won't own one. If I was given a '74 F-250 full time 4x4 with a 460 I don't think I'd take it. It's easier to go buy a part time 4x4 highboy than convert a 203 truck over to a 205. The 203 isn't the only downside to the trucks. They use a double cardin rear driveline which is considerably undersized for a heavy bog block truck. If you plan on actually using it also plan to rebuild the rear driveline every couple years at a considerable expense.

[Blue Cloud]

My oldest son just bought a 74 chebby with full-time 4 wheel drive. "NP203 and D44 axle" I haven't been around a "full-time" before but what I've heard said is the problem with this setup is your pulling the front end all the time. Meaning your front axle is engaged all the time, even in "High" position. We did take the hubs apart to grease the wheel bearings and it looked good and stout. Fords are probably alittle different that chebbys tho.

[MaxKlinger]

Theoretically it shouldn't be a big deal to have the NP203 full time 4WD. I'm pretty sure the 203 has a center differential, which means that it allows a little bit of slip front to rear as well as left to right (there are three differentials in total). This is how many AWD setups are on passenger cars and crossover SUVs, like Subarus.

If, in practice, these components tend to wear out quickly, I still wouldn't doubt it.

[ima71 trucks are older]

The 203's go back a while. There is a 74 F250 locally with a auto , 203 and every other option.

If you convert it to part time you still need to drive it in 4x4 for a while every week because the chain is the primary way the rear output gets oiled, its also why 203s that have been converted have a bad reputation for reliability. Jack rabbit starts will also do it
203's also need the oil changes. They run 30 weight motor oil, gear oil won't flow through the fine link chain.

With a 203 your front axle shafts alway spin and so does the front shaft. so you get 11.993MPG instead of 12MPG. The components don't really wear any faster. Bearings and u-joints spinning in grease/oil wear a little, bearings and u-joints not spinning have moisture,rust and other issues over time.