Transfer Case Swap

SummitWhiteT1 · August 18, 2020

So I got a really good deal on my truck and my stupid ass didn't know until after I bought my vehicle that it had the single speed transfer case without 4 low. I just assumed since basically every GM truck I've had that was a 4x4 has had 4lo that this one did too. Plus I didn't care about Z71 package because I was going to upgrade the suspension anyway. Now I was thinking, since it seems like everything is identical in both 4x4 trucks other than the transfer case, couldn't one just be swapped in? I found a post on a Tahoe forum where someone with a 2012 Tahoe that had a single speed swapped to a dual speed and everything was identical other than the transfer case and the TCU

AJMBLAZER · August 21, 2020

I would bet physically they would bolt up. It would make financial sense for GM to have as much commonality as possible other than the actually physically different parts.

Nick Gibb · April 25, 2021

Summit white I just did the exact same thing. I love everything about the truck, was out in the bush, went to test my dealer lifted 4x4 badged truck with 33.2 inch Toyo RT tires. I pressed what I thought was a cool 4lo button with a picture of a truck crawling over rocks... In the same spot 4 lo is on every other ****ing Gm product and its something completely not 4 low . I love everything about the truck, and would rather put the 2 speed tcase in it and have the perfect truck for me! I'm going to look into the swap aswell. I see you posted last year, have you come up with anything? I can't find anything about it.

JimCost2014 · April 25, 2021

44 minutes ago, Nick Gibb said:

Summit white I just did the exact same thing. I love everything about the truck, was out in the bush, went to test my dealer lifted 4x4 badged truck with 33.2 inch Toyo RT tires. I pressed what I thought was a cool 4lo button with a picture of a truck crawling over rocks... In the same spot 4 lo is on every other ****ing Gm product and its something completely not 4 low . I love everything about the truck, and would rather put the 2 speed tcase in it and have the perfect truck for me! I'm going to look into the swap aswell. I see you posted last year, have you come up with anything? I can't find anything about it.

Welcome to the site.

Does your switch look like the one on the left, or right. Not really up to speed on the T1's, so asking out of curiosity.

Nick Gibb · April 26, 2021

Mines the one at the top that doesn't say 4lo

redwngr · April 26, 2021

They call that 'Terrain Mode'.

Manual has a couple pages of explanations about how it works / what it does.

Some of the functions depend on what gear is selected.

Gangly · April 27, 2021

I'm almost certain it would bolt right up, but the circuitry alterations to make it integrate with your truck seamlessly might be an issue. Although I have the 2spd transfer case, I'm curious to see if this is able to be done to a single speed transfer case vehicle of the 19-21 vintage. It would be nice to be able to add that functionality to an off road truck, especially if buying used and its a simple upgrade.