1975 Dodge Truck transfer case

Tiny
OLDDODGETRUCK
  • MEMBER
  • 1975 DODGE TRUCK
  • 5.2L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 90,000 MILES
I have a 1975 dodge power wagon 1/2 ton with a 318 industrial that I bought for $700 to pull my boat. I bought it last summer from a guy who had used it for pulling a stock trailer all its life, he was retired so it had been sitting untouched in a shed for a bout 3 years. Anyway, the transfer case is incredibly hard to shift. The shifter is in the center, where the transmission stick would be. It's set up so that I should be able to use one hand and put it in 4wd, but I have use 2 hands and put my full weight on it and yank it, and I'm 200 pounds so I'm not small. Is it supposed to be this hard to shift? Also, aren't there usually lights or something on the dash to show if I'm in 4wd or not? Thanks,
Alex
Saturday, May 3rd, 2014 AT 8:02 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC II
  • MEMBER
  • 222 POSTS
#1 - INSURE THE TRANSFER CASE IS FULL OF GEAR OIL--IT SHOULD BE A DRIBBLING OUT OF THE FILL HOLE WHEN YOU REMOVE THE PLUG ON LEVEL GROUND - HAVE TO DIG WITH YOUR FINGER TO TOUCH IT? - FILL IT UP TILL IT RUNS BACK OUT!

IMMA JEEP CJ FELLER, I HAVE SOME PICS OF MY STUFF - YOURS SHOULD BE SORTA SIMILAR - LOOK YOURS OVER WELL FOR SIMILAR FEATURES

IN THESE PICS, I HAVE REBUILT BOTH UNITS

PIC

1) THIS IS MY T-150 TRANSMISSION AND DANA MODEL 20 TRANSFER CASE AND MY SKID PLATE

2) OVER TO THE TOP RIGHT YOU WILL SEE MY SHIFT RODS ENTERING THE CASE. IF THESE ARE REAL RUSTY, TAKE THE LINKAGE OFF OF 'EM AND SAND THEM WITH SOME FINE SANDPAPER OIL/ GREASE THEM SO THEY WILL BE SLICK WHEN THEY ENTER THE CASE. YOU MAY HAVE TO SHIFT 'EM SO THEY FULLY STICK OUT WHEN YOU SAND 'EM

3) THIS IS THE TWO INSTALLED IN MY CJ-5

4) + 5) I AM POINTING TO 2 GREASE FITTINGS ON THE FRONT SIDE AND BACK SIDE OF THE TRANSFER CASE LINKAGES

5) SHOWING YOU 2 DIFFERENT (BUT THE SAME MODEL 20) TRANSFER CASES) YOURS MAY NOT HAVE THESE OIL HOLES - PULL THE PLUGS AND DRIBBLE SOME 3-IN-1 OIL IN THERE ON TOP OF THE SHIFT RODS

LIKE I SAID - THESE ARE ON MY JEEP - YOUR CASE IS PROBABLY SIMILAR - LOOK IT OVER WELL

LET ME KNOW HOW IT'S GOING

THE MEDIC
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Saturday, May 3rd, 2014 AT 10:34 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
The older ones are like thatthey don't have the electric shifts like todays models and have different ratios front an drear axles so you get tcase windup. If you are taking it out of 4wd back up then shift it, this takes the preload off of tcase. Check the fluid as well and make sure there are not linkage problems. If your front end ever goes bad try to make the gear ratio the same in front as in back and it won't do that so much. You might try lubing linkage as well.
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Sunday, May 4th, 2014 AT 5:20 AM

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