Attention: Anyone with a Rockwell t-case - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1969 GMC · 04-04-2003, 01:35 AM

OK now that I got your attention, I need a little bit of help. When I think my t-case shifter lever is in 2Hi, it can be moved toward the dash a bit (1/2") and it clicks, like there is the gear. But if you let go of the lever, it pops out back to where it was. My question is, is there something wrong with my t-case? I can't check to see if my front driveshaft is turning. When I think I am in 2Hi, am I in 2Hi, or is it 4Hi? I know it's not neutral because I have been driving it like this for about 3 months now. It just seems like there isn't really a separation of 2 and 4Hi, and I'd like to be in 2Hi on the roads to save on gas. Or am I just dumb? lol Some input would be appreciated, thanks

jeffspower · 04-04-2003, 02:24 AM

I know that case pretty well as i have had 3 trucks with them. both of mine felt that way too but were working just fine. You are probably feeling the shifter detent ball coming up as you try to push it beyond it's 2wd position. If you have lockouts unlock them, put the t-case in 2wd & crawl underneath & your front output driveshaft should spin freely. should not turn in 4wd. if it turns but goes "click click click" in the transfer case then something is needing attention in your t-case.

Also, in my experience this rockwell burns out the bearings on the uppermost shaft easily if it is ran low on oil as the splash has quite a way to go to get to them. I filled my oil with the truck leaning on a slope to raise the fill plug a little higher to overfill it a little & that seemed to help.

Don't be alarmed by some gear whine as these did that when they were new. -jeff

1969 GMC · 04-04-2003, 03:07 AM

thanks jeff, i'll try that tomorrow

oh and i love the gear whine...whenever a passenger rides in my truck, they ask if its gonna blow up and i just laugh

charlieo · 04-04-2003, 11:13 AM

I also have the T-221 what is the shift pattern on these ? Thanx !

**Yukon Jack** · 04-04-2003, 11:27 AM

Here's the shift pattern

charlieo · 04-04-2003, 11:47 AM

As a friend of mine says "coolatious"! Thanx !

69gmcfleet · 04-04-2003, 06:51 PM

My Rockwell doesn't have much movement between 2hi and 4hi. It also shifts easily without much effort. It works great though, other than leaking fluid like a sive.

Question
What fluid do you run in yours? I have heard conflicting answers over the years.

1969 GMC · 04-04-2003, 07:13 PM

Yukon Jack, does that sticker go between the two sunvisors on the roof? Those old stickers are cool, I wish mine still had it.

jeffspower · 04-05-2003, 12:59 AM

I think that sticker is available through LMC truck.

I have a NIB gm part- the "trans to t-case coupler sleeve" & 68 Sub new gm gas tank straps hiding in my garage somewhere. If anybody wants either of them PM me an offer.

**Yukon Jack** · 04-05-2003, 03:41 PM

That is where my sticker is. On the glove box is a worn out sticker describing the use of the lock in hubs also.

Jeffspower - what tranny does the coupler sleeve go to. I had to make one for my Rockwell to CH465 when I did the swap, as I couldn't find any replacements.

jeffspower · 04-05-2003, 05:57 PM

It fits the 465. It came with a 68 k-20 sub that had the married 465/rockwell combo I had years ago. I can only read some of the GM part #39322??. I am sure it was to the same truck as I know who the guy is & can't remember him having any other old 4x4's & it was in the subs' console when I bought it. Box has the previous owner's name on it & dated 7-13-84. -Jeff

chevypete396 · 04-06-2003, 11:13 PM

Hey! I got one of those stickers up above my windshield too! That must mean my truck came originally with a Rockwell case. I had no idea where that sticker came from. I always thought some one just stuck it on there because they thought it looked cool or something. Mystery solved... Thanks Jack… Pete.

chevypete396 · 04-06-2003, 11:18 PM

Quote:

That is where my sticker is. On the glove box is a worn out sticker describing the use of the lock in hubs also.

Is it on there crooked? Mine is. Its on the out side of the glove box to, which is weird. Another sticker I thought some one just stuck on there... Pete.

cleatussnow · 04-07-2003, 08:04 PM

Mine is a little crooked (down about 1/8th of an inch) on the passanger side. Stuck to the Glove box...

ajbirken · 04-11-2003, 12:29 PM

I agree with these guys.

You can check for sure even when the truck is standing still.

Put it in 2 hi with the hubs unlocked, crawl under the truck and turn the front driveshaft by hand, IF you are in 2hi then it should turn freely. Then put it in 4hi and repeat and you should NOT be able to spin the fron shaft.

Do this at every red light to make sure your always in 2hi

Good luck

04-04-2003, 01:35 AM	#1
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	Attention: Anyone with a Rockwell t-case OK now that I got your attention, I need a little bit of help. When I think my t-case shifter lever is in 2Hi, it can be moved toward the dash a bit (1/2") and it clicks, like there is the gear. But if you let go of the lever, it pops out back to where it was. My question is, is there something wrong with my t-case? I can't check to see if my front driveshaft is turning. When I think I am in 2Hi, am I in 2Hi, or is it 4Hi? I know it's not neutral because I have been driving it like this for about 3 months now. It just seems like there isn't really a separation of 2 and 4Hi, and I'd like to be in 2Hi on the roads to save on gas. Or am I just dumb? lol Some input would be appreciated, thanks __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650

04-04-2003, 02:24 AM	#2
jeffspower Well, Whoop-dee-do! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others Posts: 2,302	t-case question I know that case pretty well as i have had 3 trucks with them. both of mine felt that way too but were working just fine. You are probably feeling the shifter detent ball coming up as you try to push it beyond it's 2wd position. If you have lockouts unlock them, put the t-case in 2wd & crawl underneath & your front output driveshaft should spin freely. should not turn in 4wd. if it turns but goes "click click click" in the transfer case then something is needing attention in your t-case. Also, in my experience this rockwell burns out the bearings on the uppermost shaft easily if it is ran low on oil as the splash has quite a way to go to get to them. I filled my oil with the truck leaning on a slope to raise the fill plug a little higher to overfill it a little & that seemed to help. Don't be alarmed by some gear whine as these did that when they were new. -jeff

04-04-2003, 11:13 AM	#4
charlieo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: sw Posts: 341	t-221 I also have the T-221 what is the shift pattern on these ? Thanx !

04-04-2003, 11:27 AM	#5
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,683	Here's the shift pattern Attached Images __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

04-04-2003, 11:47 AM	#6
charlieo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: sw Posts: 341	rockwell As a friend of mine says "coolatious"! Thanx !

04-04-2003, 03:07 AM	#3
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	thanks jeff, i'll try that tomorrow oh and i love the gear whine...whenever a passenger rides in my truck, they ask if its gonna blow up and i just laugh __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650 Last edited by 1969 GMC; 04-04-2003 at 03:15 AM.

04-04-2003, 06:51 PM	#7
69gmcfleet Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Oneonta, NY, US Posts: 103	My Rockwell doesn't have much movement between 2hi and 4hi. It also shifts easily without much effort. It works great though, other than leaking fluid like a sive. Question What fluid do you run in yours? I have heard conflicting answers over the years. __________________ Jeff '69 GMC K2500 LWB, '74 350/SM465/Rockwell T-221, cnD44/ffD60, 3.73 gears, 31" BFG's (originally had 305ci V-6) '05 VW golf '84 HD Sportster XLX '68 GMC K2500 parts beast

04-04-2003, 07:13 PM	#8
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	Yukon Jack, does that sticker go between the two sunvisors on the roof? Those old stickers are cool, I wish mine still had it. __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650

04-05-2003, 12:59 AM	#9
jeffspower Well, Whoop-dee-do! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others Posts: 2,302	I think that sticker is available through LMC truck. I have a NIB gm part- the "trans to t-case coupler sleeve" & 68 Sub new gm gas tank straps hiding in my garage somewhere. If anybody wants either of them PM me an offer.

04-05-2003, 03:41 PM	#10
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,683	That is where my sticker is. On the glove box is a worn out sticker describing the use of the lock in hubs also. Jeffspower - what tranny does the coupler sleeve go to. I had to make one for my Rockwell to CH465 when I did the swap, as I couldn't find any replacements. __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

04-05-2003, 05:57 PM	#11
jeffspower Well, Whoop-dee-do! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others Posts: 2,302	coupler It fits the 465. It came with a 68 k-20 sub that had the married 465/rockwell combo I had years ago. I can only read some of the GM part #39322??. I am sure it was to the same truck as I know who the guy is & can't remember him having any other old 4x4's & it was in the subs' console when I bought it. Box has the previous owner's name on it & dated 7-13-84. -Jeff

04-06-2003, 11:13 PM	#12
chevypete396 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fernley, Nevada, USA Posts: 540	Hey! I got one of those stickers up above my windshield too! That must mean my truck came originally with a Rockwell case. I had no idea where that sticker came from. I always thought some one just stuck it on there because they thought it looked cool or something. Mystery solved... Thanks Jack… Pete. __________________ 1968 Chevy - 3/4 Ton - 4X4 - Longbed - 383ci - TH350 - NP205 Building the motor, painting the engine bay, rewireing everything... (775)-527-1199 / ryanspeterson@msn.com

04-07-2003, 08:04 PM	#14
cleatussnow Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pleasanton, CA Posts: 162	Mine is a little crooked (down about 1/8th of an inch) on the passanger side. Stuck to the Glove box... __________________ "What we are dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law...." Beuford T. Justice

04-11-2003, 12:29 PM	#15
ajbirken Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: raleigh, NC Posts: 60	I agree with these guys. You can check for sure even when the truck is standing still. Put it in 2 hi with the hubs unlocked, crawl under the truck and turn the front driveshaft by hand, IF you are in 2hi then it should turn freely. Then put it in 4hi and repeat and you should NOT be able to spin the fron shaft. Do this at every red light to make sure your always in 2hi Good luck __________________ 1971 GMC Jimmy 350/350/205/D60/14bolt on 38's 1984 M1008 CUCV 6.2/TH400/208/D60/14bolt on 36's 1991 W250 5.9/G360/205/D60/D70 on 33's (tow-rig) Lotsa Full Size Jeeps (J10/J20)! Adam



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