Strange sounds

[Tank95]

Hello all. I get a strange rattling when I'm in 3rd gear and in 5th gear in 95 Pathfinder XE 5-speed. I can manipulate the sound are slightly moving the lever on my transfer case. How would I determine if the sound's coming from my transfer case or my transmission?

Also will a transfer case from an automatic fit on a manual? TIA

[Slartibartfast]

Seems unlikely the noise is coming from the transfer if it varies by what gear the trans is in. The WD21 five-speeds have a common issue where the countershaft bearings wear out due to inadequate lubrication. Nissan raised the fill plug in '96 to raise the fluid level and prevent this problem. Bad bearings make noise in every gear but fourth (fourth is 1:1, so the countershaft isn't loaded). You can overfill the earlier transmissions through the shifter hole, but that's more prevention than cure.

 

IIRC the transfer from an auto trans will fit a manual, but the transfer from a manual needs minor modding to fit an auto.