I am getting ready to swap my 92 2wd F150, with the parts from my rotted out 4wd 93 donor truck and has automatic 4wd hubs. I am thinking of keeping this so I don't have to buy a ton of manual 4wd parts, and just swap out the front ends. However, all the 4wd wiring is ran through with the main bundle behind the dash. As I already have the dash pulled out as I am also swapping the interiors, is it worth it to pull all the wiring and rewire my 2wd or would it be better to just go with manual hubs?

 

The electric shifter relates to the transfer case; the hubs could be auto or manual and it wouldn't change a thing on the dash. So if you wanted to swap to a manual transfer case you'd need the case itself plus the floor shifter linkage and handle.

Never done this, but is the control wiring already present in the '92? Usually all the wiring harnesses are the same and sometimes, for example in a 2wd truck, there are connectors hanging loose here and there.

 

Okay that clears it up a bit with the hubs, I was hoping to stay with the autos. I have both dashes out and the connector is not part of the harness in the 92, seems they only added it on the 4wd models.

I am up in the air on this as the donor transmission is an auto that I will not be using it anyway as I prefer manual. I was planning on swapping the transfer case only, as it will line up with adapter plate.

I will mess with the wiring some more tomorrow first and see where it all goes, all of it is exposed as the dash is out, it is just a matter of unwrapping the bundle.

 

I just finished the swap on my 1996, and the wiring for the switches to operate the 4x4 and Lo Range lights was there. I believe there are plugs for the T Case as well. My truck started life as a 5 speed, but it has the connectors for an E4OD as well. Check your 2wd, you might find it all there already tucked up in the harness with protective covers on the connectors.

 

As you can you can see no connector.


Its a bit of a mess as I started tracing /removing the wiring, but this is the same spot on the donor truck with the connector; which is the wires draped over the steering wheel.

 

Hmm... I wonder if just wiring the individual components for the 4wd might be less time consuming than to swap harnesses?

 

I think I am just going to go with a manual transfer case. I was initially going to go with the auto transfer case as I have one on my parts truck already, but it is not worth the hassle of rewiring when I can most likely pick one up for about $75 or so from a friends garage.

I only care that the hubs are auto, as I live up north and hate going out in -40 degree weather to unbury the hubs and lock them. As it seems the hubs are independent of the wiring then I will just find a manual transfer case. I am happy getting the complete interior, hood, and front end of the parts truck as it is, any thing else is bonus as far as I am concerned.

 

oops, double posted.