[msdz]

Taking the transfer case off is no real pain. just remove the driveshafts and then loosen the bolts/nuts(whichever it may be) and just drop it. Maybe 30 minutes if that, depending on how fast you work and if you have the right tools available at the time you start working on it. Recomendation... go to the the junk yard and see if you can get a used one with a warranty. I would not weld the transfer case cause it really does take some abuse and the type of metal most welders can not do a good enough job for it to hold good. So you end up only having a partial fix and you may never know how long it will hold but then again a used one from the junk yard may not be any better, the reason you see if they will warranty it for maybe 3 months.