I have recently acquired an 82 4wd pick up in relatively good condition that I am going to turn into my trail truck. The question I have is on the transfer case shifter location. I was wondering if all the truck were like this or how I could fix it. The problem is when the transfer case is in L4 the case shifter is right in the pattern of the transmission shifter. I can not shift into 2nd gear, or when I shift out of 1st I knock the case into neutral. I was just wondering is this an origianal problem or has something been done to the transfer case. Also how do I fix this, I was thinking about just cutting it off some and making it lower, or taking it out and heating it with a torch and curving out of the way.

Here are some pics of the shifter and the truck.
http://community.webshots.com/album/511911272fDmukr

In the first pic the tranny is in 4th so you can see how close it is. In the second pic the stick is neutral as if I was coming out of 1st going into 2nd.

 

ya that looks like a comen problem. just do as most and put in a second case. but realy i would try to cut and reweld the t-case lever. i just checked my duel cases and it apeares that i put the front lever on upside down so it dosent swing fary far forwards but swings way back. my front lever toches my rear lever when im in 2wd high. maby you could just take the shift lever off and turn it 180 degres.

here is a pic my trany is in nutrel first t-case is in low second t-case is in 4wd high.

 

Your lever is just installed incorrectly. After changing my clutch I accidentally did the same thing. It's easy to just remove the lever and turn it around so that the upper part of the shift lever points the other way. No need to cut anything. The lever still works fine like you have it installed, it just gets in the way of the gear shifter.