Yeah the NP241 is full manual. Transfer case. Aluminum alloy case. My Spicer 20 was steel.
My NP241 bolts up to a 5-speed manual stick
NV3500.

@oilcanhenry if memory serves me right isnt that a direct bolt on deal, meaning theres no transfer case adapter? theres something about the nv4500 that i want to say you can bolt a 205 (round pattern) /208/241 directly to

Yes...mated vs divorced...now i have the terms down. Sounds like the 700r4 with OD is the one i need to use the divorced transfer case. Would a stock one hold up under 400 hp...or would it need to be built up a bit?

the 700r4 is not a reliable trans, well the main issue is OD. if it gets abused it wont hold up unless its built. the first ones in 83 are the weakest and weere built better as the years went on. but even the best ones cant really handle the extra power over stock and even then the 350 can be too much. the main killer of these trans is towing or hills and keeping it in OD.

Good info. Been reading a bit more...see guys talking about a 200 r4...suppose to be better...not as big and heavy?

when i think of the 200r4 i think of cars not trucks. but then again i havnt really touched a 200r4 but i dont think they can handle that much GVW, it may be able to handle power but i dont think its rated for that much weight

Yeah the NP241 bolts directly to the NV3500.

Been doing some more digging...learning more as time goes on. I think i need to go with the 700r4. Question i have. Since i dont need a mated transfercase....do i just look for a 700r4 that was in a car or two wheel drive pickup? Also...is a 700r4 less efficient as far as power consumption to run that a th350? If a 700r4 robs more power than a th350...not sure if the over drive is worth it for this application?

the power robbing youre talking about is only a big deal when every HP counts like in drag racing. on the highway or rock crawling youre not going to notice it. most times in rock crawling people go with the th400 anyway because its a heavy duty trans that can take the stress of turning bugger tires. youll find the th350 and 700r4 in cars, dont think gm ever put a th400 in a car because it would be overkill. just because the trans can handle the HP doesnt mean it can handle the stress of pushing the extra weight like you would find in a truck.

anyway if you go with the 700r4 are you getting it rebuilt? i dont think theres any difference in the 2wd applications (car vs truck) only the 4x4 as they'll have a slightly thicker case. again gm wouldnt put the 4x4 case into a car as its overkill