1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

I have a 68 GMC 4x4 with a 250 inline 6, 4 speed Muncie tranny, Rockwell transfer case and 12 bolt rear. I was just wondering about the transfer case...its a T221 and I was wondering how rare these are now? I beleive these are the same transfer cases the rock crawler fellas look for.

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

The Rockwell is par for the course on the 67 and 68s. They are strong and if you make sure they have fluid you will be good. If they get low on fluid they have issues with some of the bearings. I don't think you can get many new parts for them now other than seals. Yours probably leaks some, I know mine does. I am not sure about the rock crawler guys, but I would think they would look for the NP205 over the Rockwell T221, which is the T221's successor. Not that the T221 isn't a good case, its just there are more parts out there for the NP205 and more transmission options. The NP205 was made from 69 through around 92 or so and was used on both automatic and manual transmissions, is found in both passenger and drivers drop configurations, both divorced and married configuration and was used in Fords and Dodges in addition to the GM trucks.

My 67 K20 is essentially the same setup as yours with a 250, sm420 transmission, and Rockwell T221 transfer case. Tough mine is a 3/4 ton and therefore has the ho52 rear axle with 4.57 gears. Interestingly it had a factory option of a PTO shaft coming out of the transfer case, though most of those parts have been lost somewhere along the way. With the PTO it has a factory tach and a hand throttle.

Oh and as far as finding these cases, they are around. They were also used on the 60-66 trucks independent of the transmission.

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

no, they are not rare, and no, the rock crawler fellas do not look for them.

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

As much as I liked my Rockwell, once you have to do more than replace seals, they really aren't worth more than boat anchors. I would rather have my old Rockwell instead of this NP205, but I needed parts. The few parts I could find for it, you'd of thought were made of gold. It'd be awesome to find one close that had good parts that I needed.

And as stated, the wheeler's use the 205 due to part availability.

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

I have a couple of those boat anchors laying around.

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

Wonder how much gear whine these are supposed to have? I believe they have straight cut gears.

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

They are definitely louder than the NP205.

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

jim do ya have the shifter bracket and linkage off one ? thanx, paul

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

Like the others have said, the T221 is a decent transfer case...but not as good or tough as the NP205. And they aren't rare at all.

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

Matter of fact I am junking 2 this weekend for scrape.

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

I've scrapped more than a couple as well...always save the NP205s though!

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

Yeah a full size truck a np205 is the best oem t case made.On a jeep a dana 300 is the one they all love.

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

Anyone know the serial number rap sheets for the T221's off hand and what the 60-66 k series ran? Lookin to do an era correct 4x4 install and kinda need info before I go and do something bad.

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

'68 was the only production year for the SM465/T221 transfercase. [GMC and Canadian plants - maybe into 1969]. After that they went to the SM465/NP205 and before that it was the SM420/T221. So it's kinda rare.

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

Ok well I found an add for a couple T221's on my local craigslist and two were divorced style and the third on was set up for a married application. All for an SM420 is what they were pulled off of. What would I have to do for frame member wise to cross from a c20 to a k20? Also front and rear suspension as well. I know leafs but how to go about modding it.

Re: 1968 Rockwell Transfer Case....is this rare?
 

Wow. The stuff i find google searching stuff. Always brings me bak to here