I know it's Suspension Day, but I'm also thinking about a way to engage my truck's CDL from inside the cabin.

What is the best way to go about this: Getting the necessary components from a Disco I or '04 Disco II? Purchasing an aftermarket kit like the ones from Great Basin Rovers or Ashcroft?

If an aftermarket kit is the way to go, which one is easiest and most reliable?

is the '04 shifter/linkage the cat's meow?

All thoughts appreciated...thanks.

 

drill a hole in your console and weld a universal 13mm impact socket to the nut you used green loctite on and then jb weld a 1/2" drive extension up thru the console. attach your choice of handle. total cost $20.

 

I put a CDL shifter from an '04 in my 2000, with the '04 ****, boot, and instructional sticker (gotta love the "to lock the CDL, RTFM!" pictures on the sticker) but I got my shifter for cheap. I think the cable actuated shifter will be less prone to binding than the D1 linkage, plus it is just plug-n-play.

 

I'm leaning that way. It will be more expensive for the parts, but it should make up for some time with the "plug-n-play" vs. all the bending and what not for the D1 linkage.

The one from GBR looks knida easy, too.

 

Do we need a plate that mounts to the CD - or will the '04 shifter come with everything I need? I've been wanting to do this for awhile but am not sure which parts to source.

I am going out to my buddy's salvage yard, every so often he tells me his eyes are closed and I have two hours to grab what I need. I'm on the prowl for a CDL set-up.

 

Grab two ...

 

I just checked the GBR website. I fail to see how their shifter is "esthetically attractive". As for ease of installation, the only difficult thing about the '04 CDL was cutting the metal plate surrounding the transfer case shift lever, because I was using a rechargeable Dremel cut-off and lost charge 1/2 way into it, so had to resort to a hacksaw and drill.

The center console removal took about 30 minutes, plus gave me an opportunity to clean crap spilled by previous owners, and forced me to clean the receipts and other assorted trash from the center cubby box.

 

You will need the shifter lever, cables, as well as the linkage arm that is bolted to the transfer case. I had to specifically ask for that linkage arm when I got mine.

edit: the only cable you need from the yard is the one you don't currently have: the one that goes to the CDL spigot. The HIgh/Low cable on your vehicle can be reused.