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HAha 2 days! didnt start till alsmost 5 on saturday night.

 

Loving it!!

Any shifting problems because of the body lift?

 

Nope. The linkage just needs to bent a bit towards the driver, so it dont interfere with the trans shifter, as it currently is.

 

YESSS!!! NICE!!!

What'd you do about the airbag controller box thingy? Cut up your stock floor bezel??

How's that nissan stuff gonna work for ya?


I went to a big humongo yard today....probably 10 manual tcase trucks. Of those 10, about 7 of them were twin sticks. all from the 80's-mid90's BII's, Expos, and Rangers. ALL had the huge step notch. ALL the linkages are different than the 02-03 L2 tcase linkages. The ones at the yard are just like D/Ranger's.....shifter arms goes all the way down to a pivot bolt in the linkage.....no handle that bolts to the shifter linkage like the 02-03 L2 case linkage. Looks like I might be using a hurst shifter arm afterall(IF i ever find a case. :( )

examples...

 

The chrome shifters are unique only to 2002-2003 Ranger FX4's, and those with the chrome shifter option. You will not find them in any other truck. I've seen 02-03 FX4s with manual transmissions that didn't have the chrome trans shifter. The manual transfer cases were ditched forever in 2004; though the chrome transmission shifter lived on.

Don't confuse that with the Level 2 designation. I believe L2's first appeared in 2003, and it doesn't have anything to do with having twin chrome sticks; there are automatic L2s.

Unlike any other shift linkage for Borg-Warner 13-50 or 13-54 manual transfer cases, which were the one-piece arms you're referring to, the 02-03 Ranger FX4 chrome t-case shifter was a two-piece design, so you won't find the lower half linkage in any other truck either.

I have the part number for the upper chrome t-case handle, and I believe you can still order it new from Ford if you're willing to shell out ~$150, but I can't get the part # for the lower half, but considering I got quoted over $300 for the standard 1-piece linkage, I'm guessing the FX4 lower half will be close to that. Add the $100 ball and you got yourself a $550 shift handle. How much did you buy the transfer case for? How much did you buy your truck for???

 

Twin sticks...the good ole days...too bad I couldn't drive when they were popular.

 

Not trying to sound like a dik, but i know my Fx4's. lol. I'm well aware of the stuff you talked about in the first lines. Generally, people call the twin stick trucks "level 2", most forget about 2002 being called Fx4 Off Road, and 2003 Fx4 Level II....same trucks, just a 'trim pkg name change'. The 03+ Fx4's you've seen w/o the chrome shifter, are nothing more than an equivilent of a '02 4x4 Off Road......called Fx4 Off Road('03+ trcks). Name change...so it's just like any other XLT out there. Anywho...

I'm aware on the linkages...I was just commenting on the floor boot design and how I notice the linkage is not like the 02-03 manual tcase trucks.

IF I can find a case(hehehe), I'd pay $100 for it and it includes the highly sought after trans tailhousing with the speed sensor only used on the 02-03 manual case trucks...also linkage. Got the truck in 04 for 10k and it's paid off.

 

I made a frankenlinkage and it is working fine. Bent it this morning. working real good. kinda hits the leg in 4low. The nissan boots are working great!

 

Yeah Shane. I haven't quite figured out the exact criteria for the different offset boot design. But I know the less offset one is out there! I believe I have only seen it in 2nd gen rangers and bII's though.

 

I figured you knew your stuff, it just seemed you were saying you were looking through other trucks for that lower half shift linkage. And you did refer to it as "02-03 L2" and a lot of people have the misconception that "Level 2" always meant you had twin sticks.

Part Numbers:
02-03 FX4 Manual Trans Extension Housing with bosses & OSS sensor hole: 1L5Z-7A039-CA ($223.57)
02+ FX4 Transmission Chrome Shifter: 1L5Z-7210-BC
02+ FX4 Transmission Shift Ball: 1L5Z-7213-AA
02-03 FX4 T-Case Upper Chrome Shifter Handle: 1L5Z-7210-AD ($159)
02-03 FX4 T-Case Lower Shift Linkage: ???
Non-FX4 T-Case 1-Piece Shift Linkage: F0TZ-7210-A ($316)
02-03 FX4 T-Case Ball: 1L5Z-7213-AB ($108)
T-Case Linkage Bushing: 3L5Z-7335-AA ($7.19)


Now, where did you get that beautiful lower half shift linkage and where can I get one?

 

I'm so glad I decided against actually doing this.

 

Yeah....i'll find it eventually.

THANKS!!! I just added it to the catalog of 'want-tos'. REALLLLLLY appreciate it.

 

Anybody know the last year you could get the 4x4 selector on the floor with a manual transmission? Besides the 02-03 FX4s

And why the hell did this electronic switch become the standard on the Ranger? My friend's jeep cherokee has the 4x4 selector as a lever.

 

You just answered your own question. 03 was the last year.

People are lazy so the Ford made the Ranger lazy friendly.

 

Not counting the 02 and 03. 1997 was the last year.

 

Anything new?

 

Bump. Any update?

I'm starting a comprehensive thread about this crap, check it out:
Everything I know about the M5OD-R1 & BW1354M - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts Serious Explorations

 

no update.. both my RCD coilovers broke on 8/13/09 so the truck is down. still looks the same. Currently looking for a bezel with out the 4x4 switch to finish it up.

the case worked great 2 weeks ago when i went camping and towed a 3500lbs trailer up a mountain in 4low.

truck is going in for surgery..
New ball joints (upper and lower)
tie rods (inner and outer)
new coilovers and springs (less than 800lbs) this time. that **** was too rough.
New tires 37x12.5-15 mtr's, (current front bfgs, bald as ****, rears about 1/3 tread left. to lazy to rotate, will do when i get the 37s.
getting new spicer u-joints, lost another front one.
oil change, plugs and wires (all motorcraft of course, besides oil Royal purple)
Diff fluid change.. front and rear

New cv's current ones are ****ed from coilovers breaking at 75mph

im sure im forgetting other ****, but o well i can remember right now.. poor truck gonna be down for a while, prob a couple months, but i got a bus pass and my old ranger to drive for the time being.

ill make a new thread as time progresses. Anyone know what fox coilovers i should get? size wize?? ill make a new thread, when time comes to get them.

 

Well that sucks. You may wanna jump on the deal that Shadow has going with ORW.

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...p-buy-orw.html

All this coilover breakage scares me.

 

I want to do that for the blower on my SVT Focus....lol Just to be like Mad Max

 

I saw a 99 4x4 with the gear selector and 4x4 shifter on the floor. Hmmm....

 

The blower would be facing the wrong way though.

 

Ya I know but it would be cool to engage and disengage it.

 

Well I don't know about that so much. I think it would cause a restriction when off.

 

Not unless someone swapped it in. No ranger after 97 has come with a manual case except the 02 and 03.