I have a 97 and a 98 silverado. Both are 4wd. Im in the middle of swapping engines but I noticed my 97's solenoid for the 4wd looks tiny and almost nothing compared to my 98's. The 4wd engages very slowly and near silent on the 97 but you can hear a clunk and its quick in my 98 which I like.

Can I swap these solenoids?

97 Silverado Solenoid


98 Silverado Solenoid

 

Yeah you can always try the housinglooks the same but be worned they may not work so u may save now but my wreck your 4x4 later I say buy the right one or at least advance and look part numbers up

 

interesting, my 97 looks like the 2nd pic

 

Has no one ever seen such a small solenoid on a 97 silverado before?? I am wondering if it came from a different truck and if that's why its not working correctly.

 

ok well I actually found a picture of it in the link below. seems to be one of the right ones....

1996-1997 Chevrolet K1500 4WD Actuator – Standard TCA-21 - 4WD Actuator - Standard

 

Is the top one an older thermal design? I read in a post on at the link below that this might be an older design and I could just convert over to the newer design that I like.

1997 Chevrolet K1500 Silverado 4x4 Issues

UPDATED. Ok yes that is an older thermal design. GM had issues with them and replaced them with the electronic design. You can convert it over you just need to either splice in a wire.....somewhere to the sensor above it (no 100% sure which wire yet) or buy the conversion harness at the link below...

The main problem with these older designs seem to be the problem I'm having....VERY SLOW ENGAGEMENT. Gets much worse as the outside temp drops since there is a fluid which gets heated up to allow it to expand and push what ever rod or actuator arm out to engage 4wd

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...drive+actuator

 

looks like mine was upgraded at one time that explanes the brown wire connected to the positive lug next to the fuse box with no fuse on it that i found