SM420/3spd tcase linkage questions (1 Viewer)

[badsamaritan]

Wondering if anyone has pictures of their SM420/tcase linkage, especially if it's a twin stick setup.

I have a SM420 mounted to a 3spd transfer case using a unknown plate adapter and it has the AA twin stick kit on it. Everything works but the linkage sits so high that the PO installed a body lift that is causing other issues. I want to see if the kit is installed wrong or if I need to pull it and start from scratch

 

[B y r o n]

Without pictures it's hard to say what course of action might be best for you.

 

[charliemeyer007]

I'm guessing cardboard aided design will be your path to success.

 

[badsamaritan]

I was able to fish a camera up there around the trans and I can see more issues than just the linkage so I need to figure some more things out.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Not all that many bolts holding the tranny cover in place. I bought a bore scope for my android phone off Amoron for like $30, will do vids and pics. You can look in places like gas tanks, differentials, clutches.... very handy.

 

[B y r o n]

I was able to fish a camera up there around the trans and I can see more issues than just the linkage so I need to figure some more things out.

Without sharing, how do you expect any help?

 

[badsamaritan]

I have the AA twin stick kit currently, but it sticks out under the floor so the PO put in a body lift compensate. The shift pin is on the farthest rearward threaded holes and I'm not sure if that is correct. I was hoping I could move the linkage around forward and then remove this body lift. But looking closer the trans may hit the trans cover and prevent the body coming down anymore than it is. In the first pic you can see the second threaded hole

AA also sells a bracket that allows the use of the original tcase shifter but their instructions are pretty bare and don't mention if I need the shifter plate

 

[badsamaritan]

Here's the AA bracket I bought. I would need to find the rest of the 3spd shifter linkage to use it but it should help. If anyone is using it and has pics that would help a ton

AA bracket

 

[ijonesinsp]

Here is my setup. I don't have a picture of it in the vehicle, but I did put a 1" body lift on mine for clearance issues.
My bracket is a homebrew version where I welded the pivot pin from the twin stick kit onto a bracket and bolted it to the SM420 case. I also swapped the two sticks left to right and welded an extension on the 2WD to 4WD selector.

 

[pbgbottle]

If it has a body lift your twin stick is probably funky because he had the bodylift installed first and he then had to raise the twin stick up to get the pivot point closer to the floor to reduce the throw of the sticks. I run a body lift also. And my t-case lever is was stock and the throw is long at the top of the stick so the hole in my floor was huge. I raised my pivot point up to get the linkage up closer to the floor then I was able to patch up the floors and install the OEM shift lever boot back The body lift probably wasn’t installed to clear the linkage. The linkage was raised to pass through the floor of the body lifted crusier. I run a SM465 to 3spd t-case. So custom linkage too.

 

[badsamaritan]

Thanks for the pictures, that helps a bunch. He used the threaded hole that is the rearward most bolt hole in your bracket which I think is taller than the forward threaded bolt hole and definitely higher than your pivot. If I can get the linkage more forward on the trans like yours is then I think I will be fine.