NP205 experts

[TubeTruck]

So I bought one about 2 years ago. It had a slip yoke which I removed and sold fully expecting to buy a SYE kit. The time has come where I am looking into getting my 205 mounted to my 4L80e and no one has a SYE anymore. Apparently the manufacturer of the output shafts went out of business or at least stopped making the shafts. Does anyone know if a Frd or Dodge 205 output shaft will work on the GM version? I'm looking at buying a fixed yoke 205 to swap over and divorced 205's are relatively cheap.

 

[SquareRoot]

Is this a round pattern "late" 205?

 

[TubeTruck]

Figure 8

 

[SquareRoot]

I "assume" there exists an adapter for a figure 8 style to a 4L80 trans? That aside, 205's have a lot of interchangeability among them. I took an old figure 8, fixed yoke 205 and put everything inside a newer round 6 bolt style case. I don't know if that helps any. Maybe I'm confused on exactly what your trying to do.

 

[TubeTruck]

yeah, there is an adapter for that. I was looking for the rear driveshaft output shaft. Mine was a slip yoke but I wanted a fixed yoke and they don't make the conversion kits any more. I think I found my answer though. I'm going to email them and double check on the cross interchangeability.

From ORD
Output Shafts

Ford and Dodge NP205's use 32 spline fixed outputs front and rear, always.

GM rear output shafts were fixed style from '69-'79. In '80, all GM trucks got 205's with a slip yoke rear output. From '81-'91, 205's only came in K30's, and single cab trucks got a slip yoke rear output, crew cabs got a fixed rear output. The fixed yoke and slip yoke rear outputs are interchangeable.

 

[Bextreme04]

I'm surprised you can't buy the fixed yoke output shaft anywhere.. they are pretty common. To adapt the 4L80E to a figure-8 32-spline input NP205, you should only need a slip joint 2wd outpu shaft in the 4L80e and the advanced adapters plate that converts the TH400 index ring size to the 4L80E index ring size.

I found the output shaft for $10 from a transmission shop and its $150 for the adapter.

 

[SquareRoot]

I sent my output shaft housing (rear bearing retainer) to ORD to have it machined for the tone ring and plug to drive my electronic speedo (in my case Dakota Digital) gauges.

 

[bucket]

Was there ever a SYE kit? Those are for cases that were never produced with a fixed yoke. But there were many many 205's with a fixed yoke, so you just use the factory produced parts.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Was there ever a SYE kit? Those are for cases that were never produced with a fixed yoke. But there were many many 205's with a fixed yoke, so you just use the factory produced parts.

There was actually one available a few years ago I remember as well! But I think you may have retained your original tail housing and got a new output shaft, if I remember right.
In theory you're correct lol.. it's just swapping factory parts really.

 

[TubeTruck]

Was there ever a SYE kit? Those are for cases that were never produced with a fixed yoke. But there were many many 205's with a fixed yoke, so you just use the factory produced parts.

These are the only 2 companies I have found that sell them and they are both out of stock.

NP205 32 Spline Slip Yoke Eliminator Kit (northwestfab.com)

NP205 Slip Yoke Eliminator Kit (offroaddesign.com)

Mine was a slip yoke rear. My above post quote ORD's site (and referenced below) that says all GM NP205's from '80+ were slip yoke and my assumption is they are more common, at least from all my searching. Ford and Dodge were always fixed yoke. My next step was to find a factory 205 with a fixed yoke and swap it over but Chevy 205's are expensive. I was looking to see if a Dodge 205 output shaft was interchangeable as they made many divorced 205's and those are really cheap because no one wants them. I believe they are so that's my plan.

This page is very informative on the NP205 and found it after I posted.
NP205 (offroaddesign.com)

 

[Curt]

Many GM applications had NP 205 with a fixed yoke after 1980.I’ve had 2.One came out of a 1984 GMC k35,cab and chassis,figure 8,and the current case in my truck is from a 1985 Chevy K-30,crew cab,round pattern.I know rear outputs are interchangeable.And yes,round pattern fixed yoke 205s are expensive.

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[Curt]

Torque King carries rear output shafts

 

[HOTFOOT]

Educate me, why change to a fixed yoke? Made 40 years can’t be all bad

 

[Curt]

Main Reason:In the event that you break a rear driveshaft/ujoint,you can drive on the front driveshaft w/o all the fluid leaking out.

They’re just as strong as a fixed yoke.

 

[bucket]

T-case fluid is overrated, lol.