Heater Box hitting shifter area on NP435

[DaveLev]

Something has always puzzled me: The heater box - the plastic thing inside the cab that has the heater core in it that you attach the defrost ducts to - has been cut by prior owner to clear the NP435 shift box.

Is there a way to use the NP435 and not run into this problem?

How do others fix this issue, or is cutting the box how it is done?

I have remove the heater box and cleaned it up when I put in the aluminum heater core, but putting it back in I didn't see a way even with the defrost stuff removed from vehicle (missing) without hitting the shift box.

I know that WH sells a gear banger kit that moves the shift lever, but it doesn't hit the shifter or the boot - the metal box that seems to encase the top of the transmission.

 

[langester]

I have been able to heat and bend my shifters enough to get them to clear. However I have had a 1" body lift on both of my Broncos that I put 435 trannys in.

 

[ScanmanSteven]

Heat it and bend it, might take a couple of tries, mine did. You might also bend in more than one place to make it comfortable to shift.

 

[Buldozer]

Body lift fixes the problem

 

[Broncobowsher]

I just self clearance the heater the first time I put it in LOW. After that no ore issues. Everything worked fine. Did not make any difference in heater output.

My understanding is there are 2 different tower heights for the shift tower on the NP435. So that may have some effect on clearing some and not others.
I think mine was tall. Went even further then heat and bend. Went cut/weld. Took about 8" of length and one bend out. Made it a short throw shifter (as short as you would want to go on a 435 anyway, reverse took a little throw to get into that gate). Put the shift knob about where a 3-speed floor shifter would be and cleared the stock T-shift transfer case perfectly.