Have a '70 cruiser 3 speed, vacuum operated t-case, and with the V8 conversion, it sits too close to the frame rail. Any kits out there to go manual linkage- or some mod that I can do to solve my problem.
Thanks, oh mighty landcruiser guru's... :fj:

The vacuum shift mechanism on the early transfer cases can be swapped out with the mechanical shift linkage of the later cases. 4 bolts - piece o cake. Option 2 is to swap the entire nose-cone out, however you then need to switch the front flange as well (they interchange).

Depending on your transmission, you may need some bracketry creations to mount the lever however.

Also, I'm honestly not sure you're gonna save much space with the mecahnical versus vacuum linkage. There is no aftermarket kit available either, or at least not one thats not designed the same as the factory mechanical linkage.

Please tell us you are not using the 3spd. transmission with the V-8. The transfer case is good, but dump the transmission. Good Luck.

Originally posted by DonM
Please tell us you are not using the 3spd. transmission with the V-8. The transfer case is good, but dump the transmission. Good Luck. Look at his sig line:rolleyes:

No, I'm not using the stock 3 speed. There's a burly sm420 bolted inbetween the V8 and the cruiser t-case.
My question is, how feasible would it be to convert the t-case to manual. I can handle the linkage, but I just didn't know about the plate and goodies that I'll have to bolt on there. Thanks Woody.

Woody's site has a writeup on the plate to mount the shifter onto, or you can buy it from Advanced Adapters.

Nobody makes new linkages so you have to find used stuff. If you can't find the shifter linkage then call Spector/ MAF or Wardens. They all sell these used parts (if they have them in stock).

Not to suggest an error in the advice, but I believe what AA sells is for their adapter (tcase to the SM420) which is over 5" long. It will require modification to work with a plate adapter, and might exceed what is required to start from scratch. I recently called them and asked.

Woody covered the front (2 to 4 wheel) linkage just a swap. The hi-low shift pawl (sticks thru the top cover) and cam (linkage attaches to) is also different from the vacuum shift stuff. Simple swap just need the parts from a latter mech linkage setup.

As far as clearance, I also don't think you will gain much and the hi-low linkage will require some work on the underside of the floorboard so it doesn't bind. All in all if the vacuum system works now you may regret the changeover (with the sm420).

Mike "SpaceGhost" Smythe

Well, here's my experience with changing over from vacuum to mechanical linkage (about 2 months ago).

I bought the 4-speed mechanical shift linkages from Wardens & I got a plate from AA (I think it was only about 50 bucks) that bolts to the passenger side of my SM465 tranny that the t-case shifter linkages bolts to. The plate came with all bolts & spacers to get the linkages the correct distance away from the tranny to prevent binding. (The also sell this plate for SM420 trannys).

As SpaceGhost stated, the only potential problem is clearance between the top of the shifter mechanism levers & the underside of the floorboards & body crossmembers. It's pretty tight, but I don't get any rubbing.

The hardest part was cutting the hole in the correct place in the transmission hump for the t-case shifter.

Thanks everyone. Sounds like more hassle than it will be worth. As for the hi-low shifter, I almost have that fully fabbed- just from the old column and hi-low linkage that I tore out. Anyways. I would say "if it ain't broke, then don't fix it...", but that doesn't really apply. More like, "if it's working well, and it isn't worth upgrading, then why mess with it?"
Thanks again. :fj: