Chevy/GMC 4x4

NewEnglandFarmer · Feb 24, 2012

CAUTION: Crazy Idea..

In the market for a used pick up. I'm very particular in what I want. Last time I traveled 800 miles to buy my used pick up. Crazy I know, but it is what it is. I'm having a hard time locating extended cab GM trucks that have the manual 4 wheel drive shifter on the floor. I do NOT want the push button electric 4 wheel drive.
My crazy question is, could a dealership take a truck with an electric push button 4 wheel drive, and convert it to the manual on the floor type? My first thoughts are that they guts of the 4 wheel drive system are already in place (transfer case, etc). Any one ever heard of this? or know if it's even possible?

Can't hurt to ask right? Worst they can say is no

Tx Jim · Feb 24, 2012

I would think for a dealer to convert a 4WD from push button to in the floor shift would be very expensive. Whats so terrible wrong with push button control. I had a 2000 Chevy push button 4wd from 2000 to 2009(put 125,000 hard feeding cattle every day in Winter) miles and never had any problems with push button 4wd. Maybe I was lucky

Anonymous-0 · Feb 24, 2012

I have a 2000 chevy as you describe and couldn't be happier. I have 220000 trouble free miles and probably the only thing I would change would be to have the 5.3 instead of the 4.8 engine. the 4.8 is 100% reliable and has never experienced any problem but the people I know with the 5.3 get as good or better mileage. the 4wd has been a joy to own and everything anybody could ask for. the only thing I have had to replace a couple of time has been the back u-joint. still on the original exhaust and I live in the land of salt (NY). The truck will be replaced when the rust gets too bad.

Sprint 6 · Feb 24, 2012

The transfer case shift shaft is different. To install a manual shift shaft, the t-case has to come completely apart, that is one of the last parts out and one of the first in. Then you would have to buy the floor shifter assembly and cut a hole in the floor. After you get it all hooked up, then you have to get the electronics to play nice to get the electric axle motor to engage the axle. Can it be done, yes. Should it be done, probably not. You would spend more converting it than you would spend fixing the electric shift in the rare event it broke.

NewEnglandFarmer · Feb 24, 2012

Perhaps you're right. I just may have hard bad experiences in the past. I had an avalanche with the electric "dial" 4 wheel drive, it was junk, didn't work half the time. My dad has an 2006 Silverado and his electric 4 wheel drive was at the dealer ship in under 40K miles. Lastly a buddy of mine had his electric 4x4 fixed twice in his 2000 by the time he hit 100K. He says it's a switch in the dash that goes.
I don't know. I just like the idea of "I'll" engage the 4x4, not some wires

Murray2 · Feb 24, 2012

Hi, the engine you have in your vehicle . Is that the 4.8 Vortex? I purchased a used /05 with 57000 kl . Found very nice to use. Just not familiar with that engine. Thanks, Murray

John A. · Feb 24, 2012

NewEnglandFarmer, I too and shoulder to shoulder with you here, Just in the other House, Ford. Start doing research,If GM is anything like Ford the Stick shift is "Standard" on certain more basic models, or a mid model without a console!
The new Super Duty F-350/F-250 have a floor shift on the transfer case on XL and XLT. The Truck Manager just needs to check the correct box when ordering. Some Dealers are keeping these truck for the guys really working a truck not town folks who are making a fashion statement.
No I didn't say order one , find out the list opitions where a floor shifter would be Standard and seek out that equipment group! I hope this Helps.
Later,
John A.

LJD · Feb 24, 2012

I never owned a 4WD truck without the manual engagement. I've had many people come to my place over the years with new 4WD trucks and get stuck because their 4WD would not engage. Dodge,Chevys and Fords. Seems you don't always know it's not working until you actually need it.

I don't even like the automatic hubs with trucks you CAN engage 4WD manually. I got stock recently with my Kia Sportage because 4WD was not working even though the 4WD indicator light was "on." A broken vacuum line was the problem.

With mechanical engagement and manual hubs you'd need a truck with a solid front axle - more or less. There are a few exceptions where there are aftermarket manual hub kits for independent front axles.

With GMC and Chevy - I think the New Process 241 was the last truck transfercase that was "convertible" and came as manual shift or electric shift.

With 4WD trucks, I've got a 69 Dodge W200 Power Wagon, 86 K10 Chevy diesel, 92 W250 Dodge diesel, 1985 Isuzu diesel, and 94 Ford F250 diesel. All go into 4WD with no problems. The Dodge still gets 19-20 MPG and it's an extended cab model with an 8 foot bed. I don't figure I could do better with anything new. In fact, I wouldn't even be willing to pay the sales tax on a new truck - much less the $50,000 plus sticker price. What a rip off!

DoubleR · Feb 24, 2012

I was thinking like you when I brought a new 07 with the four wheel drive knob instead of the floor shifter I was accustom to. I haven't had any problem with it so far. I guess I've learned to accept it. I also didn't like the auto trans as opposed to the four speed Manuel shift at first. I didn't like the automatic windows as opposed to the manual crank models. Didn't think I needed a electric remote for the rear back window. Didn't need cruise control, outside temp gage, air conditioning and so on and on. I don't think I would want a truck without those things now. Guess I'm just getting soft in my old age.

Tx Jim · Feb 24, 2012

LJD
I think either GM style 4wd control(push button or floor mounted) takes a brief period to engage because of the electrical engagement. On my '08 GMC with floor mount control If I think I'm going to need 4wd I engage it as soon as I pull off pavement.

jackinok · Feb 24, 2012

it can be done,IF you have about $4000 bucks laying around.LOL.i looked all over for one to fit my 99 chev,found three in the us that would fit my transmission.cost me 3000 just for the transfer case.it all depends, i found out,on what spline your transmission has,what drive line you have, and what transfer case you have.if they dont match they wont fit.(of course i had the oddest one of all)MY opinion,from my experience,find you a good pre 99 chev,and spend the money fixing what it needs.its not worth the time and effort to convert.again my opinion based on my experiences.youve got to know three things before you start hunting parts,one the number of splines thats in the transmission to drive the transfer case,two the type of transfer case,(its my understanding they cannot be converted from electric to manual shift without major ,expensive work done on the cases) and three the no of splines on the output shafts for drive lines.a early manual shift transfer case will not fit a more modern transmission,i tried that also.they changed the shafts in the transmission Im told when they went to electric shift,there are very few manual shifts out there with the modern splines.again my experiences.

tjiniowa · Feb 24, 2012

I have a 98 Chevy with push button and 189000 miles, never had a problem. But if you don't like buttons then look for a chevy work truck, they still make them with a lever, I know Farm Service here in town has a year old 3500HD GMC with manual 4x4

hd6gtom · Feb 24, 2012

I have a 2000 with 190000 on it with the electric buttons and have had NO problems with it. as long as you stop and push the button then move out they will last as long as the floor shift type. The problem comes when people try to put them in 4X4 when moving down the road at 60MPH. We see this all the time here at the dealership.

NewEnglandFarmer · Feb 24, 2012

I understand, unfortunately I don't have the option of buying brand new otherwise I would just buy the work truck package. I'll probably end up taking my chances because used trucks with manual 4x4 seem few and far between.

Thanks for all the input

Anonymous-0 · Feb 24, 2012

I bought a Silverado 2500 in 2000 with a floor 4X4 stick that danged thing will not work every time. Not real handy on a hill with wagons behind you, it has always eventualy gone in but not always.

TomA in CA · Feb 24, 2012

I too am looking for a ranch truck to replace the one that burned. I know what I want and do not want.
Manual 5 speed. Do NOT want auto trans, power windows, door locks, push button anything, no extra cab etc. All this crap is going to give problems when they get old. You have to find the right year for whatever truck you are interested in. Right now I am looking for a 1st. generation Dodge Cummins, don't know if I will be able to swing it yet.

sd pete · Feb 24, 2012

I have a 97 2500 GMC and haven"t had any problems with the button shift.

jackinok · Feb 24, 2012

mine got to where the check engine light would come on when i shifted it into 4wd.found i had a ground cable loose on the battery.I guess it sucked so much juice doing its thing the computer would show a fault.only thing i could figure anyway.i could be mistaken but as i recall on mine when you shift it into 4wd it also has solenoids like on the older ones that lock the hubs,i know my 89 does,i jerked a wire off of one of them once feeding cattle and it wouldnt shift.

farmer boy · Feb 24, 2012

It can be done. You'd likely have to take the electric(NP246C)transfer case out and put in a manual case(NP241C) and install the floor shift. All that stuff should be available relatively cheap if you buy used. That only makes the transfer case manual though. The front axle is still electric engage, and at one time they were the bigger issue.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 24, 2012

My 96 Ford has a stuck floor shifter.Aluminum casting on a steel shaft.If you break the casting Ford wants 150 bucks for a new part.The junk automatic hubs quit working so I didnt use the floor shifter for a while.The auto transmission,power windows;electric door locks work fine.Cruise control works fine.The lumbar seat supports work.I use one to drive my dog nuts.He dosent like the compressor noise or the seat back moving.

JimEvans · Feb 24, 2012

You guys do realize that it isn't just the transfer case? The front differential also has an electronic engagement. My 95 has a lever on the floor, but it also controls a solenoid that engages the differential. I had to replace the actuator last year on it when it went out.

I think the 4 wheeler guys make a kit that gives you manual cable control of the differential. Still better than a Ford. I have grown out of the "real men crawl out into the mud to lock their hubs in" stage.

Actually the 2000+ Chevys' push button engagement is pretty reliable. -- probably more reliable than froze up locking hubs that we used to deal with in the 70s and 80s.

WvaJim · Feb 24, 2012

The stock t-case probably will not give you any problems, It can be changed, as posted above, but the ones in there usually don"t give any problems. Most of the problems are at the front axle. This is a good solution for that.
This

495man · Feb 25, 2012

Ford Super Duty is the ONLY domestic pickup made in the last decade
with true manual 4wd

stick on the floor, full manual hubs (get out and turn them) My F250 is so equipped.

The rest of the trucks (Dodge / GM) with the lever on the floor still have something electric or vacuum to engage the front end.

chevytaHOE5674 · Feb 25, 2012

None of the GM t-cases can be "converted" from one style to the other as the housing are different. You have to entirely swap out the transfer case. Once you switch that out you will need to either get creative with custom wiring or go manual engagement to get the front differential actuator to work. Then you will also need to do some more wiring to get the truck to shift out of 1st gear while in low range.

I converted my chevy tahoe (same as a pickup) to a floor shift transfer case. Then while I still had the stock front axle in it I put a "posi-lok" brand manual cable system in for the front axle and then wired in a switch to the shifter to toggle the low range shifting tables for the transmission in the computer. Also the front driveshaft is different.

Only reason I performed this swap is because I put a solid dana 60 up front and had to change transfer cases because the stocker had the wrong front output type. If it wasn't for that I would have never changed from the push button system.

Detmurds · Feb 25, 2012

(quoted from post at 06:22:26 02/24/12) I never owned a 4WD truck without the manual engagement. I've had many people come to my place over the years with new 4WD trucks and get stuck because their 4WD would not engage. Dodge,Chevys and Fords. Seems you don't always know it's not working until you actually need it.

I don't even like the automatic hubs with trucks you CAN engage 4WD manually. I got stock recently with my Kia Sportage because 4WD was not working even though the 4WD indicator light was "on." A broken vacuum line was the problem.

With mechanical engagement and manual hubs you'd need a truck with a solid front axle - more or less. There are a few exceptions where there are aftermarket manual hub kits for independent front axles.

With GMC and Chevy - I think the New Process 241 was the last truck transfercase that was "convertible" and came as manual shift or electric shift.

With 4WD trucks, I've got a 69 Dodge W200 Power Wagon, 86 K10 Chevy diesel, 92 W250 Dodge diesel, 1985 Isuzu diesel, and 94 Ford F250 diesel. All go into 4WD with no problems. The Dodge still gets 19-20 MPG and it's an extended cab model with an 8 foot bed. I don't figure I could do better with anything new. In fact, I wouldn't even be willing to pay the sales tax on a new truck - much less the $50,000 plus sticker price. What a rip off!

What is it that you are doing to get stuck? I never get stuck in my Ford.

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