There are two versions of the 13-54, manual and electric. Although they share many internal parts, there are some differences. The biggest problem is that the outer cases are different, one set up for the shift motor and the other for the shift linkage.

 

whats this difference in the 13-54 and 13-50? anything significant to consider the little extra work? strength, gearing?

 

Best choice for your 99 would be the 13-54. It is a stronger unit and you should be able to reuse your current driveshaft.

 

what about wiring? and what do i do about the hubs? i guess i need to look at a wiring diagram b4 i keep asking lol...

do i need to go to maunal hubs?
and does all the wiring plug back in? (xcept the actuator and w/e)


also, how much will this set me back? an estimate is all i need, i dont wheel too hard or too often the only times i have used 4wd lately is on the trails where even a truck on 38" swampers got stuck in 2 lol

 

theres just a lot of wires around and going to the t-case...

 

i heard about $180 to go to manual hubs?

 

i might change my case sooner than i thought. it cluncks when i go in and out if 4WD. I did change the fluid out not too long ago but i dont know what its doing.

 

the amount i wheel, and my budget idk if ill switch it until i have to...
what trucks shud i look for that would be at a junk yard? that would have the 1354

 

Look for a manual case from a 91~94 Explorer or a 93+ Ranger.

 

With all this talk I can't help but wonder if it could be possible for me to do the above to my 04. Back in 2004 I stopped at a used car dealership on my way to Carlsbad Caverns (I worked there that summer, nothing like a nice 3 hr drive to work) when I saw a 4x4 silver ranger. Turned out to be an 03 Level II and every time I see an interior shot of the shifters I can't help but wonder if I could switch from electric to manual. I do like having on-the-fly at times though, but I miss the manual setup (mom's 92 exploder had it).

 

The manual case can be shifted from 2HI to 4HI at any time just like the auto case. With either, you need to stop to shift to low range.

You should be able to make the swap but the parts would cost a small fortune new. If you could luck into finding a 2002/2003 twin shifter junkyard donor, it would be much cheaper. You do realize that the transfer case itself would have to be changed too, right?

Another problem is the carpet. The hole in yours is probably too large for the bezel and you would need to either live the gap, cover the opening somehow or order a 2003 LII manual carpet.

 

I'd have to ditch my electric t-case for the manual 1354 correct? It may be something I do WAY down the road. Like if/when I either go SC or 302 swap. For now the 4.0L stock is plenty, but manual t-case is an 04 would be sexy!

 

would it be worth it to just re-gear it or get a diff one completly

 

Not sure exactly what you mean by regear...

If you want a 13-54 manual case, you would have to swap one in. The outer cases on the 13-54 auto transfer case are different and won't work with a factory manual shifter.

Side note - I heard of a guy who converted an auto case to a home brew manual case by removing the electric shift motor and using 1/2" drive extensions and universal joints to create a linkage of sorts. It was kind of crude but supposedly worked OK. Each 1/4 turn selects a new T-case mode.

 

make it like a lower crawl ratio...?

er higher? gah... the same principle of re-gearing the diffs?