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Transfer Case adapter

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Old Dec 8, 2005 | 07:41 PM
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Transfer Case adapter

I am working on putting a 390 and a four speed in my 1990 F-150, my question is, does anyone make an adapter kit to bolt up a newer style aluminum transfer case to the trans? I drive the truck everyday and don't really pull alot with it although I do have a little fun with it its nothing serious. I don't really want to put that huge cast iron transfer case in it, or would it be smarter? What do you guys think?
 
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Old Dec 8, 2005 | 07:45 PM
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They both came out of my 76 and my 78 trucks, i do have all the parts to put the cast iron transfer case in i just don't know which i would rather have. Help and opinions would be appreciated.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2005 | 08:50 PM
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all of ford's tcase adapters have a 6 bolt circle pattern facing the tcase. so any tcase will work, however linkage becomes an issue as some tcase adapters are longer than others. Also go with an aluminum tcase since they don't require you to bolt the tcase to the frame like the old cast iron ones did in the 70's, unless you fab a mount(with rubber) to the frame. and of course driveshafts will need to be lengthened/shortened. I put an 85 300 6 and 83 c6 in my 79 bronco and wanted to use an aluminum tcase from an 89 that I put in, but yoke patterns were never offered to make it less expensive to shorten my shafts. I had to have complete new ones made which cost way too much, and decided to just mount the 203 back in. Just food for thought.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2005 | 08:55 PM
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Well, part of the reason i was thinking of not using the cast iron transfer case was just because of the mount like you say. I would have to fabricate another crossmember to bolt it to. But the 4 speed that i am going to put in it, the output shaft sticks out of the back of the trans about a 10-12 inches, which means that the aluminum transfercase would not bolt up flush because it won't allow the output shaft to slide into it that far, thats why i wondered about an adapter.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2005 | 08:56 PM
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did the tcase come out of a 2wd?
 
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Old Dec 8, 2005 | 08:59 PM
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i'm confused. how would a transfer case come out of a two-wheel drive?
 
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Old Dec 8, 2005 | 09:01 PM
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lol...no, the tranny
 
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Old Dec 8, 2005 | 09:03 PM
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Ohh, now i got ya. No it came out of a 78 f-150 4x4 with a 351m and then of course the four speed, its the creeper 4 speed, then the big nasty cast iron transfer case on that.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2005 | 09:08 PM
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ok, then the tcase adapter out of the 78 will work...except for the linkage issues to using an aluminum tcase.the bolt for the shifter might be the same though, so a little fab work might be all that's needed. Or maybe an eighties tcase adapter for a four speed...which might be your better bet. if the truck didn't originally have a four speed in it then the trans tunnel cover may need to be switched out for one that does.
 

Last edited by havi; Dec 8, 2005 at 09:13 PM.
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Old Dec 8, 2005 | 09:10 PM
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cool! Thanks alot for the help.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2005 | 09:22 PM
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you may also need to drill new holes into the crossmember to bolt the adapter on. not likely, but maybe.
 
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