1. WHAT ARE THE STEPS FOR 4WD ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT?
A: ENGAGEMENT--Stop wheels from rolling. Push in clutch. Yank
right-most lever to the rear.
DISENGAGEMENT--Stop wheels from rolling. Push in clutch. Try
pushing lever forward. When that doesn't work, put the truck in reverse.
Back up a yard or two. Push in clutch. Push the lever forward as you are
rolling to a stop.
I'm not sure what the 'official, by-the-book' method is, but this seems to
work for me. Unless I get lucky, the lever is fairly stiff when disengaging
4WD. Occasionally, I have to do the backing up part twice to be successful.
Neutral isn't particularly required as long as the clutch is in and your
wheels are just barely turning, if not stopped completely.
In an emergency, I'd crawl under the truck (after backing it up and turning
off the motor/chocking the wheels), and pry the 4WD selector out of the
transfer case about 5/8 of an inch. This is what the 4WD selector lever and
linkages are supposed to do if they are working properly. I wouldn't drive
too far on pavement in 4WD--you can really feel it straining when you turn
the wheel.
2. HAS ANYONE ON THIS LIST REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION? HOW DID YOU MOUNT THE
4WD SHIFTER BRACKET?
A: I have the original T98, so I'm of little help here...I suppose that
some creative metal fabrication is in order. Due to the forces involved in
shifting the transfer case and operating the hand brake, I'd recommend that
you avoid attaching it to the flimsy parts of the truck (like the floor pan
and transmission hump). I'd build something that connects to the frame
and/or an existing/future crossmember. I'd also avoid attempts to weld
anything to your cast metal transmission-- you might just find yourself in
the market for a new one if you do.
3. WHY 7 LEAFS IN THE LEAF SPRINGS? WOULD REMOVING SOME OF THE LEAFS HELP
IT RIDE SMOOTHER?
A: I'm no engineer, but I suppose the 7 leafs are to provide for the 1
1/4 ton load capacity. Carrying a decent load over unimproved surfaces at a
good clip is sure to test the strength of any vehicle's suspension, let
alone a vehicle designed to be relied upon and operational under the worst
circumstances. Drive one of these trucks around regularly and it becomes
painfully (in a good way) obvious that crew comfort was not an engineering
objective.
Again, I'm no expert, but I suspect that removing leafs will: 1)
Reduce payload capabilities 2) Reduce ground clearance 3) Increase
axle-to-bump stop (that rubber thingy on the frame rail above the axle)
strikes while off-road, and 4) Change the on-road handling of the vehicle.
My rule of thumb is: If I need a smooth ride, I beg my wife to use
umm..."our"...Toyota Camry. If not, I'll use the truck and have a
bone-jarring, teeth-rattling, spine-compressing adventure.
Hopefully, I've burried some useful info somewhere in this post...
Mark Masse
1967 Kaiser M715
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