Got a couple of projects planned that are going to need transfercases. At least one will be a 4406, both may be. I understand that they made a few different versions of this transfer case, a manual shift part time 4wd unit, an electric shift part time 4wd unit, then an automatic 4WD (A4WD) or Torque On Demand (TOD) unit. Not exactly understanding how the E-shift 4wd and the A4wd cases differ, but it seems that they do and are not interchangable from various online reading.

Identifying the manual shift is pretty easy, no provision for an electric shift motor, but has connections for shift levers. I'm unsure how to identify a normal e-shift 4wd, from an A4WD unit. If it is in the vehicle it's probably just a matter of looking at the vehicle. Unfortunately there aren't many self service yards in this area, and the ones that are don't often get in what I need. Also unfortunate is that the full service yards have a tendenct of trying to give you parts that won't work saying that they are the same thing. No experience with buying a transfer case from them, but definitely had that on other parts.

So if you had both sitting on the ground out of the vehicle, how would you tell a E-shift 4WD 4406 apart from an A4WD 4406?


What are the projects? Sure... <Stop now if you don't care, otherwise continue reading my rambling below.>

The one that I definitely need a 4406 for is a V8 swapped 4wd '99 Ranger. It's currently got warmed over 5.0L from a Explorer along with the 4R70W and Explorer AWD transfer case. Converted from PVH hubs to the later model live axles to make it work (wanted to ditch the PVH anyway and the available manual hubs are not great). Current path is to trying to build a lowered (VS stock 4wd) AWD street truck. Not convinced that the suspension is going to work out like I want or that I'll continue not being happy with not being able to do burnouts. If the suspension doesn't work out like I want I will go back to stock+ ride height and install a part time 4wd transfer case. If the suspension does work out, but I'm not happy with no burnouts, then the transfer case plan is the same. The E-shift 4406 bolts right in place of the AWD transfer case and will work with my 4WD Ranger's factory shift motor electronics.

##EDIT: This one is not a 4406, it's a NV271.## The other possibility is a transmission swap in my 68 F-100. It's currently got an FE with the NP435 and Dana 21 transfer case. The NP435 is a strong transmission, no doubt. The NP435 lacks an overdrive. I want to add an overdrive, and can not justify spending the money on a standalone overdrive unit (and don;t want that solution if I could). Thye Dana 21 is a terrible transfer case. It works for 4wd, but it's single speed, no low range. I want low range, because... I want low range. Unfortunately, because the trucks with the D21 use the 2wd version of the NP435, I'd have to change transmission too. Since both would have to be replaced, I'm considering a swap to get both overdrive (plus maybe an extra gear) and two speed transfer case. I'm looking towards the 5.4 V8 and 6.8 V10 trucks as a donor for ZF6 and manual transfer case (or transmission and source t-case separate if necessary). This version of the ZF6 is geared for gas and uses the modular bellhousing pattern for which I can get an adapter to the FE engine, plus if I do an engine swap down the road the primary swap candidates use the modular bell pattern. V10 68 F-100 4x4 anyone? Nah, seriously though, if I engine swapped it would most likely either be a coyote or a godzilla in mostly stock form. Godzilla preferred for similarity in size (360 or 390 FE now and considering rebuild to 410/445 if I don't swap), pushrod V8, narrower package, and designed as a truck motor. ##EDIT: Not using a 4406 here, unless a different transmission is selected that uses it.##

The first one I'll be hunting up a transfer case for in the next year or so. Don't know when or if I'll use it, but I want the parts in storage for when/if that time comes. The second one is a long term plan and will be bought as I happen upon the right parts or deals (or donor trucks).

 

Not sure what I was thinking when I typed that last night. Of course the second application I mentioned isn't a 4406. It was a NV421 that was used behind the ZF6. I should have known that seeing as my F-250 has the same setup.

So the original question still stands. How does one identify a 4406 4wd E-shift from a 4406 A4WD transfer case, when separate from the vehicle?