Holes in metal line coming from transfer case?

[RustyDusty]

hey, I was looking around the deep crevices of the engine bay of my 1987 4x4 ford ranger with the 2.9 and a4ld and noticed something somewhat alarming. There’s a metal line behind the distributor that’s coming up from the transfer case I believe (it’s real hard to track these as they go around the top of the transmission) it comes up over the transmission almost to the engine and does a u-turn and goes back down towards the transfer case. I’m thinking (hoping) these are vent lines for the transfer case and the holes are supposed to be there but wanted to check with you guys. I couldn’t find these lines in the diagrams I have of the transmission/transfer case.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Does you transmission have a vacuum modulator?

 

[RustyDusty]

Does you transmission have a vacuum modulator?

Yes it does, the metal vacuum line to the modulator runs parallel to this one, you can see the silicone hose to the metal modulator line partially in the red circle in my photo.

 

[Rimjam]

Holes are supposed to be there. That's some sort of vent tube for the trans. Gave my '88 2.9 w/ a4LD a good pressure washing - trans wouldn't shift right for two days.

 

[RustyDusty]

Holes are supposed to be there. That's some sort of vent tube for the trans. Gave my '88 2.9 w/ a4LD a good pressure washing - trans wouldn't shift right for two days.

thank you!