Syclones and typhoons used all time AWD transfer cases, no wiring needed. Old bravadas had the same transfer case, but newer (96?) had smarttrak which monitors wheel speed sensors somehow...

Acehaag is the guy to talk to about this stuff, I'd search for his profile and take a look at the build thread he has going.

 

Acehaag and philntx both have gotten it done. Pretty sweet setups.

 

Easiest way is to go with the Astro AWD front diff. No electronics. Plenty strong. 3.42 gears. 4x4 Frame.

 

If you have a complete donor bravada every thing you need is there. Very simple to wire up.

 

That's what I'm thinking is to use the running gear less the engine and just clip the frame with a 2 wd truck rear. Looks like the best way if I can get the bravada bought for a good price.

 

Im doing one right now, check my thread "my 1st first gen"

 

Cool build, I read thru it and its pretty much what I want to do only a 2nd gen and a cammed 6.0.

 

I am also building one
http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f135/91-s10-5-3l-project-492475/

 

John Lingenfelter built a 6.0 powered AWD rcsb s10 before he died. It was a beast! He put it in a shootout and crushed a bunch of higly modded sports cars until it broke the transfer case.

 

For some reason, I remember that truck being an LS based 427 twin turbo. There are few threads on here about it. I guy bought it and rolled it at the track shortly thereafter.

 

^ this. from what i remember lingenfelter blew a few transmissions but never a tcase, but i could be wrong...that was a long time ago lol

 

Actually I got two trucks confused. The one in the shootout was the pink sonoma with a TT427 and did break a transmission. The 6.0 powered truck I was thinking of was a red s10 and belonged to a customer of theirs...still built before he died.

 

Whats everyone doing for headers in these awds?

 

The ones I've seen use f body manifolds. I guess Sanderson shorties work with Jared's zr2 swap mounts, might work on a regular 4x4 too...

 

jared is working on 4wd shorties (and mounts) now...he has some available for the ZR2 chassis. the passenger side 2wd shorties work, but the drivers side is different due to the front drive shaft.

 

Your best bet would be to buy a 4x4 frame. If you're serious let me know and I'll look around for a donor truck or just a frame, I'm only 1.5 hrs from ya. I could probably find you a frame today if you wanted. My 1st gen will one day be awd ext. cab.

 

If u run across a 4x4 std. Cab short box frame I would be interested in it. I already have a bed and most of a front cap but I need a cab with a title and I'm trying to find a 2000'ish one.

 

Is there a difference in a t case for a TBSS and the bravada? I've done some searching and I'm kinda thinking I may be a bit to much for the bravada case as the plans are for a healthy 6.0.

 

I don't know but I have heard that GM transfer cases are pretty beefy.

 

I see stock AWD transfer cases running in the 10's

 

The stock NV149 is a BEAST...if it can power a 6klb brick to 10 second passes then you probably can't break it with anything street legal under 4klbs...

 

How do you define healthy? I have no worries about my t-case.

 

Forged bottom 6.0 stock ported heads, cam and all the little stuff on about 200 worth of n2o and 4 275 radials.....LOL .... All but the radials will be true, will be on some type of vette wheel

 

^ this. thats why i have one in the corner of my garage...itll get used someday lol

 

What isin the bravada? What did the nv149 come in?

 

the bravada has a np136. That is what I have in my truck.

 

depends on what year bravada, but yea the 98-01's had the NP136. earlier models had borg warner units, and later models had the NP126 i believe.

the NP149 was in the silverado ss's, early 2000's escalades/denalis.

 

Whats imvolved in electronically hooking up the newer units out of the silvy ss and whatnot?

 

The NV149 isn't controled by electronics (uses viscous coupling) and that's what makes it A: Desireable and B: Strong.

 

exactly, thats why i was telling you to go with a fully mechanical unit if you do go AWD. no electronics to mess with or vacuum lines to run and later fail. just bolt it up and go.

keep in mind though, there is no off the shelf 32 spline input shaft for the 149. seems like the TBSS guys that swap to an 80e actually have the 80e output shaft turned down...seems like a bad idea, IMO. i know you mentioned that tcases behind 6l80e's are 32 spline, i just dont know which ones (if any) are fully mechanical.

 

TBSS uses a 27 spine NV120, fully mechanical as well as torsen center diff, much better than a NV149.

 

just curious, but why is it better? because the torsen can be rebuilt? does it perform any different? cheaper?

Ya the 80e guys use a awd case off a 6l80 since it has a 32spline input and output. But if it had to be connected to a bcm or something then thats a no go. Have to use what the syty guys use and run a adapter plate like they do.

have you found any tcases behind 6l80e's that are full time AWD and dont require BCM/ECM/TCM or whatever integration?