Redneck 4wd repair/downgrade

[thanatos9]

4wd is giving me fits. Winter is coming and I've exhausted ideas short of replacing the selector motor and computer which i don't want to spend money on. So I have a plan B. I want to remove the selector motor, weld a steel bar to the end of the selector "knob" on the transfer case, to which I will attach a cable and return spring which will be run up into the cab allowing me to manually select 4wd. But before I go and undertake this "repair" on my explorer I was curious if this generation had a manual 4wd option instead of the push button selection mine has. If it does I should be able to find this set up in a junk yard and just bolt it on. So how about it? Any stock, lever/cable/shifter actuated 4wd for this gen of explorer?

 

[rngmStr]

Borg Warner 1354 manual shift

 

[Roadrunner777]

You could look at shiftster.com. They have a manual conversion, essentially a locking knob that mounts to the xfer control shaft.

I was looking at their site a couple of weeks ago, they had a remote set-up to a lever in the cab too, but it's not there now.

In snow, you probably won't need low range... at least I don't. The 2H to 4H is only a quarter turn of the shaft. You might be able to adapt a manual choke cable to do this, I'm not sure how much torque is on that control shaft.

 

[Ricky B]

You could look at shiftster.com. They have a manual conversion, essentially a locking knob that mounts to the xfer control shaft.

I was looking at their site a couple of weeks ago, they had a remote set-up to a lever in the cab too, but it's not there now.

In snow, you probably won't need low range... at least I don't. The 2H to 4H is only a quarter turn of the shaft. You might be able to adapt a manual choke cable to do this, I'm not sure how much torque is on that control shaft.

We haven't quite got the 'shift-from-the-cab' version of the Shiftster ready for market yet, RoadRunner, but we've been selling a lot of the Shiftster-1's. And we feel it's a great product for the price ($60.00 shipped), either as a full time replacement part----or as a trail repair component. But if you frown on the idea of having to reach under your driver's seat to use the Shiftster, then you may want to check out the Ranger Station forum for an alternative. 'Cuz there's a guy there (Red Eddy?) who has a friend in Canada that sells a shifting mechanism that you can use with out getting out of the truck----unfortunately I think it sells for close to $280.00, U.S. Which is almost twice what the Shiftster-2 should sell for.

Good luck on whichever route you decide on, Thanatos9......

 

[Xeek]

^im guessing you work for them/are the owner? if so keep up the good work!
rededdie4x4 is also on here, and yea his setup was expensive, since its custom cut plates and so much work into it. mass produced would make it cheaper

i own 'the shifter' myself. i like it. its simple and works. just try to set it to what you want it on before you go in, or youll be under the truck in mud/snow/dirt trying to engage it.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=301260

 

[Ricky B]

^im guessing you work for them/are the owner? if so keep up the good work!
rededdie4x4 is also on here, and yea his setup was expensive, since its custom cut plates and so much work into it. mass produced would make it cheaper

i own 'the shifter' myself. i like it. its simple and works. just try to set it to what you want it on before you go in, or youll be under the truck in mud/snow/dirt trying to engage it.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=301260

1). Glad it works for you, Xeek.

2). And yes, it's my product.

3). And yes, I sent an e-mail to the Head Honcho here last night to see about becoming a vendor----just in case any of you were gonna jump in here and scream 'Buy an ad, you frickin' freeloader!'......

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

We haven't quite got the 'shift-from-the-cab' version of the Shiftster ready for market yet, RoadRunner, but we've been selling a lot of the Shiftster-1's. And we feel it's a great product for the price ($60.00 shipped), either as a full time replacement part----or as a trail repair component. But if you frown on the idea of having to reach under your driver's seat to use the Shiftster, then you may want to check out the Ranger Station forum for an alternative. 'Cuz there's a guy there (Red Eddy?) who has a friend in Canada that sells a shifting mechanism that you can use with out getting out of the truck----unfortunately I think it sells for close to $280.00, U.S. Which is almost twice what the Shiftster-2 should sell for.

Good luck on whichever route you decide on, Thanatos9......

like Xeek said, im on this forum too. and again...the only reason for it being expensive is because each one is machined by hand, down to the gear box and the gears inside, and with material prices going up that only means the product goes up... they are made right here in Missouri, USA. none of that Canada crap!

 

[Xeek]

Hey now! My f350 was made in canada! Lol


If would be great if you could team up with red eddies friend and try and get a cheaper version of an in cab shifter going.

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

Ricky B, do you have a link to your newly designed shiftster?

 

[Ricky B]

Your lucky, Xeek----I think most of my '97 F350 was built south of Tijuana......

 

[Xeek]

lol. i got a standard block heater with it
being born in canada and raised in chigago the rust wasnt that bad. being someone painted it and undercoated the bottom

 

[Ricky B]

ricky b, do you have a link to your newly designed shiftster?

.........

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

.........

guess not. i would just like to see what it looks like. i have a manual case...
not looking to buy one, just curious how your design differs from ours.

 

[Currency]

Do what I did. Take the old shift motor apart and turn it to line up for four high. Put it back together and all you have to do is turn the selector to four high and bolt the shift motor back on.

I do this only for emergency situations as my 3.73 LS rear gets me through most snow in two wheel. I'm planning to switch to manual with manual hubs when I get the cash, until then this works.

If you just manually switch it to four high and have nothing to keep pressure on the little shift nob, it will kick out and you'll have no gears what so ever. Also, if this happens when placing the explorer into park, the gears will grind. Been there and done that. Have to learn by experience if no one warns you.

 

[Roadrunner777]

That's great information Mr. C, I'm surprised there is no detent there, but I guess if it is working right, you don't need a detent. Shiftster is starting to look like a way to go.

 

[rustbucketMI]

In snow, you probably won't need low range... at least I don't.

In snow you need power & speed not torque. If your tires are already spinning on the snow what good will more torque do for you? Now if you want to whip the back end of the truck around low range is a whole lot of fun!

 

[Roadrunner777]

When I test drove this truck, I went straight to a sheet of old ice behind a truck stop, and floored it in 2WD, it slid around as expected. In 4WD, there was virtually no slip, and in 4WD Low, it was like I had claws in the ground. I could do nothing to break it loose. I more or less drove it back to the lot and gave them the cash.

 

[rustbucketMI]

Without knowing the exact conditions when you drove its hard to refute that, but the simply physics still hold. If your tires are slipping more torque isn't going to help. If they arn't slipping then then you still have room to apply more torque.

That being said you must have had some great tires on that truck because I can get my tires to slip in snow with little effort.

 

[Roadrunner777]

Oh, it's just because low made me drive slower, the grip was an illusion, I guess. Frankly, it was the first time I drove a 4x4 and I was pretty excited. Tires are Wild Country Radial XRT... well worn. This was on old flat ice, not snow.

 

[Ricky B]

Oh, it's just because low made me drive slower, the grip was an illusion, I guess. Frankly, it was the first time I drove a 4x4 and I was pretty excited. Tires are Wild Country Radial XRT... well worn. This was on old flat ice, not snow.

I made the mistake of lightly tapping my brakes on my FJ-55 is east San Diego county years ago, right when I was in the shadow of a huge oak tree. Despite the 88 degree afternoon I didn't realize that there was a thin layer of ice right there-----next thing we knew I ingloriously put the Landcruiser into a frickin culvert/ditch thing. On it's side. My family was not very pleased with me....especially since by the time the tow truck arrived the sun had gone down and it had dropped almost 25 degrees. And all we had to wear were shorts and t-shirts. Twas quite the long drive home back to the beach, especially with four broken windows.

Moral of this story? Old surfers should steer waaaaaaay the hell clear of ice and snow.......