I have recently bought a 82 F150 4x4 it has a 4" lift and 33x12.5.15 for tires the axles are geared at 3.0 front and rear.
It seems to do ok offroad. but I worry about the transfer case it is hard to shift into 4x4 and hard to get out of 4x4 I put the trans in neutral and it makes a grinding noise the fluid is full something just doesn't seem right to me or am I just worrying about nothing.i have a nieghbor who is a self proclaimed 4x4 guru he keeps saying my transfer case is junk.
(note) this is the same guy who told me the chain in my transfer case was broke but all it was. Was the right side front slip joint that was bad.does anyone have some real answers for this or am I shifting to 4x4 the wrong way????

 

are you sure it is a 1345? i think that year had np208.
in any case, drain fluid and look for debris, specifically plastic peices. ther e is an annulus gear in 208 that will wear and give syptoms you are describing.

 

the transfer case tag says it is a 1345 and I double checked in the mitchell book it is a 1345

 

your right. it is the 1356 , which is an electronic shift magnesium case unit that is in later trucks.
anyway, i would still get visual on fluid and see if you have lots of crap in it.

 

when I bought the truck i went thru and changed all the fluids the ATF in the transfer case was free of any metals crap or real fine metal shavings. Every time i change my oil or transmission and transfer case fluid I run it thru a coffee filter for any metal fines.

 

how many miles on unit? it may just be tired and need a rebuild.
the case has an oil pump amd like the np208 it has an annulus gear made of plastic. as i said in earlier post, this gear can wear and cause symptoms you have.
if it is wearing, it will eventually fail, first losing high range, and popping out of gear, then low range and ultimately the parts disintegrate and case is done.
I think you should try to drive a few other trucks with same case and see if they are similar.
if it has high mileage, a rebuild may be the cure.

 

 

AZ4, You may try unhooking the shift arm from your transfercase shifter and see if its in the shifter itself. I have seen the plastic bushing on the shifter pivot just about sieze solid, where the transfercase would not hardly shift. If this shifter is like the one on the NP-208, where the big shifter pivot bolt fastens into the trans case, there is a plastic bushing that rides between the shifter and the bolt. The shifter somewhat rusts itself to the plastic bushing. Then with the buildup of crud in there it won't hardly shift.

Superdave

94 Ford Aerostar XL 3.0L
82 Ford F250 4x4 XLT,400 CID,C-6 A/T,8700lb GVWR. Black & Silver