this is my first truck so I'm not sure is this is normal. the shifters for the trans and t-case are offset to the drivers side by quite a bit. it doesn't look right to me. the motor and transmission mounts all look ok. is there enough play in the mounts if I loosen them up to shift them back to a centered position?


thanks for looking.

 

Not normal, and I don't believe (but could be wrong) that there's enough adjustment room in the mounts. Check your cab mounts. How's the alignment of the cab with the bed?

 

Why such large pics

After you get the shifters centerd I hope you're going to replace that trans boot and transfer case boot if bad. Mine were shot when i bought my truck. Thing is I guess some people think dust and water are good for the oil & gears never nind the bearings?

ADDED: looking at it again, looks like if there was an accident from the right front could push the frame over and cab not move perhaps? My truck was hit twice in the right front but not the side so much so pushed the frame back. Just something to check out???

 

Could very well be a broken engine mount, too. My transmission would fall over to one side like that, then roll back to center. For me, it was an engine mount. Look at your engine and see if it's crooked, too.

If not, it's probably one of the mounts on your transfer case.

 

Is that the same trans that came in the truck or a replacement?

 

I believe it is original as per the VIN and a quick visual inspection of motor mounts reveals nothing out of place. the cab and bed also look fine. and yes, new boots are in the works.


I'll dig a bit deeper into the motor/trans mounts.


royal

 

Bent t-case mount?


the PO had replaced the DS motor mount but not the PASS side. I found that the PASS side motor mount was broken too. I replaced it and it helped move the tranny over but close inspection of the t-case mount reveals what looks like a bent mount. down on the DS and up on the pass. this would account for the offset to the DS . tell me does this look bent? I do not have another one to compare it to.


thanks,


Royal

 

It's kinda hard to get perspective in that photo, but it does look bent. Hard to say, though.

So there's still some offset?

It wouldn't hurt to replace it. It's a bit of a pain to get at all the bolts, but what isn't? It looks pretty cracked and worn anyways.

 

No that's really wrong.....trans mount is shot. The xfer case shifter is on backwards, it throws to the right. Broken engine mounts or a really twisted frame as well. Are you body mounts broken off? Wrong bolts in the gear box shifter so its been a project truck.

Yup; you got your work cut out for you.

 

Might be the picture but shift lever looks like mine tilting to driver also. I'd like to see a factory pic of that transfer shift lever cause it always hits my leg

 

My 83 always hit my leg, too.

Many people fill the transmission through the shifter hole when they change tranny fluid, so it could be that someone just put different bolts in there for easier access. But good eye. Could mean anything.

 

Zach, I put some T-shirt material over the knob then a tennis ball, slice an X on its bottom and push on without the cotton the ball will rub and mark up the knob I found. I'd like to find something softer maybe at a toy store? maybe a foam ball pushed inside the tennis ball?

 

Well, it doesn't matter to me anymore...I only have a 2wd! So no more transfer case shifter. I don't remember mine being a real problem, I just have memories of thinking "this is kinda a design flaw...too close to my leg".

I'll bet you could find something. I don't have kids so I'm not familiar with what's out there... Nerf probably makes something.

 

Ok; it should be a RF1A transfer case if so the shifter from an '88 will work and flip sides for you.

 

Why do a patch job, the entire assembly looks like its shifted to drivers side, not just the transfer case shifter. You can see where the sheet metal was bent up to access the trans shift screws it looks like?

Checked mine last night and looks close to center, actually to left a bit in nutral but I need new mounts also after I get the frame pulled.

 

well, it took me a while but I finaly got around to replacing the pass side motor mount(it was broken) and the tcase mount it was pretty sagged out and soft. the biggest change was just replacing the motor mount. here is a pic of the shifter location after replacement. much better thanks for the help.

 

Great! And thanks for following up.