Np208 transfer case brace

Sherry Strickland · Jun 30, 2021

Help Guys,
Where can I find the NP208 brace? I am having no luck finding one online.

PrairieDrifter · Jun 30, 2021

Sherry Strickland said:
Help Guys,
Where can I find the NP208 brace? I am having no luck finding one online.

You'll have to find one, either on a parts truck/junkyard, or from a member here. Or eBay or your local buy and sell website. Maybe even possibly fabricate one.

rpcraft · Jul 1, 2021

Sherry Strickland said:
Help Guys,
Where can I find the NP208 brace? I am having no luck finding one online.

Are you talking about the long rod?

Dave Kay · May 28, 2024

Sherry Strickland said:
Help Guys,
Where can I find the NP208 brace? I am having no luck finding one online.

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout~! HALP~! My M1008 came without that NP208 to bell housing rod-brace too. Am seeing lots of similar braces on Ebay but sellers don't know the application: NP205 or 208.

If anyone could post a pic of either brace-rod for the purposes of identifying the differences that would be a Godsend!

Bextreme04 · May 28, 2024

Dave Kay said:
That's what I'm talkin' 'bout~! HALP~! My M1008 came without that NP208 to bell housing rod-brace too. Am seeing lots of similar braces on Ebay but sellers don't know the application: NP205 or 208.

If anyone could post a pic of either brace-rod for the purposes of identifying the differences that would be a Godsend!

It's not really about NP205 or NP208. It will be a different length based on that and also what trans/adapter you have. It is a different overall length for a TH400/round pattern than it is for a TH400/Figure 8 and also different for a 700R4/round pattern. You just need to measure straight from the first hole on the 208 to the bell housing bolt and then find one that length.. or just make one. It's just round bar that has been flattened on both ends and then bent to line up with the two holes on the transfer case and the bellhousing bolt. I would just get a piece of 1/2 or 3/4" tube and flatten/drill one end to go over the bellhousing, then get a small piece of 3/8" plate steel and fab it up to fit the T-case. Then cut the rod to length and weld it to the plate... done.

SDJunkMan · May 28, 2024

I have a rod that came off a burb, will check it against my CUCV Blazer and see if it is the same length.

Dave Kay · May 28, 2024

Bextreme04 said:
It's not really about NP205 or NP208. It will be a different length based on that and also what trans/adapter you have. It is a different overall length for a TH400/round pattern than it is for a TH400/Figure 8 and also different for a 700R4/round pattern. You just need to measure straight from the first hole on the 208 to the bell housing bolt and then find one that length.. or just make one. It's just round bar that has been flattened on both ends and then bent to line up with the two holes on the transfer case and the bellhousing bolt. I would just get a piece of 1/2 or 3/4" tube and flatten/drill one end to go over the bellhousing, then get a small piece of 3/8" plate steel and fab it up to fit the T-case. Then cut the rod to length and weld it to the plate... done.

Thanks, I will measure that overall length on my M1008. NOTE: my truck is bone stock w/TH400 that came with 1986 CUCVs. Am not aware of which adapter pattern the truck has: TH400/round vs figure 8. How can I make that determination?

Dave Kay · May 28, 2024

SDJunkMan said:
I have a rod that came off a burb, will check it against my CUCV Blazer and see if it is the same length.

Thanks. That would be greatly appreciated.

SDJunkMan · May 29, 2024

Dave Kay said:
Thanks. That would be greatly appreciated.

Well Dave, sorry, but I’m not going to be able to help you. The spare rod I have is too short, not to mention that my CUCV is also missing one! Hopefully I haven’t done any damage yet, since I use mine as a bulldozer, oops, I mean snowplow. Here’s a pic of the rod I have, it’s about 3” short, if I figured right.

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My old plow truck had a 400/400 in it, and I broke the bell housing on it because the brace rods were missing. I guess it’s a good thing the 6.2 is so gutless, because I’ve worked it pretty hard. Guess I need to start looking for that rod for my truck.

I do have a spare 4 wheel drive inspection cover and possibly the rods and front mounts if you need them.

Blue Ox · May 29, 2024

I think the bracing has a lot more to do with the up and down of the chassis than the torque the powerplant applies.

Dave Kay · Jun 1, 2024

SDJunkMan said:
Well Dave, sorry, but I’m not going to be able to help you. The spare rod I have is too short, not to mention that my CUCV is also missing one! Hopefully I haven’t done any damage yet, since I use mine as a bulldozer, oops, I mean snowplow. Here’s a pic of the rod I have, it’s about 3” short, if I figured right.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

My old plow truck had a 400/400 in it, and I broke the bell housing on it because the brace rods were missing. I guess it’s a good thing the 6.2 is so gutless, because I’ve worked it pretty hard. Guess I need to start looking for that rod for my truck.

I do have a spare 4 wheel drive inspection cover and possibly the rods and front mounts if you need them.

Thanks for the reply JUNKMAN, and wow, I'm uber-lucky too that my trans case hasn't cracked because I also have a Gear Vendors unit hanging off the end of the NP208!

So I scored two brace/rods on eBay and one is 36" over all while the other is 34-ish"--- (((*SHRUG*)))) but the one seller assured me that his was for TH400/NP208 application. The other sent no reply. Something better work here! Or I'll just have to Frankenstein it! (lol!)

Regarding the offer of "4-wheel drive inspection cover" I have no idea where/what that is so I must not need it, I guess.

And you mentioned "the rods and front mounts" are they the ones that mysteriously go under the motor mounts and back to the bell housing? --- I'm clueless!

BTW: saw a couple of TC braces on eBay recently but they posted no measurement. Check 'em out B4 they're gone. Good luck

Old Guy Bill · Jun 1, 2024

Dave Kay said:
Thanks for the reply JUNKMAN, and wow, I'm uber-lucky too that my trans case hasn't cracked because I also have a Gear Vendors unit hanging off the end of the NP208!

So I scored two brace/rods on eBay and one is 36" over all while the other is 34-ish"--- (((*SHRUG*)))) but the one seller assured me that his was for TH400/NP208 application. The other sent no reply. Something better work here! Or I'll just have to Frankenstein it! (lol!)

Regarding the offer of "4-wheel drive inspection cover" I have no idea where/what that is so I must not need it, I guess.

And you mentioned "the rods and front mounts" are they the ones that mysteriously go under the motor mounts and back to the bell housing? --- I'm clueless!

BTW: saw a couple of TC braces on eBay recently but they posted no measurement. Check 'em out B4 they're gone. Good luck

Those rods mount to plates behind the motor mounts and then to a heavy cast inspection cover on a 400TH transmission with the proper mounting holes.
This pic shows the trans & cover but not the rods.

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PrairieDrifter · Jun 1, 2024

Realistically the best solution is to find a t-case brace rod of any length, cut it to length, then throw thick wall tube over the cut with a couple of plug welds on each side and weld both ends of the tube to the brace.

SDJunkMan · Jun 4, 2024

Just found these pics of the brackets that go under the motor mounts for the rods that go between the dust cover and frame, if anyone is curious about what they look like.

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Bextreme04 · Jun 4, 2024

yep, that's them. I have them and the heavy duty cover/brace rods on my 454 to 4L80e. The stock TH400 to Figure 8 NP205 is also still on my truck and will need to be cut and extended when I swap the 350/TH400 for the 454/4L80. I haven't had any issues with the bellhousing or case with the 350 in there without the bellhousing braces, but the 454 will have significantly more power and it could be a problem when pulling my trailer through the mountains in 4wd.

Np208 transfer case brace

Sherry Strickland

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PrairieDrifter

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rpcraft

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Dave Kay

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Dave Kay

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Blue Ox

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