Stupid truck, stupid move

[MountainMike]

So as anybody that's read my thread knows, my truck has been giving me some 4x4 issues. Last week I went down and they diagnosed the hubs were gone and the truck was giving the 4x4 error codes on the dash. So they book me in for another apointment today. One of the mechanics gets in my truck and I'm working away in parts and he calls me over. The stupid thing started working just fine. It shifted a little slow into 4x4 but not abnormally. We took it into the gravel puddley lot and he whipped it around getting all four wheels to spin and it to hop at full steering lock. So I'm confused and I head home for lunch. Driving home I decide to try shifting it on the fly, like it is supposed to do. I am driving along at around 50 kph, flick the switch and KA-BLAM!!!!! I hear the loudest noise and it felt like I ran over a tree. All of a sudden I have no power down to the wheels. Sure I was on pavement bt in a dead-straight line. Did it shove itself into a neutral position or what? I pull over, put the t-case in 4 HI, then back into 2WD and the stupid thing acts normal. No grinding or other weird noises except for the normal clunk comming from the driveshaft (I think my pinion yoke on the shaft and axle is going). I bought a set of AVM hubs which I am going to put on anyways just because.

And I founds out some seals are blown and if is a whole unit piece. I really can't afford a new power steering rack so the mechanic said to put some trans stop leak in to see if it helps for now.

 

[Jay FX4]

Sucks you're having trouble with it, Mike.
Have you considered looking for a manual t-case?

 

[MountainMike]

You know what Jay, I am strongly considering it. If I found a manual 1354 instead of the e-shift it should just bolt right in correct? My truck is already a little bit of a bondo sled so cutting a little hole in the floor wouldn't be too bad.

 

[Jay FX4]

I'm not the expert on this, but I'm almost positive all you need is the case/linkage/shifter and you're ready to rock and roll, baby.

 

[MountainMike]

Haha, that's awesome. Just have to man up and take the sawsall to my floor.

 

[AllanD]

N sawing required in a Ranger BOTH shifters (manual trans and/or manual T-case)
pass through a removeable plate in the floor.

AD

 

[MountainMike]

Really? Even on a 98? well that is making this swap seem like an even better idea.

 

[Jay FX4]

I'm glad to finally get confirmation on that. I was going to mention that I thought I had heard a while back that there was a removable plate in the floor even with trucks with the electric case, but I was not sure.

 

[4LO 4.O]

Yep, same floor pan in all Rangers no matter what options it had, pull back the carpet and the plate is right there.

1354M transfer cases are getting hard to find, so if you find one at a reasonable price you better jump on it.

It's a simple plug and play swap also, just make sure you get the extension housing with the manual case, because the electric case doesn't have the mounting bosses that are needed.