Full-time 4x4 Transfer Case???

[harriw]

Hey guys,

I just bought a '94 4x4 ext. cab 4.0L from my brother-in-law (Dealer) down in NJ and have a 4x4 question. Previous owner was a mechanic (took GREAT care of this thing), and installed warn manual hubs when the auto hubs went. I took this to mean he left the T-case along and installed the hubs, but when I picked up the truck, my brother said he thought it meant the 4x4 and low-range buttons would no longer do anything - essentially that the transfer case was now locked full-time in 4x4, and that only the manual hubs now enabled/disabled 4x4. I thought this was a bit strange, and suspect perhaps he mis-understood? Has anyone ever heard of someone doing this? I don't really see a reason why you'd do that - you're just hurting your gas-mileage in 2WD, right??

I haven't had a chance to test out the 4x4 yet to see exactly what's going on, but I did hit the 4x4 AND low-range buttons, both indicators on the dash lit up, and it DEFINITELY went into low-range (hubs were un-locked at the time, so I wouldn't have noticed any difference anyway with the 4x4 engaged). What do you think - would someone really put on a full-time 4x4 T-case (is there such an animal?), or did my brother just mis-understand, and, as I originally thought, I now have individual control of Transfer Case and hub 4x4 settings? I'm thinking option #2, since low-range works, and option 1 doesn't seem to make sense...

By the way, how do you guys test 4x4? I don't really want to jack up the truck and run it with all 4 wheels off the ground, so I was going to find a snowy parking lot and have a buddy watch tires while I (cautiously) peel out once or twice with switches on, off, etc. Is there a simpler way?

Thanks a lot guys!

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I'm pretty sure there isn't even a fulltime t-case (that also offers locked up 4x4 and low range) that bolts up to a Ranger transmission... I'd say it's your regular old run of the mill Borg Warner 1354 electric shift case... You're correct, when you put the t-case in 4x4, it turns the front driveshaft, but only powers the wheels if you have the hubs locked in... If someone knows of a full time t-case that also offers real 4hi and low range, i'd like to know... I wanna put one in my Explorer, lol...

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

bean, and you, are right. there is no such thing as a full-time 4wd t-case with a low range (not one that will bolt to a ranger anyway). your brother was mistaken. manual hubs mean just that, manual hubs. it does not effect the transfer case.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Dang, I was kinda hoping there was one... Oh, well... I guess the boring old 1354 is it for me...