Transfer case options

[Ruffnek7tree]

So I had a front u joint and carrier bearing fail recently, causing really bad vibrations, and my transfer case is now leaking pretty bad.. I'm still going to check it over, but I'm fairly confident it's cracked somewhere..

Question here is, it worth it to swap to a bw4407 or an nvg271? For strength, sure, but at least with the 271, many more of those were made than a 1356.. I don't mind modifying drive shafts or anything..

Just curious as to everyone's opinion

 

[u2slow]

I picked up a cheap 271 for this reason.... for if I ever put one of my spare ZF5's into use. I prefer a case with a fixed/sealed rear output.

 

[Black dawg]

So I had a front u joint and carrier bearing fail recently, causing really bad vibrations, and my transfer case is now leaking pretty bad.. I'm still going to check it over, but I'm fairly confident it's cracked somewhere..

Question here is, it worth it to swap to a bw4407 or an nvg271? For strength, sure, but at least with the 271, many more of those were made than a 1356.. I don't mind modifying drive shafts or anything..

Just curious as to everyone's opinion

Probably took out the slip yoke bushing, but could be cracked to. The other cases are good, and flat flanges are cool, but unless needed for strength, probably not worth messing around with changing driveshafts.

What year is your truck? The newer cases wont drive a speedo cable.

 

[Black dawg]

I picked up a cheap 271 for this reason.... for if I ever put one of my spare ZF5's into use. I prefer a case with a fixed/sealed rear output.

Bronco 1356 uses a flat flange on the rear output.

 

[Ruffnek7tree]

Probably took out the slip yoke bushing, but could be cracked to. The other cases are good, and flat flanges are cool, but unless needed for strength, probably not worth messing around with changing driveshafts.

What year is your truck? The newer cases wont drive a speedo cable.

My truck is a 93, so no speedo cable issues.. just part of me not being able to leave well enough alone..

Would the slip yoke bushing make it leak a fair amount? After 1300ish miles over the course of 3 weeks it went from bein over full a bit to about a quart and a half low.. real scientific I know lol..

IIRC, can't you replace that bushing without completely disassembling it?

 

[u2slow]

Bronco 1356 uses a flat flange on the rear output.

Ya, Bronco is the exception. Hard to find those later tcases IME

 

[Greenie]

Regular RTV never worked that well sealing the transfer case for me. Anaerobic sealant worked much better. I just tossed the Ford package I had stapled to the garage wall - it was expensive and looked like strawberry jam.

 

[onetonjohn]

I swapped to BW4407 in my 86 F-350. Flange was different. Drive line was shorter - but I did ZF swap as well. Had some drivelines made. I'm happy with it. I've heard they are tough - that's why I did the swap. The flange's for the 4407 are hard to get/find. Just FYI.

 

[franklin2]

My truck is a 93, so no speedo cable issues.. just part of me not being able to leave well enough alone..

Would the slip yoke bushing make it leak a fair amount? After 1300ish miles over the course of 3 weeks it went from bein over full a bit to about a quart and a half low.. real scientific I know lol..

IIRC, can't you replace that bushing without completely disassembling it?

All the transfer cases I have seen leaking, leaked on the main case halves parting line. And I had one that leaked because someone over tightened the oil drain plug and it put a hairline crack at the plug hole. I took a file and filed the threads to a vee in the crack, and then put some JB weld on it and threaded a bushing back in place. It sealed it up thankfully.

A lot of them will leak and run low on oil, overheat some sort of plastic shift bushings up inside, and then they pop out of gear when you least expect it. In other words you are parked letting the transmission hold the truck, and then the transfer case suddenly pops out of gear and the truck is rolling across the parking lot.

 

[Austin86250]

My opinion is that while the bw1356 may not be the strongest they do work just fine and it isn’t worth the driveline bill to fix something that ain’t broke