Transmission

[Rusty84]

I just had the 727 rebuilt in my 84 Grand Wag. The tranny tech said that the clutch in my transfer case is broken and thats what caused the transmission to break in the first place. He says it needs rebuilt too or the tranny is going to come apart again. Is there a clutch in the transfer case? I haven't ever torn one apart. Is he jerking me around or does this sound right?
AW

[joe]

Your x-case doesn't have clutches in it. It has a viscous coupler if it's an NP229 full-time x-case. If you don't have the NP 229 you'd have the NP208 part-time x-case which has neither clutches nor a viscous coupler. I can't see where either x-case going south would ruin your transmission? Sounds to me like your wrench is looking for a house payment or some toy buying money. :(
Does your x-case and front axle engage when in 4WD? Does it drive ok in 4WD? Can you then get it in to 4WD-LO range after going into 4WD and does it work ok then? If so...your x-case is fine. You may well have some x-case issues that are common with a vacuum intensive x-case and front axle that you have in an 83 or 84 but I don't see where that has anything to do with bad effects on your transmission? If I'm wrong here hopefully someone will help us both out here. smile.gif

[ January 22, 2003, 08:15 PM: Message edited by: -joe ]

[Rusty84]

The 4wd doesn't work, vacuum lines were cut when new engine was installed, its on my list my I haven't fixed it yet. I never tried to put it in 4 LO. Its an 84 and Im pretty sure its a 208. Im hoping he's not jerking me around, I will call back in the morning and get the specifics on what he wants to replace. Any more advice would be well appreciated.
AW

[Rusty84]

In addition the truck made an awful popping sound when rolling that sounded like wheel bearings. I hoped this was because of the trashed transmission. Tranny tech said the noise was coming from teh xfer case. Maybe that will help some of you guys point me in the right direction
AW

[Bob Barry]

If you had vacuum-lines involved in your transfer case, then it's an NP229. If it somehow went into 4wd without the front axle being engaged, then you could have a trashed VC. Make sure the front axle is engaged, even if you have to run full-time vacuum to it, and that your transfer-case is in 2wd. There are shift forks in the transfer-case that slide toothed collars that engage or disengage 4wd modes; those are sometimes known as "dog-clutches". That might be what your mechanic is referring to.

He may also be thinking of the viscous coupler, and using "clutches" to describe a worn unit because the older BW1339 Quadratrac used cone-clutches to limit the slip between front and rear driveshafts in full-time 4wd mode.

I would first try a known-good used case, because rebuilding one of these units can really rack up the $$$; you're looking at $500-$600 in parts alone.

[Rusty84]

Yeah that is what he is talking about. I called him back and made him describe it. How can this tear up the transmission?

[Kimbrough]

Hey Rusty84!
Listen, I've had 2 Grand Wags with the problems you describe.
Sounds like a spoon in a blender, right? Won't move but the engine runs well, right?
Both of my Wags had their vacuum lines missing!!!
First, connect the hoses back up . Very easy! The NP229 case seems to need a constant vacuum to stay in 2wd. Otherwise, the linkage will slip backwards out of 2WD towards 4WD. It doesn't have any vac to engage 4WD so it sits in between - in a neutral area.
I checked this theory with a hand-pump vac guage and the pump worked! I was able to drive around as long as I kept good vac pressure. I hooked the hoses back up and voila! Saved meself $$$$ :D
Good Luck!

[Bob Barry]

I have no idea how bad dog clutches on your sliders would tear up the transmission. They can eat up the sliders and forks in the transfer-case, once the little plastic pads on the shift forks that the sliders ride on wear away, but that's entirely separate from the transmission.

I have no idea what he's talking about.