1983-2011 Ford Ranger Transfer Cases

Depending on the year, the 1983-2011 Ford Ranger 4×4 was offered with a BW1350 or BW1354 transfer case, and were available as a manual shift, or electronic shift.

The BW1350 and BW1354 are both 3-piece aluminum part time transfer cases. They both transfer power from the transmission to the rear axle, and the front drive axle when actuated. The unit is lubricated by a positive displacement oil pump that channels oil flow through drilled holes in the rear output shaft. The pump turns with the rear output shaft, and allows the vehicle to be towed without disconnecting the driveshaft.

The BW1350 has a splined front receiver that accepts a driveshaft with a splined slip yoke. The BW1354 has a yoke on the front that accepts a driveshaft with a u-joint.

The 1987-1988 Ford Ranger STX High Rider 4×4, and the 1989 Ford Ranger STX Sport Rider 4×4 came with a BW1350 with a fixed yoke on the front. These were the only BW1350’s offered in the Ford Ranger that had a yoke on the front for a u-joint. The rest of the Rangers used a driveshaft with a splined slip yoke that slid in to the case.

Identification:

The BW1350 and BW1354 should have a tag held on with a bolt. The top right portion of the tag will list the transfer case model number.

The BW1350 can be quickly identified by the cone on the front for the front driveshaft. This transfer case uses a splined receiver instead of a yoke and u-joint. These transfer cases take a splined slip yoke on the end of the drive shaft that slides in to the transfer case.

(BW1350)

BW1350 / BW1354 Specifications:

Weight: 98lbs (44kg)
Low Range: 2.48:1, chain driven
Shift to 4H up to 55mph (88km/h)
Electric and manual shift versions
Fluids: 2qt Automatic Transmission Fluid

Note: The factory manual calls for Dextron III / Mercon, Mercon V, or Mercon LV. NOT gear oil. Consult your Service Manual or Owners Manual for the proper fluid specification.

Planetary Gears:

The BW1350 had a (4) planetary gear set:

The BW1354 also had a (4) planetary gear set through 1992.

From 1993-2011, the BW1354 used a (6) planetary gear set.

BW1350 Transfer Case:

The BW1350 manual shift transfer case was offered in the Ford Ranger 4×4 from 1983-1990. It became available as an electronic shift from 1986-1990. This 3-piece aluminum part time transfer case can be easily identified by the splined receiver on the front that takes a front driveshaft with a slip yoke.

There is a small u-joint inside the front output cone of these transfer cases. In an off-road application with a lift kit and decent wheel travel, you could actually pull the drive shaft out of the transfer case if the drivers side front wheel travels down to far.

Rare 1987-1989 BW1350:

The 1987-1988 Ford Ranger STX High Rider 4×4, and the 1989 Ford Ranger STX Sport Rider 4×4 came with a BW1350 with a fixed yoke on the front.

BW1350 Usage:

1983-1989 W/o external front yoke, w/bolt on shift linkage (manual shift)
1987-1989 W/external front yoke (manual shift) (1987-1988 STX High Rider) (1989 STX Sport Rider)
1987-1989 W/external front yoke (Electric shift) (1987-1988 STX High Rider) (1989 STX Sport Rider)
1983-1990 W/o external front yoke (manual shift) one piece shift linkage
1986-1990 W/o external front yoke (electric shift)

BW1350 Front Driveshaft:

Below is the front driveshaft that was on the BW130’s with the splined yoke. You can see the splined shaft that slides in to the front of the transfer case. If you look close, you’ll notice that the splined shaft is “keyed”. There is a groove missing that creates a wider spline. You have to line this up with the splines in the transfer case before you can get the shaft to slide in to place.

BW1354 Transfer Case:

The BW1354 transfer case was available in a manual shift, or electronic shift. The manual version was used from 1990-1997, and then from 2002-2003. The 2002-2003 manual cases were only available on the Ford Ranger FX4. The electric version was used from 1990-2011.

The 1998-2011 Ford Ranger transfer case came with a unique cup style flange for the ‘Tulip’ style front driveshaft.

BW1354 Usage:

1990-1995 (Electric Shift) with speedo hole, with sensor hole fixed front output yoke
1990-1997 All (manual shift)
1995-1998 (Electric Shift) rear circular flange front fixed yoke with speedo hole, w/o sensor hole
1998-2000 (Electric Shift) rear circular flange, front cup yoke w/o speedo hole, w/o sensor hole
2000-2004 (Electric Shift) rear circular flange, front cup yoke w/o speedo hole, w/o sensor hole, w/o shift on the fly
2002-2003 Manual shift (FX4 Models) rear circular flange, front cup yoke w/o speedo hole, w/p sensor hole

Yokes:

Note the differences in the front output snout length between the BW-1350 High Rider and BW-1354:

BW1350 transfer cases have several flanges available but most are small pattern flat flange (1310 and 1210 flange yokes will bolt onto this) as well as the 1210 CV style yoke found on the rear in short wheelbase trucks (short box single cab 4×4 and Bronco II.) The front of the High Rider t-case is also a 1210 CV yoke.

The 1210 style yokes are just a hair under 3″ wide.

1354 t-cases have 1310 series u-joints, flange is just about 3-3/4″ wide:

Flanges and U-Joints:

As mentioned above, the BW1350 used a front receiver that took a driveshaft with a splined slip yoke. The 1987-1988 Ford Ranger STX High Rider and 1989 Ford Ranger STX Sport Rider used a BW1350 with a fixed front yoke. The front and rear yokes took a 1210 u-joint. Not only was the 1210 u-joint a weak link, but these yokes used u-joint straps to hold the u-joint in the yoke.

The extended cab Ford Ranger 4×4 used a flat flange on the back of the BW1350 that also used a flange yoke. The 1986-1990 Ford Bronco II also used a flat flange on the BW1350 transfer case. These setups use a larger 1310 u-joint.

The 1210 u-joint has a 1.062 cap and 2.438 width. (1-1/16″ x 2-7/16″)
The 1310 u-joint has a 1.062 cap and 3.219 width. (1-1/16″ x 3-1/4″)

You can swap out the rear yoke on your BW1350 with a flat flange from an extended cab Ford Ranger or 1986-1990 Ford Bronco II. You can also use the flat flange from a BW1354. The BW1350 and BW1354 both use a 26-spline yoke / flange.

(BW1350 with flat flange)