I have a '83 chevy short widebox. I despise the fact that there is ATF fluid in the NP 208. I can't afford to put a 205 in there so I am trying to make the 208 worth a shit. Has anyone ever tried heard or thought about putting like SAE 30 oil in one. I figure the 30 wt is light enough to oil all the little bearings yet thick enough to stay in the transfer case... Any thoughts?


Ziggy, socky, ziggy, socky, hoy hoy hoy!:beer:

Personally I would stay(am staying) with the tranny fluid.. I have a 93 Dodge with Cummins that broke the 205 so I swapped in a 208 which is holding up just fine with the tranny fluid..

I havr an NP208 in mine with 140,000 miles on it. The first 100,000 were behind a diesel, 20,000 were behind a 396 with 36 inch swampers. The last 20,000 were behind a 350 that is healthy. It has held up fine, and I only use ATF. Just be sure t keep the ATF clean and it should be fine.

THe problem I have with the 208 isn't strength, it is behind a pretty mild 350. The problem is leaks, the rear slip yoke dumps fluid at an alarming rate off road, and the rear seal is brand new.

Some of the actual yokes have a pin hole in the end, see if this is where its coming from. It could also be a worn tailshaft bearing., or a worn slip yoke.

Pete

putting regular 30wt oil in is not going to fix your leak:flipoff2:
check your tail housing bushing and see if the slip yoke has a hole in the center. if it does, clean it out really well with carb clean and then epoxy the little bastard shut.
if the bushing is worn a new seal won't help. see if you can move the drive shaft slip yoke up and down with the drivelione in the rig. if the answer is yes, then change the damn bushing!:rasta:

Or you could fill it with grease. No more leaky. :D

Pete