stadx2's AWD to Control Trac 4WD

[stadx2]

It might screw you up. The GEM will need to be tricked into thinking its front axle is engaged.

I use to own a 95 Explorer with that center disconnect axle. When shifting from 2WD mode to 4WD AUTO, the GEM would wait until it had feedback from the front axle letting the GEM know it had engaged. When you select 4WD, the 4WD clutch in the t-case engages completely to allow the drivers side axle half to spin up to speed to match the rotating speed of the other axle half, allowing the spline collar in the axle disconnect to engage. When engaged, it sends that ground or 12+ signal to the GEM. The GEM then disengages the t-case 4WD clutch (95% of it) until wheel slip is sensed.

My guess is if you use the 96 GEM, and don't do anything with the axle disconnect feedback; when 4WD is engaged the t-case clutch would stay locked, not giving you the "Control-Trac" mode.

Like V8 said, it would be nice if you could get a hold of a 97 GEM just to see if would be compatable with your Explorer. That way you wouldn't have to deal with that extra hassle.

 

[section525]

Okay guys.. so I'm going to want a '97 tranfer case (because I want true 4hi, and I can make it true 2wd, right? and i need the vss port on it) and a 97 GEM to go with it.

Back to square 1!

But that makes sense. The older cases had 2wd but no 4hi all the time, right? And the new ones you can do the brown wire mod to?

 

[stadx2]

Originally posted by section525
Okay guys.. so I'm going to want a '97 tranfer case (because I want true 4hi, and I can make it true 2wd, right? and i need the vss port on it) and a 97 GEM to go with it.

Back to square 1!

But that makes sense. The older cases had 2wd but no 4hi all the time, right? And the new ones you can do the brown wire mod to?

No, you should be OK.
The 4405 t-case remained the same thoughout the years. The difference is in the GEM control.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Originally posted by stadx2
The 4405 t-case remained the same thoughout the years. The difference is in the GEM control.

What he said!

So, for a recap:

Transfer Cases:
1995-1997: Had internall VSS sensor
1998-2001: Same as above, no VSS sensor

GEMs:
Mostly Year Specific, however....

1995-1996: Had 2wd, Auto 4wd (Electronic AWD) and 4low. Controlled Vacuum Disconnect.

1997: Had Auto 4wd, 4hi, 4low, no vacuum disconnect, 95-97 vehicle wiring control.

1998-2001: Had Auto 4wd, 4hi, 4low, no vacuum disconnect. Ford did enough re-wiring for these late model 2nd gens to make the GEMs somewhat incompatible (though I don't have 100% proof of this)


The 1997-2001 GEMs can be made to give 2wd hi and 2wd low (Atlas II style) on demand through the "Brown Wire Mod" which is simply a relay inserted in the t-case clutch control wire.

 

[izackary]

awesome rig! i'd love to lift mine that high someday if it's not a daily driver. I wanted to ask, though, what is that electronic gizmo under your screen?

 

[stadx2]

Thanks for the complement!
I was counting the days until someone was going to ask what that was!
The "electrionic gizmo" you're speaking about is an MP3 player called RioCar. I love it! It has a 40 gig hard drive in it, this means you can store about 4000 songs on it at 320kps bite rate (the only bit rate to use!!... Heath!).

 

[izackary]

that's cool! 4000 at 320 kps!! Usually mp3s are overcompressed for my taste, but that sounds pretty nice! 40 gig's will still store about 800 CD tracks, UNcompressed! that's a nice find. how much was that toy?

And where can I get one?

 

[John_Rock]

So you don't have to look through all the pics.

 

[stadx2]

Originally posted by izackary
that's cool! 4000 at 320 kps!! Usually mp3s are overcompressed for my taste, but that sounds pretty nice! 40 gig's will still store about 800 CD tracks, UNcompressed! that's a nice find. how much was that toy?

And where can I get one?

Yeah, I'm a bit of an audiophile myself. At 320kps though, the only information lost is way up around 20K, which in a car environment, you don't notice anyway. Unless you have a spectrum analyzer.
Unfortunately, Rio doesn't make them anymore.
They have been out of production for about 2 years now.
RioCars went for about $1200 new.

 

[John_Rock]

Ouch on that price!

I personally like to have things portable.
For now my music needs have been satisfied with a laptop inputting into my trucks stereo via cassette adapter. Eventually I will want to use something like the Archos Jukebox. Last time I looked they were up to 20Gb capacity, which beats the 12Gb harddrive in my laptop.

I just like not having things in my truck that will be targeted to get stolen.

 

[izackary]

ewww, a cassette adaptor!

I have one for my SkyFi XM tuner since i'm too lazy to get the PAC converter. It was ok for a while, but now i think there's too much friction, and the tape deck keeps flipping it over, interrupting every single punchline and guitar solo!

 

[John_Rock]

Originally posted by izackary
ewww, a cassette adaptor!

Yeah, I know it's not the best. But mine has worked good for a year or two.

There is a better solution that uses the CD changer input on the back of Ford factory radios.
I might get one of these one day...
http://www.rcainput.com/Merchant2/m...&Product_Code=FORD/AUX-V.1C.3&Category_Code=F

 

[izackary]

that looks good, but i want one that i know will also allow use of the CD Changer. The PAC adaptor basically turns the CD changer source to 3 sources! (CD changer plus 2 RCA inputs selected by a toggle switch.) Anyone know a reliable place to get these from? Online stores? Ebay?

 

[nkrax]

Originally posted by akcrogers
Great write-up! Completely useless to me, but incredible work none-the-less.

i will second that!!!

 

[alchemist]

Awesome write-up

Does anyone know what other transfercases....NP208 etc use a 31 spline shaft like the BW does? It would be interesting if there is one out there with electronic engagement (like on a blazer) that you could use to manually put it in 2w,4lo,4hi and not have any real rewiring (GEM, etc)..... and not have to use an adapter for the spline count match.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Funny you should ask....

check out this thread: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97181&page=1&pp=20

 

[r37ribution]

Some of the pics seem to be down...any way we can get a better host?

 

[section525]

Darren sent me all of his pics before I did my conversion. I'll upload them in the morning.

 

[r37ribution]

Darren sent me all of his pics before I did my conversion. I'll upload them in the morning.

thanks bro!

 

[section525]

http://www.section525.com/stadx2/