i have a 04 silverado ss and call me stupid, but im relatively new to the Chevy scene....


i was wondering if there was a transfer case that you could select 4wd ( not all wheel drive) and do great launches, how ever every one knows it is fun to play around every now then in 2wd. if remember correctly on some of the trailblazer ss's you could select 4wd or 2wd. i love that the truck is 4wd and all being in Chicago in the winter i just wish the option was there to play in 2 wheel. a few of my buddys have done a 6.0 with a 4l80 into just a regular 2wd silverado. could i swap in a 4l80 and transfer case out of a 2500?

any help with what transfer case to use, ( one out of other gm trucks? aftermarket?) would be appreciated. also how much work is involved if it can be done? thanks for any help

 

The selectable AutoTrak transfer case will swap right in, but you'll also need the front driveshaft, front diff housing (different r/s internal axle shaft since it engages and disengages as opposed to being a one piece that the AWD's have), switch, encoder motor, and 4wd computer to make it work. My truck has exactly what you're looking for, and actually I want your set up as I want to make mine full time AWD instead of selectable 4x4 (also has auto 4x4). Would you consider swapping your t-case/front drivetrain with somebody? My t-case is in perfect condition as I opened it up and inspected it last summer when I did my trans swap. I also installed the updated pump clip that's necessary to prevent the original clip from breaking and allowing the pump to rock around and wear a hole through the case, which is made of magnesium)

Shoot me up with a PM if you're interested

 

i come from a hhuge four wheeling and offroading back ground. and every transfer case i have ever played with in my jeeps and mud trucks/ rock crawlers, if you put it in 2wd no power is sent to the front axel/diff and i mean 0%. the only reason the front drive shaft spins is because not all axels have lock out hubs. this means that when you un lock the hub, the wheel spins freely of the axel (less moving parts). on axels that dont have lock out hubs when the wheels turn the axel turns wich turns the diff and so on and so on.. thus the front drive shaft turns...

i dont understand ? if its a true 2wd selection the front diff has nothing to do with the transfer case. i could see may be a drive shaft being different but thats about it. i could be wrong on this but this is why i asked the question and am hear to learn.

 

i just swapped mine from push button to awd. if u dont lock ur front diff then ur front shaft just spins and the axle stay open so the tires get no power. i belive is how it works. but ur front axles isnt unable 2 unlock like a push button 4wd. so as bud says u would need 2 swap all that out and u ll need the wires and the plugs also. i belive its way harder 2 go form awd to 4wd then it is 2 go from 4wd to awd. my not b much help but thot i would tell ya.lol

 

ok but if the transfer case is in 2wd there is no power going to the front axle.... so whats the difference if the front diff is locked or unlocked? i dont care if the front diff, axles, and drive shaft are spinning when going down the road while in 2wd. if the the t/case is in 2wd i should be able to smoke the rear tiers off in a burn out contest if i wanted to, whether the front diff is a locking one or not correct? im just getting to i want all wheel drive for taking it to the track and driving around town and such, but at the same time i want to put the truck in 2wd and roost the tiers off lol didnt the trail blazer ss come with this option for a few years? again thanks for all the help

 

i never heard of them comin with the selection. i kne they came n 2wd and 4wd models but thats it. and i would think ur right bout the front not matterin if the t case is n 2wd but not for sure.lol

 

i thought some one told me that a while back...... but yeah i dont see why i would have to go threw the work of changing the diff. i could see may be the drive shaft being a different length or having different ends and wouldn't fit the yokes but i got a shop that builds custom shafts to any length for 100 bucks so the drive shaft is the least of my worries

 

K,

You need a 4x4 front diff. You have an AWD front diff.

The difference from what i understand is the way they lock.

The AWD stays locked, The 4x4 front diff only locks when 4 wheel drive is selected.

The physical aspects of the AWD System versus the Autotrac 4X4 system dictates a different front shaft lenght I BELIEVE.

 

i understand the locked awd and unlocked 4x4 diff. but correct me if im wrong if you put a 4x4 transfer case in the truck with and awd front diff. when put in 4x4 all 4 wheels will get power meaning the front and rear. ? however when the transfercase is put in 2wd with the front diff (still being an awd locked diff.) how are the front tiers going to get power if the transfer case is NOT sending power up there?

 

That makes sense, the main difference is the passenger side axle and tube...on the 4x4, as TIM Z said, when 4x4 is selected, the r/s axle locks and the transfer case transfers power to the front diff. In 2wd, the r/s axle unlocks and the tcase no longer sends power to the front diff. Not sure if there will be any issues with having the r/s axle locked in while in 2wd, but I don't see why there would. Kinda like the manual locking hubs...you can lock them and still drive around in 2wd. To use the a 4x4 tcase you need the 4x4 front drive shaft also, as they are different lengths.

There are guys who have gone from 4wd to awd, with a setup like mine, and kept their front axle housing by locking the r/s axle by selecting 4wd, then unplugging it