My google fu is failing me this evening. Basically wondering if/how hard it would be to swap my NP263 in my 1500 GMT800 truck to say a BW1372 (olds bravada awd case) or derivative of. It's wheeling days are over, I bought it when we lived on my families farm, and needed to move up north. We're now back in the south, I'm not worried about snow, and the case needs a rebuild/replacement. (rattling noises coming from the case, SOB to go into 4wd, but it will go there, and it does work, but the syncro collar is likely trash).
I'm so sick of the locals telling me I need to lift it and put 20"+ wheels under it, as a thumb in the eye it's getting dropped and a set of modernish wheels with low profile tires under it. (may just do 17" soft 8's, but that's a different thread) Add a cam, some mild head work, and the AWD system might even actually get used. Who knows? What sayth the hive?
The s10s had 5-bolt transfer cases and the full size trucks generally had 6, but I'm not sure which way the Bravada went.
Ian F
MegaDork
2/1/19 5:19 a.m.
Maybe the AWD transfer case from the full-sized van?
The Denali GMT 800’s were full-time AWD.
Were 4wd GMT800s still torsion bar front ends? If so i think its kind of annoying to get much low out of them.
Daylan C said:
Were 4wd GMT800s still torsion bar front ends? If so i think its kind of annoying to get much low out of them.
Yeah but dropped uprights are cheapish, and someone on the Avalanche forum figured out how to squeeze coilovers between the cv axles and control arm in the stock shock location.
Morning google fu is apparently better than late night google fu. The case I want is the NP149/NVG149 found in the awd caddilacs, silverado SS's. I think I saw one of these last time I was in the junk yard. hmmmmm
I don't know specifically about those two transfer cases, but it is highly unlikely that you can just bolt in a different brand of transfer case. Usually the bolt patterns, input shafts, and lengths of output shafts/flanges is different. GM did use both brands of xfer case over the years so it's possible to find a donor but you'll likely have to get the tailhousing, xfer case, shifter, and driveshafts.
Look into the NP149. It was an AWD case used in Silverado SSs, Denalis and Escalades for certain years. If it has the same case dimensions as the NP263 it should bolt right in. The one downside to an NP149 is that the viscous coupler is not serviceable, it has to be replaced if it fails. Not a big deal, and the NP (in my opinion) is a much better unit than the BW.
