TH400 output shaft questions

[Will Morris]

Hey everyone, I'm still looking for a transfer case. I've heard that a short shaft 2wd 32 spline output shaft can be used in a TH400 so that a 32 spline NP203 or NP205 could be mounted beehind a TH400 that came with a different output shaft, like a course 10 spline unit that's 8" long. Is this true? Also, will all the adapters used to mount an NP203 or NP205 bolt onto the back of the AMC cased TH400? As I'm sure you can tell, this is the first time I've attempted this swap.

Oh, by the way, I still need a transfer case, but I may have found a 203 for cheap.

Thanks,
Will

[jeepguzzi]

AFAIK, the only difference between the AMC TH400 case and a Chevy TH400 case is the bolt pattern for the engine. All of the guts are the same, so you should have no problems swapping out the AMC taishaft for a Chevy tailshaft.

[scotty]

hopefully someone can give you a definate answer on the tailshaft,as id be interested in knowing that as well. sounds reasonable,but i dont know if the 2wd shaft and 4wd shaft wuld be different lengths.

the adapter to mount a 203 or 205 will bolt to your th400,but it will need to match the xfer that you will be using. i.e,the 203 will use a different bolt pattern than the 205,and there are different versions of the 205 over the years,so youll have to double check spline counts and adapter patterns before handing over any nonrefundable $$ for a transfer case,adapter,or tailsahft.

[Will Morris]

Thanks Scotty. I heard that you may have to cut down the 2wd output shaft, but I don't think that would be too much of a problem. As far as the adapters go, if I have the right one for the particular transfer case, then it should bolt onto the AMC TH400 casing, which is what I wanted to confirm. I was getting a little confused by the different types of 205s, but since all the adapters bolt to the TH400, then that takes care of some of the confusion. Just have to make sure the case bolts to the adapter. I'd be using the appropriate adapter for the 203 or 205, whichever I can find quickly for the least amount of money.

Will

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Isn't there a groove cut in the 4 wheel drive version tailshafts for an O ring to keep the Trans fluid out of the T-Case? I know this is the case with the D20 TH400 tailshaft, just wondering if this was so with others.