Lever operated four wheel drive in place of vacuum

Grand Wagoneers are nice, rugged Jeeps, but they do have a couple of problem areas. One of these is the vacuum operated transfer case on some models. The vacuum setup rarely works properly now that these Jeeps are getting older. The biggest problem is that you never know if the four wheel drive engaged all the way. This can lead to expensive problems, not to mention that it could leave you stuck. When you are axle deep in the mud or snow isn't the time you want to have to crawl under the truck and force the transfer case into four wheel drive.

I replaced my transfer case with one from an '83 Cherokee. I now have a real four wheel drive engagement lever. The 'case is a straight bolt in except that you need the rear driveshaft from the Cherokee (possibly the front too, but I couldn't compare since I didn't have a front driveshaft before this swap.) The Cherokee linkage hooks to your existing 4x4 lever, or you could change levers and have the proper shift pattern marked on your lever.

Now when the road gets bad, I get out, lock the hubs (I converted to manual hubs, also.), get back in and pull my lever into four wheel drive.

By: James Alton