D20, J-pattern DIY twin stick question

[Gunnibronco]

One of the last original parts on my Bronco is the D20 t-case. It has always jumped out of 4 low if I don't bungee it to the dash. I've replaced the detent springs & balls (one was missing all together) but that didn't help. Recently it got hard to find 2 hi. I used to have a floor mounted 3 speed shifter (now running NP435), so I can pull a piece of sheet metal & see the D20 shift rails. I easily can put it into all the gears with a little help from a pry bar. The J-shifter seems sloppy & I think is the problem, its not pushing the shift rails far enough forward and back. I'm hoping that if the tcase is fully engaged, maybe even the 4 low will stay in gear.

I want to put a QUICK & CHEAP twin stick in, because I intend on loosing the D20 for an Atlas someday. But funds are limited and someday is not today. I found a fairly complex DIY twin stick on CB.com:
http://classicbroncos.com/tech/fabricat ... ord-bronco

My first thought, before doing any reading, was that a twin stick wasn't going to be that complicated. I thought about just welding new shift levers to the shift rail tabs. Am I way off base? Would it be too hard to shift gears without the pivot created in the above article?

Any advice or pics of more simple set ups, I'm not concerned with being tricked out or super stylish, just want it to work. Function before fashion. If you saw the rest of my truck, you'd understand.

Chad

[Viperwolf1]

The J shifters suck. The first best thing I did was to get rid of it and go with twins. You will need the pivot points but it wouldn't be difficult to fab one up.

[Gunnibronco]

Cool thanks. If anyone has any pics or links of other set ups I'd love to see them before I break into this project.

Chad

[Gunnibronco]

I just edited the link in the 1st post, it wasn't right.

Chad

[Jesus_man]

BC's is pretty simple:



more google action:
http://www2.broncofix.com/viewtopic.php?t=3408

[Justin]

Could be a fun basic fab work tech class.

[Booger]

I just ordered one the other day from Toms. Tired of the J shifter issues. Gunni they look pretty straight forward to make. Maybe when I get mine I'll post up some info to fab one. Viper probably has the plans drawn up in his head already.

[Moab Mike]

It takes about 10 minutes with a cut saw if the TC is out of the vehicle. Here is a spare C4 and D20 I have that I twin sticked.

[Gunnibronco]

It takes about 10 minutes with a cut saw if the TC is out of the vehicle. Here is a spare C4 and D20 I have that I twin sticked.

Sweet, that's the kind of picture I was looking for. After I looked more closely at pics of the JB Fab (I think) I realized, the DIY one on CB.com was way over complicated. Those pics make it real clear what needs to be done.

Thanks,

Chad

[Booger]

It takes about 10 minutes with a cut saw if the TC is out of the vehicle. Here is a spare C4 and D20 I have that I twin sticked.

That's what I'm talking about. I wish I had access to the shop equipment I used to use because I made almost all of my own stuff and this would have been one of those easy builds.

[Moab Mike]

It takes about 10 minutes with a cut saw if the TC is out of the vehicle. Here is a spare C4 and D20 I have that I twin sticked.

That's what I'm talking about. I wish I had access to the shop equipment I used to use because I made almost all of my own stuff and this would have been one of those easy builds.

Boog, All I have is up for loan! Just let me know what you need.

[Viperwolf1]

It takes about 10 minutes with a cut saw if the TC is out of the vehicle. Here is a spare C4 and D20 I have that I twin sticked.

Sweet, that's the kind of picture I was looking for. After I looked more closely at pics of the JB Fab (I think) I realized, the DIY one on CB.com was way over complicated. Those pics make it real clear what needs to be done.

Thanks,

Chad

The one at the CB link was for a T style case. J style is way easier to twinstick.

[Jesus_man]

The one at the CB link was for a T style case. J style is way easier to twinstick.

True -dat!

Even the one on CB was over-complicated for a T-shift.

J.D.

[Rox Crusher]

It takes about 10 minutes with a cut saw if the TC is out of the vehicle. Here is a spare C4 and D20 I have that I twin sticked.

this is right up there on the "CCB ghetto fab" chart

a great example of not ordering everything we need from a vendor
and doing it ourselves

nice work for sure

[Gunnibronco]

It takes about 10 minutes with a cut saw if the TC is out of the vehicle. Here is a spare C4 and D20 I have that I twin sticked.

this is right up there on the "CCB ghetto fab" chart

a great example of not ordering everything we need from a vendor
and doing it ourselves

nice work for sure

For a long time I was a guy who had to buy a "kit" for most everything, and God help me, if there weren't directions. After the last few years in the body shop, I realize that many of my projects can be done myself. Lots of time with scrap material we have around the shop (or dumped outside our building). We have a big scrap metal pile & next door is a "thrift" store that lots of crap gets dumped on. Plasma cutters, chop saws, torches, and welders are cool!

Recently, I've added a receiver hitch/winch mount to my front Smittybuilt bumper from junk lying around, and built a cargo rack from a child size bed frame.

Chad

[Jesus_man]

Chad, I was the same way. Actually wanted to build my own stuff, but never had the tools. I now have a couple grinders and a welder and make a lot of things with those two items. And I enjoy the heck out of it! Finding time is the tough part!

J.D.

[Gunnibronco]

Thanks for the help. I got it 90% done today. Unfortunately, there has been little or no work for us lately, so I've been spending the days working on the Bronco.

I'll post up some pics soon, but its a total rip-off of 76fordbronco's. I'm going to drive it this weekend & test it out, see if it'll stay in 4-lo better. Next week I'll paint it, and add some knobs. Gotta order a twin stick boot.

Chad

[Rox Crusher]

Thanks for the help. I got it 90% done today. Unfortunately, there has been little or no work for us lately, so I've been spending the days working on the Bronco.

I'll post up some pics soon, but its a total rip-off of 76fordbronco's. I'm going to drive it this weekend & test it out, see if it'll stay in 4-lo better. Next week I'll paint it, and add some knobs. Gotta order a twin stick boot.

Chad

Maybe this sale will flub and you can pick these up ?

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showth ... p?t=188322

[Gunnibronco]

I'll keep my eyes on it, thanks. Perfect "package" deal. I've gotta order a new rear shock mount, so I was going to place an order with Jeff's on Monday. I really need to fix my rear shock before Ouray, its not a big deal, but I've been running around with 1 rear shock for almost a month. Hopefully I'll find something at the hardware, or welding shop for a set of knobs. I'm not down for a $50+ set of billet knobs, Jeff's only option. That is the least of my concerns, though.

Chad

[Dukietown]

How did this turn out? I was thinking about doing the same to mine here soon. I read the DIY on CB.com and it looked pretty complex but if you found a quicker/easier way to swap out the J-shifter I'd love to see it.

[Gunnibronco]

Sorry I didn't get pics before I buttoned it up, but really I just copied 76fordbronco's pics above. My pictures wouldn't add much. It works great, the t-case hasn't popped out of any gear since. I think the old j shifter was wiped out and/or the body was pushing the shifter out of gear.

Let me know if you want pics of the pieces apart, I can easily remove the shifters tomorrow & snap some pics. Forget what you read at CB.com, that is for a T shifter & complicated by T shift standards. It was very easy, I even found 2 black knobs at a hardware store for like $6.00 each. They had 1/2" course thread inserts.

Chad