Transfer Case Whine

[fatboy63k10]

I have a 63k10 with a t-221 Rockwell t-case. It whines badly. I pulled it, and discovered that the bronze bushing on the front input shaft (from trans) was worn badly to the point that the constant mesh gear had slight "wobble" play and the front output shaft (to front rear) was seized onto the helical constant mesh gear.

I replaced all the bearings, turned a new bronze bearing for the input shaft and replaced the front output shaft from a spare case. I reset and shimmed the whole assy according to the book specs as far as end play, preload etc...

Now the bastard whines worse than ever.

Is this a situation like a ring and pinion where "matched, run in gears" can't be messed with or reset ever again in their lifetime? What are my options for this t-case? I know of no parts available...

[GreenMystChevy]

Well, I can't answer your question all the way or even to the point but I thought that I would share the fact that the Rockwell 221 is a loud one. From what I hear from others who own one, it wines all of the time and loud enough for people to comment on.

Good luck.

[ckhd]

All the t-221s I've had whine. Some louder than others.

I don't know enough about them to tell you how to get rid of it.

[fatboy63k10]

Originally posted by ckhd
All the t-221s I've had whine. Some louder than others.

I guess it's not possible to describe the extent or what might be "acceptable" for a whine or a noise. The service manual itself states at the end of the section that a "certain amount of noise" is common or acceptable. The noise I have starts almost immediately from a rolling start and the pitch gets higher the faster the truck rolls and pretty much drops out at about 60 mph. It comes back on deceleration almost to a stop. Since I haven't been in another equipped truck, I have no experience to feel comfortable. I don't think I'm going to live with it. I'm going to pull it back apart or find something else.

What other divorced t-case would be an easy swap? np205?

btw- here is this pos I've given the last 2 years of my life to.
http://www.picturetrail.com/fatboy63k10

[GreenMystChevy]

Now that is a beautiful truck! Nice job. It's all in the details and you certainly have that covered.

[fatboy63k10]

Thanks!

It has been suggested to me that once a gear set develops a whine, its there to stay. The noise was there to begin with and adding the foreign helical gear changed the gear lap two-fold. I suppose my next best guess is to cross my fingers, and rebuild the donor case.

[1969 GMC]

i have the 221 also, and i agree it is very noisy. i havent dropped the case to look inside, but i changed the oil and no shavings or anything bad like that, so i assume its doing good. now that i have my stereo setup, its not as bad. its really loud, esp when accelerating and when compression braking, and the shift lever rattles too. but from everyone i've heard that its normal. 5k miles (and counting) and no problems.

[Scrub]

My buddy has a 221 with 70k miles on it. I think he would consider a hundred dollar bill. email me at twscannell@hotmail.com if you are interested. It's in Oregon.

Good luck

[ZOOMY]

If they don't whine, there's probably something wrong them. If you really hate the whine that bad, convert it over to a 205.

[Yukon Jack]

That truck is awesome. Everyone needs to take a second and go look at his pics.

Can't help on the whine issue - my 69's T221 has a pretty nice whine also.

[Destructo]

My 208 whines in low range but no whine in high range. Sounds like a whine in that case is pretty normal.

[gman]

A POS?

You must be kidding.................

Pretty nice, I'd say!