i tried a search and didn't see what i was looking for, so if i missed it post it and flame away.

how do you make the twin stick transfer case in my scout 80 able to switch to 2-lo and front wheel drive only. is it possible?

Just a wild-asses guess here, but I would think removing the interlock pills ought to do it.

Originally posted by TORC
Just a wild-asses guess here, but I would think removing the interlock pills ought to do it.


do they connect the 2 shifters?
i haven't really looked that close @ it yet, just been welding on the skin.

Anytime now we're gonna hear an OldScout "oldschool" bitchslap.....:eek:

Originally posted by 61scout80



do they connect the 2 shifters?
i haven't really looked that close @ it yet, just been welding on the skin.
No they don't connect the two shifters... they float between the two shift rails inside the front output/shifter assembly. It's pretty easy to actually take them out, but you damn near have to dismantle the entire t-case to get to that point. If you've gone that far, you might as well rebuild the t-case.

I think you're best bet would be to find another t-case and send those sticks to me.:flipoff2: :D

How about this link:

Twin stick page from the BB (http://www.binderbulletin.org/techlib/drivetrain/twinstik.htm)

I think you're best bet would be to find another t-case and send those sticks to me.:flipoff2: :D


i have a few, make an offer, you gotta deal w/ shipping from north east penn. though.... e-mail me an offer @ nuclearbluezx3@aol.com if your still interested.

Originally posted by uglyscout
How about this link:

Twin stick page from the BB (http://www.binderbulletin.org/techlib/drivetrain/twinstik.htm)


great find, thank you.

Originally posted by 61scout80



i have a few, make an offer, you gotta deal w/ shipping from north east penn. though.... e-mail me an offer @ nuclearbluezx3@aol.com if your still interested.

I sent you a PM.......

I must have taken my stupid pill tonight, but I thought a Scout 80 from '61 would have a Dana 18 not a Dana 20? Never seen a D20 in an early Scout.

The BB link you provided my be of little use if it's an 18 :confused:

61 Scout 80: Which transfercase are you running?

Easy to figure out....if the rear output is oposite the front output it's a Dana 18. If the output is oposite the input it's a Dana 20. I don't know the application by year but I do know that the early Scouts (80/800) had both transfercases.

i thought the 20 was the same as the 18 only the 20 had a stonger case? i'm pretty sure mine in the truck is an 18, but i aso think the one i have from a '64 hooked to a 4 speed that i think is a 20, but its under a bit of snow at the moment, so its hard to tell.

The 20 does have a stronger case as you would have to grind your 20 case to put the 18 gears into it for a 2.4 or something low range. But it still remains that the main difference between the two (visually) are the rear outputs.

Yes the cases are the same as I found out from others (Mike, Rich, etc). But the 18 is not like a 20 when it comes to power transfer. The front axle is only in or out, the range selection is only Low-N-High. If Low or High is selected then the rear axle is engaged.

Originally posted by jdjanda
Yes the cases are the same as I found out from others (Mike, Rich, etc). But the 18 is not like a 20 when it comes to power transfer. The front axle is only in or out, the range selection is only Low-N-High. If Low or High is selected then the rear axle is engaged.



so basically front wheel drive only isn't an option w/ the d-18 unless i do a full floating rear axle?

Originally posted by 61scout80




so basically front wheel drive only isn't an option w/ the d-18 unless i do a full floating rear axle?

Rear axle type has nothing to do with it. You can use a rear d-line disconnect. If you are thinking that you want the ability to disconnect the rear axle in the event of breakage yes a FF will help. Despite the t-case if you break an axle in a SF you're screwed.

If you modify the shift linkage in the 20 or the 18 you may acquiire a rear disconnect but it is not accessible in the stock setup. You may modify the linkage and install it on your 20 to do so but you have to have a twin stick conversion to get this. With the 18 you simply have to modify the existing linkage to acquire this capability.

Originally posted by slipscomb
If you modify the shift linkage in the 20 or the 18 you may acquiire a rear disconnect but it is not accessible in the stock setup. You may modify the linkage and install it on your 20 to do so but you have to have a twin stick conversion to get this. With the 18 you simply have to modify the existing linkage to acquire this capability.


so i can do this to the 18. would it be basically the same as useing the directions posted from binder bulliten? this will be my first dive into a transfer case, thats why i sound pretty much retarted about all of this.

With the 18 you simply have to modify the existing linkage to acquire this capability.

I'd like to hear about this modification?
Since with the 18 one stick is for front axle and the other selects the ratio, how do you modify the existing linkage?

Any time the transfer case is in Hi or Low the rear output is engaged, hence the rear axle is engaged.

The write up given on the BB will not work with the 18.

The 20 has two shift rails that normally operate together to select the desired output, the modification allows the rails to operate seperatly. Since the 18's rail already operate seperatly how would it work? :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Neps


I'd like to hear about this modification?
Since with the 18 one stick is for front axle and the other selects the ratio, how do you modify the existing linkage?

Any time the transfer case is in Hi or Low the rear output is engaged, hence the rear axle is engaged.

The write up given on the BB will not work with the 18.

The 20 has two shift rails that normally operate together to select the desired output, the modification allows the rails to operate seperatly. Since the 18's rail already operate seperatly how would it work? :rolleyes:

just going to throw a whild guess out here... but I *think* the D18 shift rails work THE SAME as a D20's shift rails... A stock twin-stick D20 shifts the same way as the Stock D18 does.....

So I would ASSume that the modification is the same... course I'm talking out of my ass here, since I haven't had a D18 apart, nor done a twin-stick convertion.


61scout80, why don't you just get a D20, and swap things around and put it in your 80?? I don't see anyreason you would want to keep your D18, since I assume you are going to toss the stock, offset rear very soon (if you haven't done it already). Wasn't the stock, offset rearend in early 80's a POS D27???

Originally posted by RustoleumWhite


just going to throw a whild guess out here... but I *think* the D18 shift rails work THE SAME as a D20's shift rails... A stock twin-stick D20 shifts the same way as the Stock D18 does.....

So I would ASSume that the modification is the same... course I'm talking out of my ass here, since I haven't had a D18 apart, nor done a twin-stick convertion.


61scout80, why don't you just get a D20, and swap things around and put it in your 80?? I don't see anyreason you would want to keep your D18, since I assume you are going to toss the stock, offset rear very soon (if you haven't done it already). Wasn't the stock, offset rearend in early 80's a POS D27???

Yup, in the 18 the left stick works the front axle clutch, the right stick moves the hi-low slider.

In the 20, the left stick works the rear output slider, the right stick works the front output slider. Thus the reason on a 20 TS you can put one axle in low and one in high.

BTW the same rules apply to the 300.

Originally posted by jdjanda


Yup, in the 18 the left stick works the front axle clutch, the right stick moves the hi-low slider.

In the 20, the left stick works the rear output slider, the right stick works the front output slider. Thus the reason on a 20 TS you can put one axle in low and one in high.

BTW the same rules apply to the 300.



Are twin-stick D20's different than single-stick 20's then??

I'm 99% positive the the twin-stick 20, in the 800 in my yard is: one lever high-low, other lever 4/2

haven't looked at the linkage in a while, and am 99% positive its a D20 (haven't looked under it in a while).

STOCK, a D20 twin-stick, you can't put one axle into low, and one into high, hence the reasons for the modification (witch requires removing the interlocks), or is it the INTERLOCKS that won't allow it to do that, because it just won't allow the shift rails to move in that way....

Originally posted by RustoleumWhite




Are twin-stick D20's different than single-stick 20's then??

I'm 99% positive the the twin-stick 20, in the 800 in my yard is: one lever high-low, other lever 4/2

haven't looked at the linkage in a while, and am 99% positive its a D20 (haven't looked under it in a while).

STOCK, a D20 twin-stick, you can't put one axle into low, and one into high, hence the reasons for the modification (witch requires removing the interlocks), or is it the INTERLOCKS that won't allow it to do that, because it just won't allow the shift rails to move in that way....

Nope they are the same, I've converted single stick 20's to twin stick using the shift rails from a TS 20. I've converted single stick 20's to TS using the single stick rails.

Pop the cover off the t-case and shift it you'll get an understnding how it all works and how the power is transfered.