Just wondering how tough it is to swap out my Push Button to Manual Shift Transfer Case. What all is needed to do this. I can tell you it has been a pain in the a$$$$ to work on the Push Button wiring as there are multiple components. I want to bypass all the b.s. and just have the lever like all my other f-150's have had. I do have manual locking hubs, not sure if that makes a difference. Hope I can get some advice or help.

 

Get a manual transfer case and the bracket for the side of the trans along with the rod that goes from the bracket to the transfer case and just swap it out. Also have to cut a hole in the floorboard. But I can't remember if all transmissions have the threaded holes in the side for the transfer case shifter to mount to or not. We working with an auto or a manual transmission here?

 

The truck has an Automatic, I just watched a clip of the Shiftster and although a great idea, I don't feel like crawling on the ice and snow every time for 4 wheel drive. How tough is the swap than? I have a guy in town that does carry some transfer cases with the manual shift and I am thinking from the way you described it, may be only an afternoon job?

 

As you said, an afternoon job, the indicator lights for high and low rates range will take you the most time .
The floor pan needs to be cut I believe, and you need to get the boot for the shifter.

 

No they won't, not if he gets the harness for the manual t-case. It's just a 2 wire harness that comes off the switch on the new manual t-case, and the truck already has the matching connector for it to plug into. Plug that in, dash lights will work just like stock. If you DON'T use it, expect the transmission to shift funny in 4Low.

I did this conversion on my 96, and all went smoothly EXCEPT the plastic trim that goes around the shift lever was molded for a truck with the access panel in the floor. Mine does not have that panel, so the trim/boot wouldn't sit flush at all.

I just went to the yard and got the boot for a '79. The base of it is metal so I molded it to my floorboards and screwed it in. Looks great.

Other than that, it's a straight bolt-in swap.

Enjoy your manual t-case!

 

Afternoon Folks, hope your holidaze all went well. Also I just wanted you guys to know that The Shiftster is still available and has been selling rather well. I think we just hit the 700 unit mark this month after being on the market for about three years. We've got customers now not only all over America but in Canada, Peru, Russia, England, Italy, Mexico, Australia, India and even in Bulgaria----so we're kinda proud of that. And so are my kids. Additionally we signed up with Jeff's Bronco Graveyard about 14 months ago as a distributor, and I think they've sold more than a hundred units since then. So that's kind of neat too. And hopefully by the end of the week we'll have reached a deal with another truck/4x4 company that's been in business since the mid 70's....and I'm sure that if any of you older guys have ever stuck a Chevy 327 or 350 in front of a Landcruiser transmission, then you'll know immediately who I'm talking about.

Anyways I'll be the first one to admit that my silly little product is not for everybody but it does seem to fill a niche----either as an inexpensive solution to the whole over-engineered SOTF system, or just as a cool goody to keep in your trail repair kit. Also please keep in mind (for your non-Ford friends) that the Shiftster basically works on all of the Borg Warner t-cases from '87 up to around 2008, depending on the make and model of the truck. Ferinstance in Oztralia they fit on the Mercedes ML320 SUV's. In India the guys put them on a kinda neat little truck called the Armada Grande---kinda a cross between a WWII Jeep and that boxy M500 Mercedes truck they came out with about 10 years ago. The guy in Russia told me he bought it for his Tata 4x4...but never sent me a pic. The guys in the UK however put them on their early 90's Range Rovers, and a weird little Korean thing called the SsangYong----go figure....


Anywho, if anyone here orders one during the month of january, I'll cover the $4.95 shipping costs for y'all. Just let me know that you read it here on Ford-Trucks.com.....


Best regards and drive safe,

Rick

The Shiftster

So Cal

310-400-04x4