Can't speak for the 97's, but I'm pretty sure that all the pre '97's have
the same or similar 4WD hookup. The front differential turns all the time
because it's driven by the left front wheel. Shifting into 4WD just
causes the sleeve to slip over the splines to drive the right front wheel
and deliver power to the front differential through the transfer case.
Unless there's some means of disconnecting a front wheel (or both front
wheels in a locker or limited slip front differential) the front
differential will drive the transfer case. Full time 4WD's and AWD's use
some sort of viscous coupling or differential to allow slippage between
the two ends of the drive train.
That's probably not the best explanation in the whole world, but unless
the '97's have some sort of viscous coupling they've got some means of
disconnecting a (the) front wheel(s). Look on the right (passenger side)
front axle and see if there's not a good sized lump on the axle housing
between the center section and the end of the axle housing before the half
shaft.
Larry
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