Body lift with Manual Transfer Case?

[BIGWHEELS]

Greetings! I'm looking to put a 3" PA body lift on my 2003 Ranger FX4. I understand there is an extension for the shifter, but what can I do about the manual transfer case? I am worried that it will hit the trim around the shifters and not be able to shift or stay in gear properly. And I don't want to hack that up! To me it's one of the cool features of the truck! I have done the searches and haven't found any good info. Sounds like the manual transfer case is on very few rangers.



Any help / opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for any help,
Chris.

 

[Boggin]

manual transfer cases are fairly common, i know a guy with a manual tcase that done a 2" body lift and just left it, but this wasnt a ranger

 

[BIGWHEELS]

Does anybody on this site have a manual t-case with a 3" body lift?

 

[Boggin]

i have a manual tcase and i am getting a body lift and as far as i know everyone tells me its okay, if i get mine done before you i will let you know how it goes

 

[BIGWHEELS]

Thanks! That would be great! I'm going to wait to make sure it will work before I do it. How much are you lifting? Does your truck have that thick metal trim around the shifter? Sorry, don't know what years that came on.


Chris.

 

[Boggin]

never checked for the trim and i will either be lifted 3" or 4". my plans are to make a 4" lift, id be glad to let you know how it turns out

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

OP has a 02-03 twin stick Fx4. You can make an extention using flat bar. Making it all fit in that chrome looking floor bezel is the concern I have...I soon will tackle this when I convert my truck to what your truck is using all the same parts you have. By having the case and all parts assembleed but not on the truck, I think there'll be room with the extention I'm going to make, but you never know.

Even stock, there's not much extra throw room on the 02-03 Twin Stick trucks on their floor bezels.

The good thing though, is that your chrome Tcase shifter bolts to the linkage using 7/8" on center holes....very easy to make an extention for it using flat bar. All that have your truck, OP, have all cut their floor and made and extention. Only one or two that I know of managed to keep their chrome floor bezels. Most answers you will get will not pertain to your truck, as your truck is a special 2 year edition with very limited production numbers.

 

[BIGWHEELS]

OP has a 02-03 twin stick Fx4. You can make an extention using flat bar. Making it all fit in that chrome looking floor bezel is the concern I have...I soon will tackle this when I convert my truck to what your truck is using all the same parts you have. By having the case and all parts assembleed but not on the truck, I think there'll be room with the extention I'm going to make, but you never know.

Even stock, there's not much extra throw room on the 02-03 Twin Stick trucks on their floor bezels.

The good thing though, is that your chrome Tcase shifter bolts to the linkage using 7/8" on center holes....very easy to make an extention for it using flat bar. All that have your truck, OP, have all cut their floor and made and extention. Only one or two that I know of managed to keep their chrome floor bezels. Most answers you will get will not pertain to your truck, as your truck is a special 2 year edition with very limited production numbers.

THANK YOU! That's what I'm talking about, that bezel around the shifters is very limiting. But is so cool, I couldn't possibly remove it! Could you please post some pics of the flat linkage bar and or where the shifter mounts that you are talking about?
I knew that package was a little different, but didn't know that it was that short of a run. Kinda neat, I guess, even if it's a PITA to do a cheap lift.


Thanks,
Chris.

 

[BIGWHEELS]

OP has a 02-03 twin stick Fx4. You can make an extention using flat bar. Making it all fit in that chrome looking floor bezel is the concern I have...I soon will tackle this when I convert my truck to what your truck is using all the same parts you have. By having the case and all parts assembleed but not on the truck, I think there'll be room with the extention I'm going to make, but you never know.

Even stock, there's not much extra throw room on the 02-03 Twin Stick trucks on their floor bezels.

The good thing though, is that your chrome Tcase shifter bolts to the linkage using 7/8" on center holes....very easy to make an extention for it using flat bar. All that have your truck, OP, have all cut their floor and made and extention. Only one or two that I know of managed to keep their chrome floor bezels. Most answers you will get will not pertain to your truck, as your truck is a special 2 year edition with very limited production numbers.

Sorry to be such a newb, but what is "OP"? I tried to look up OP in the member list to check it out, but no luck. What is it an acronym for?
Again, sorry for the stupid question.

Thanks,
Chris.

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

OP = Original Poster.

It's all good...i was typing like crazy and didn't feel like scrolling up.

here ya go...

The mounting holes for the chrome part of the arm are 7/8" on center, and well...i havn't done my swap yet so i have no pics of how i solved it. There really aren't that many pics of how people have solved this issues with a bodylifted twin stick truck. I hope to change that with mine.

There's one thing for sure, you can get driving after your lift without touching it....but full functioning, it wont be. You will definately have to cut up your stock rubber junk on the floor and possibly part of the sheet metal where the arm hits after the lift.

Another random...

 

[BIGWHEELS]

Great pics! Good luck with the swap! I'm sure that everyone that has a twin stick truck will be very thankful for the info on your install and lift. I know I will! LOL
I wonder if you could adjust the throw/leverage by relocating one of the pivot points on the linkage? Shorten the throw and extend the arm?
I'm sure it's easier said then done!

Good Luck and please keep us posted on any thoughts and progress!!!

Thanks,
Chris.

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

You know...you may be onto something.....short throw yet also extend the handle... in short, i dont know if it's possible. Espicially on the 02-03 tcases...that first part of the linkage on the tcase is unboltable...it's just stays there.

I plan on posting what I figured out on all 3 big ranger sites to let everyong this is how you do it. lol.

 

[c_note]

an extension wouldnt be too hard to make for a price.

 

[BIGWHEELS]

Crap, I've tried and tried, looked it up ******[img] and still don't get it.
"Mr, Gump" here trying to figure out how to add a pic from my PC, not from a web address.
What am I doing wrong?

Thanks,

Chris.

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

go make a photobucket.com account. upload your pics, copy the IMG code, then paste it on the forum.