Push button shifter to manual?

[Burns]

I was talking to a fellow bronco owner who works at my local parts shop, getting myself a few bits and peices. We were comparing trucks when I told him I have push button 4x4, which, don't get me wrong, it's great, but I'm not sure if I like it better than the floor shifter. He told me it was almost, and his words, "stupid simple to swap it out. All I'd need was a new transfer case with manual shifter and just cut a hole for the stick in the floor. Then you could use your push buttons for something else, like a light bar or winch."

Is it possible, or is he trying to foul my plugs, so-to-speak? Not that I'd ruin my baby for it, just want to know the facts here.

 

[Yardape]

Hes right, thats all you gotta do

 

[BLADE262US]

If you pull up the carpet or mat there is even a pattern stamped in the floor where you cut for the shifter to go through they even pre stamped the spots for the screws that hold the bezel to the floor . Ive changed 2 so far that was very nice of ford /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Roadkill]

I've considered that same swap for mine. Just haven't been able to fall in love for that push button. It has given me zero problems, but I always wonder when I push it and wait for the little light to come on. I just prefer rods and cables to wires and tubes. On the Dodge I used to drive, I even changed the vacum operated axle engagement mechanism for a pull handle located under the dash. (unlike the Ford pushbutton, that system was totally unpredictable and always seemed to fail me when I needed it most) Anyhow, I think it could be benificial to have a nuetral position for the transfer, and should my buttons ever fail me, I will definately consider swapping to a manual t-case.

But, as long as everything works fine, I will just leave it like it is /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Justbust1n]

but is it as good as a push button shifter? i would think it probably cheaper to fix if it breaks ... is it as durable?

 

[Roadkill]

but is it as good as a push button shifter? i would think it probably cheaper to fix if it breaks ... is it as durable?

There are actually a lot of electronic steps taking place when you push the button. It has it's own little control module/computer that checks speed and stuff to make sure you are not going to fast when shifting into 4x4 or that you are completely stopped before shifting to low range. Thats a lot of stuff to potentialy malfuntion. A new shift motor is around $100; I don't know about the other parts of the system. So it would probably be cheaper to repair than to aquire a new/used t-case with lever, bezel, boot etc. Some people (me included) would probably think that a simple lever and common sense is more reliable (in the big picture) than all those electronic parts. But like I said, mine has been completely reliable during the 2 1/2 years I've owned it so I don't think I will be changing anytime soon.

 

[Justbust1n]

i have the push button and as funny as it may seem , i thought my four wheel low didnt work until some one showed me that you have to engage the four wheel high then put it into neutral and then hit the four wheel low button .... lol i know its stupied but i swear i didnt think it worked i had two broncos a 95 and my 94 now and thought man my luck cant be this bad , and finally i asked someone to look at it , and he said it worked fine and showd me how to use it ! needless to say i now dig in four wheel low alot more ... the only reason i thought it was ok is because you could hit a button without getting out of your truck ann you where there ready to DIG , but since i found out that the Auto lock hubs where a crock ... i switched to manual lockin hubs... there is now real advantage of having the push button...

 

[Roadkill]

Yeah, I made the same mistake until I read the owners manual (it was actually in the truck when I bought it!) The manual also explains the whole process of what happens when you push the button. (or maybe that part is in the Haynes manual, i can't remember) It just seems like a lot of electronic steps where something can go wrong. Someone obviously earned their money when they designed it because it always works, unlike the crappy "central axle disconnect" system that was on my Dodge.

I just have this fear that when it finally does malfuntion, it won't be when I test it at the trailhead. It will instead wait until I'm up to the doorsills in mud on a one lane trail with a Sazuki Samari h34r: /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> in front and a four cylinder Jeep :-& behind me and no way for someone to go around them to get me. (

 

[Roadkill]

If yours fails, you could always give that short little co-driver in your picture a hammer and he can just walk under there and "persuade" it manualy. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Burns]

So maybe I might just do it when I finally sway the trans out.

Also, on another topic, anyone know what the quote unquote "best" transfer case is? My friend's building up his f-150 and he's thinking of going with either an NP205 or an NP208.

 

[Justbust1n]

If yours fails, you could always give that short little co-driver in your picture a hammer and he can just walk under there and "persuade" it manualy. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

hahaha yeah he likes to mudd , i might teach him how to do that... lol

 

[mbtech2003]

i'm going on 7 years on my truck with auto pushbutton 4X4. the dealer in 2000 replaced the auto hubs and i've never gotten stuck once. but then again i only "off road" when there is snow on the ground but 36" and drifts over the hood and the bronk chugged through them like a champ!!