Re[2]: K5 full-time AWD Blazer

["Dahl, Dave" <dad@roadnet.ups.com>]

  Glen,
  
  Sorry for the delay in responding.  I've been 1) trying to remember the 
  answer to your questions, and 2) extremely busy.
  
  >How does one determine if the transfer case is in, for example, low or 
  >low-lock? I cannot feel any indent or "click" in the lever between low 
  >and low-lock, same for high and high-lock.
  
  From what I remember, there is no indication other than feel.  Our 
  trucks always had that "brawny" feel to the transfer case, so it was 
  easy to tell how many "notches" you shifted through.  Basically, you 
  pushed hard and it popped into the next position; you pushed hard again 
  for another position.  However, most of my experience is with the 
  part-time transfer case with a 4-speed transmission -- things may be 
  different with the full-time automatic, but I don't remember.  Sorry I'm 
  not more help on this question.
  
  >Also, I have seen ads for conversion hubs to convert full-time AWD to 
  >switchable 2WD/4WD. These ads make mention of allowing AWD in reverse 
  >as well as in forward. I assume that some (cheap) AWD implementations 
  >must use ratcheting hubs rather than a much more expensive center diff. 
  >Is this true? I assume that this beast ('75 K5 Blazer) does not use 
  >ratcheting hubs, as I get AWD in reverse and the center diff should 
  >negate the requirement for ratcheting hubs for full-time AWD.
     
  I recall seeing these a while back, and my guess is that they're basically 
  locking hubs.  I figure they must allow you to unlock the front hubs to sorta 
  get 2WD.  (Of course, you then have to lock the center diff, but that should 
  be OK with the hubs unlocked.)  When I saw ads for these in the late '70's, 
  they were touting the fuel-saving potential; however, you're still spinning 
  the front driveshaft and axle, so it's not quite like 2WD.  The whole thing 
  seems a little cheezy to me.
  
  And you're correct -- you don't have cheap ratcheting hubs.  IMHO, the GM 
  trucks have (or at least had -- it's been a while) a good, solid 4WD 
  drivetrain that can take lots of abuse and will get you out of places you 
  shouldn't have been in anyway!  (Especially with the 4-speed manual: 
  granny-gear * low range * axle ratio = tree-climber!)
  
  As you can see by the number of occurrences of "it's been a while" and "I 
  remember" up above, I don't really feel qualified to be considered an "expert" 
  on this stuff.  :)
  
  - Dave Dahl  (dad@roadnet.ups.com)
  - '87 VW Quantum Syncro
  - '93 Volvo 850 GLT