So.. .Re: above... Apparently not all 3/8 compression unions are the same... The threads weren't matching up at all, and the nut supplied with the union was loose as #(%& on the factory fitting... So, who needs tolerances? So, didn't get the air line mod done. I was able to bend the front axle actuator lever out of the way, though, so putting it in low won't engage it.
Even with no air, it does NOT want to budge out of high range now....So, I'm thinking the plunger is stuck... and removing the valve would fix that issue.
It's super easy to access, and I can actually SIT in the hole where the transfer case is, minding my head not to hit the shaft..
Figured out my stall in Reverse issue.. It was indeed a sticking transfer case shift button... I dumped half a can of electrical contact cleaner in there and kept hitting it like a mad man, and it's 99% there, but It's super sensitive and I think I'm just gonna buy a new switch and be done with it... I don't wanna know what happens if I'm going down the road @ 35 MPH and hit a bump and the switch activates...
ABS light was on when I got it.. no clickety clackety... Pulled the 3A fuse... it was good...put it back in.... couldn't find the 15A fuse.. but it's clickety clackety now, so that's progress....
Protection valve is sticking.... Supposed to kick over @ 65PSI but it's closer to 100 PSI before it goes.... So I'll either need to try and clean it, or more likely, just replace it.
I'm not sure I mentioned this, but in my previous life I was an emergency vehicle upfitter. There are 2 things that really, REALLY piss me off.. Agencies who let their mechanics install stuff.... who don't know what they're doing... and agencies who just cut every wire they see when they're taking it out of commission because they don't care.
I got both. It's VERY clear that the person who installed the lights and radio and whatnot for the fire department, wasn't a trained EVT.... it's also VERY apparent that they went around cutting whatever wire was in the way to get lights/controls/etc out. They pulled the dash panel out to run wires behind it, which they didn't need to do, then mounted stuff to the dash panel, bending the panel back to fish wires behind the bezel.. which they just flush cut and left sticking out of the dash panel.
I also put together my glad hand air line, with an I/M adapter since I run V fittings. So, I can either use onboard air for tools, or air up the tires (they removed the CTIS), or use that same line, with the adapter, to supply air to the emergency line to check for leaks and whatnot.
So, basically, none of the stuff I planned to get done, got done... and a couple things I didn't plan on doing, I made some progress with.