Level II shifter base
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Post Fiend
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Level II shifter base
Does anyone have a post 03 level II with a manual tranny? I bought the level II shifter, **** and boot for my xlt. I was going to buy the shifter base because I was under the impression that it had the aluminum ring a round the boot. I know the 02 and 03 had it, but they had the manual t-case as well. I called my dealer and got a price for an 04 level II shifter base, but if it's just like the one I have, I'ld feel pretty stupid. So does anyone have or seen a level II shifter base with an aluminum ring after 03 ? Level2 told me his 04 doesn't have the ring, thats what has me wondering.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Denver
Wendell, the newer level IIs do not have the manual transfer case shifter, so they have the same base as the XLT - if you buy the newer boot, it will snap right into the base you have now. I'm not sure when this changed, but I thought it was in '05. Here is a photo of mine:
Sorry its not a better photo, but you can see that it snaps right into the existing base. I didn't want the chrome shifter, (plus its $$$) so I just put a Mustang **** on my stock shifter and added the level II boot. When you put it on the stock shifter, like I did, you have to put it on reversed (front to rear) to make it match the angle of the shifter, but it works fine.
I did a writeup on how to put the other **** on the stock shifter on the rps site.
BTW, the rubber shift boot dampens out a bunch of noises, so the shifting noise 'snick snick' is more pronounced, etc. I'm going to put a piece of rubber under my leather boot to quiet things down, if it ever warms up again...
Sorry its not a better photo, but you can see that it snaps right into the existing base. I didn't want the chrome shifter, (plus its $$$) so I just put a Mustang **** on my stock shifter and added the level II boot. When you put it on the stock shifter, like I did, you have to put it on reversed (front to rear) to make it match the angle of the shifter, but it works fine.
I did a writeup on how to put the other **** on the stock shifter on the rps site.
BTW, the rubber shift boot dampens out a bunch of noises, so the shifting noise 'snick snick' is more pronounced, etc. I'm going to put a piece of rubber under my leather boot to quiet things down, if it ever warms up again...
Posting Guru
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From: Higginsville, MO
Wendell, when I was selling Fords I was looking through the source books and in them they explained the with the deletion of the manual transfer case lever for 2004 MY Rangers, that they would no longer offer the shifter base with the aluminum ring. The 03's looked neat with the manual T-case but I have heard tell from a few people that the manual shifter was a little problematic. I think thats why they did away with it but its not like the electronic shifted T-case is any less problematic.
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Post Fiend
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Thanks guy's, I allready have the level II shifter and boot installed in my stock base, thats not a problem, I just thought I could get a fancy'er base, guess not. I'm glad level2 told me, I allmost ordered a level II base and it would of been the same one I have, that would of sucked ha ha. It seems on the t-case, the more you use it, the easier it is to use. I kick mine in and out all the time, even comming up my long gravel driveway, or going back to the barn. We have a lot of long straight highways in ohio where you can kick it into 4-hi and not hurt it. I try to use it some every month in both ranges. It works a lot better than when it was new.
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Post Fiend
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Level2, I also herd that the manual t-case in the level II's were problematic, thats strange, ford has been using manual t-cases for 40 years, you would think that they would have it down pat. Even the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation rangers had manual t-case options, I wonder why they couldn't get it right in the level II ? Did they use an old tried and true ranger t-case, or opt to use a new one I wonder.
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From: Denver
Originally Posted by wendell borror
Level2, I also herd that the manual t-case in the level II's were problematic, thats strange, ford has been using manual t-cases for 40 years, you would think that they would have it down pat. Even the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation rangers had manual t-case options, I wonder why they couldn't get it right in the level II ? Did they use an old tried and true ranger t-case, or opt to use a new one I wonder.
Posting Guru
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From: Higginsville, MO
I don't think that the problematic t-cases were specific to the level IIs, just that that shift mechanism didn't work well with the transfer case that they installed on these newer generation trucks.
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My manual t-case on my '03 was a little balky, but has gotten better with use. When I bought my '02, the brochures said it would have manual lock-outs and a manual lever, just like my '87. Of course, it didn't 
, so maybe fitting the auto hub mechanism was part of the problem.
, so maybe fitting the auto hub mechanism was part of the problem.
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Post Fiend
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I think if I ever run a cross a manual t-case set up out of a level II, I would get it for mine. I'm old school and like the looks of a shifter for 4x4 and the fact that I wouldn't be relying on an eclectric shift motor.
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