4405 Control Trac to 1354 Electric shift?

[A Quiet Boom]

I've got a '96 Exploder Limited with a bad T-case and a '99 Ranger 1354 electir shift T-case is the Ranger T-case a direct bolt in and will I need to do anything with the wiring? I did a search but didn't come up with a lot in terms of what I'm up against. I'm assuming the wiring is totally different since this case doesn't have the Torque on demand clutch.

Thanks

 

[jimbo74]

i dont think they will work... they use differnt bolt patterns and such as they are mated to differnt trannies, i believe.... also, the 1354 is more of a work or no work deal whereas the other is controled via a computer and has input devices in play

 

[Doug]

the 1354 would bolt up but you would have a hard time shifting it. I dont think your shift motor and computer would work with a 1354. A 1354 manual shift would work.. im going to be putting one in my 97 very soon.

 

[A Quiet Boom]

I spoke with my brother who's more familiar with these trucks than I am, he suggested putting the 1354 in as a "place holder" while I fix the 4405, just leave the shift motor unplugged so I only have 2wd. The other problem I'm having is that it will go into 4wd but it's loose like a bad u-joint only worse and it binds when turning. The main problem is that it doesn't always disengage and I'm, not certain it's the T-case or the vacuum unit on the front axle. Maybe a little history on the truck would help.

I bought it from a guy on the board who said the motor locked up on the freeway, he had put a lot of money in it and didn't want to put anymore in it. Anyway I bought it assuming the motor was bad and swapped in a '99 longblock when I took the motor out I notice the flexplate was torn and broken away from the hub so I assumed the tranny was the problem and not the engine but I still put the '99 in. After getting the '99 running up on jackstands 2wd worked fine but 4wd caused all kinds of racket from the transfer case area (like maybe the chain was bad) so I picked up the 1354 transfer case from my brother to put in it. Now I'm wondering if my only problem is a worn but not broken transfer case and the binding in front when I turn. I took the truck for it's first real test drive tonight and it drove fine in 4 auto with two exemptions, 1) binding in turns and 2) shifting from forward to reverse clunks (again like a really bad u-joint) I pulled it into a parking lot and engaged 4lo same problems but it wouldn't disengage 4lo right away and I had to back up to get the hubs unlocked? I thought these didn't have locking hubs but instead the used the vacuum unit to disengage the front axle.

If it sounds like I'm nuts I'm sorry, I'm just used to the old fashioned manual hubs and transfer cases that I've had for years and this vehicle is to be my wife's daily driver so I need it to be as trouble free as possible before I give it to her. Any help is really appreciated since her car blew it's motor and she's driving her parents spare car until I get this truck on the road.

BTW the truck is a '96 Explorer Limited with control trac, 4R55E tranny and the 4.0ohv engine.

 

[A Quiet Boom]

Anyone know if the main internal parts are the same in these T-cases? My brother believes that they 4405 is based of the 1354 and that I could swap the good parts into my broken 4405 unless its the TOD which means I'm SOL. Anyone have any experience fixing these? I'm thinking of putting the 1354 in as a temporary 2wd only fix and replacing the chain and any other broken parts, is this a good idea or should I just shop around for a used T-case?

 

[waltster50]

I did the 4405 to 1354 Mod, And got it to work. with some mods of course, I Had a bad 4405 in my 95 Exp, Control Trac, So i put a 1354 in it temperory, but i decided to try and make it work, so I DID, swithching the transfer case was the easy part, i changed the GEM or Electronic Shift Module what ever you want to call it, ( its by the staero ) with a 2wd/ 4hi / 4 lo mod out of a ranger, that was not a 4 auto model, and swithched one wire for the axle engauge, and it works!!!! like it should have been stock.

 

[albi1cnobi1]

I know this is an old thread, but when I saw it I thought I should update it. This mod can and has been done. I've done it. The case is a direct bolt in and the shift motor is actually the same, just different connectors. As for the electronics, thats where it gets tricky. Tricky, not impossible. All you need is a GEM from the same year Ranger as your Ex. Just like waltster50 says it works like it should have been stock. There are some minor mods to the wiring however. If you have questions you can PM me or watch for my write up. I should have it up soon.

 

[Glen4X4]

Yeah, you and I discussed this quite a few times lol, you should create a new thread and more info on the swap to help others since I've abandoned the project and just went with a manual.

 

[snoranger]

I know this is an old thread, but when I saw it I thought I should update it. This mod can and has been done. I've done it. The case is a direct bolt in and the shift motor is actually the same, just different connectors. As for the electronics, thats where it gets tricky. Tricky, not impossible. All you need is a GEM from the same year Ranger as your Ex. Just like waltster50 says it works like it should have been stock. There are some minor mods to the wiring however. If you have questions you can PM me or watch for my write up. I should have it up soon.

So you got it working? Good work.

 

[albi1cnobi1]

Yeah It's working great. Just put the finishing touches on it this past weekend.
I am working on a write up/how to but works been nuts lately. Once I get the write up done I'll start a new thread with pics and wiring diagrams and such.

 

[albi1cnobi1]

By the way a bunch of us are doing a trail clean up/ride this Saturday down here in south jersey if you guys are interested. Here's the link http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=311827

 

[snoranger]

By the way a bunch of us are doing a trail clean up/ride this Saturday down here in south jersey if you guys are interested. Here's the link http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=311827

Well, i cant go. The wifes working at the track, so I have the kid..I'm not allowed to take her off-road until shes out of the car seat.

But, BUMP for a good cause.

 

[Fastrx72k]

I did the 4405 to 1354 Mod, And got it to work. with some mods of course, I Had a bad 4405 in my 95 Exp, Control Trac, So i put a 1354 in it temperory, but i decided to try and make it work, so I DID, swithching the transfer case was the easy part, i changed the GEM or Electronic Shift Module what ever you want to call it, ( its by the staero ) with a 2wd/ 4hi / 4 lo mod out of a ranger, that was not a 4 auto model, and swithched one wire for the axle engauge, and it works!!!! like it should have been stock.

Which wire for axle engage did you had to switch. I'm going thru the same mod. Have a 1354 and my 4405 went bad on me.

 

[Glen4X4]

Which wire for axle engage did you had to switch. I'm going thru the same mod. Have a 1354 and my 4405 went bad on me.

Honestly if you're not worried about that 1/2 mpg just unplug the wire clip under the hood for it and it will be engaged all the time and you're done. That's what I did when the truck had 31's and no notice-ability on fuel mileage.