Choices

upnover

upnover

Grumpy, decrepit Old Man
Moderator
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Morganton NC
Well, I cracked my crawl box again at the farm. I really thought the new mounting system would hold up, but, the 231 case(crawl box) is thin. I love my gear choices with the crawl box 1:1, 2.72:1, 4:1, and 10.88:1.
I am looking at a couple options
Klune-V under drive.
Would replace my crawl box, have a choice of 2.72:1 or 4:1. I think the 2.72:1 is my best choice, mated to my Dana 300 with 4:1, 16:1 would just be too low.
Stak 3 speed
They don't offer as low of a gear as I want
Atlas 4 speed
Has about the same gear choices as I have now, all in one transfer case. Pricey though, on their site it's $2900 and some change, depending on what options you decide on.

What would be great would be if:
Someone made an after market 231 case that was thicker
If someone could take my case and pour the outside with more aluminum, to make it stronger

Other options I have considered is:
going auto. A 727 in front of my 300 with 4:1, wouldn't be as low, but might allow me to crawl decent, might have to re-gear the axles though. Right now I am 4.56:1 in them. With the 14 bolt, I am limited to 5.38 Still doing all this I am looking at a good bit of coin.
Another option
Would be to replace the t-176 with a T-18. The 176 has been super reliable though. Odometer stopped about 7 years ago at 234K, and has been wheel a lot and hard. I would get a decent low 1st gear, but not as low as I want.

So, what's your thoughts?
 
chip - i understand your delema.. I think you'd like an auto, though Im sure you'd do fine with a T-18 in there.

If you have any interest in an auto I'd go that route, it really does make the big stuff easier. Keep in mind that that the auto will help some with the crawling...

I've been evaluating my choices and I think the stack 3 speed with the 6:1 combined with the auto would be very good with your 44s. The 727 is also really strong.

Ill send you a pm..
 
After busting the second NP208 in my rig, I had to make a decision. The truck has a C6. I considered four options:

1) 203/205 doubler
The 203/205 give 2:1 and 4:1 low range which is OK, but not the best, it is wicked heavy, and also quite long. This was the cheapest option.

2) NWO black box/205
The black box is pricey, the setup is still fairly long, fairly heavy (but lighter than a 203/205), but does offer great gearing options.

3) Stak 3spd
I have read a few negative things about the Stak, and at the time I was making a decision, they hadn't been out very long, and also had extremely long (12+ week) wait time.

4) Atlas 4spd.
They have a good reputation, good gear ratio options (2:1, 2.7:1, and 5.4:1), and when I was buying, the lead time was significantly less than the Stak. I went with this option.

I think an auto is the only way to go for maximum control.
 
My old rig had a Klune mated to a NP205. I needed drivers drop and tough. It was behind a 360 and a TF999 (basically a 727 like you are thinking). My ratios were 1:1, 2:1, 2.72:1, or 5.4:1. My 60's were geared 4.56. The control was perfect with an auto. I had all the gearing I ever needed even with 40's.

The Klune has a great reputation as does a 205. I twin sticked the 205 for about $25. My total was about $1800 for the Klune (new), used Ford 205, 205 seal kit, parts for twin stick, and 1410 yokes. Way cheaper than other options at the time.

Something to ponder...
 
drkelly said:
After busting the second NP208 in my rig, I had to make a decision. The truck has a C6. I considered four options:
1) 203/205 doubler
The 203/205 give 2:1 and 4:1 low range which is OK, but not the best, it is wicked heavy, and also quite long. This was the cheapest option.
2) NWO black box/205
The black box is pricey, the setup is still fairly long, fairly heavy (but lighter than a 203/205), but does offer great gearing options.
3) Stak 3spd
I have read a few negative things about the Stak, and at the time I was making a decision, they hadn't been out very long, and also had extremely long (12+ week) wait time.
4) Atlas 4spd.
They have a good reputation, good gear ratio options (2:1, 2.7:1, and 5.4:1), and when I was buying, the lead time was significantly less than the Stak. I went with this option.
I think an auto is the only way to go for maximum control.
Click to expand...

good thing you did all that research...seems to be working well sitting in your garage for over a year :flipoff2:
 
WNC Custom Jeeps said:
My old rig had a Klune mated to a NP205. I needed drivers drop and tough. It was behind a 360 and a TF999 (basically a 727 like you are thinking). My ratios were 1:1, 2:1, 2.72:1, or 5.4:1. My 60's were geared 4.56. The control was perfect with an auto. I had all the gearing I ever needed even with 40's.
The Klune has a great reputation as does a 205. I twin sticked the 205 for about $25. My total was about $1800 for the Klune (new), used Ford 205, 205 seal kit, parts for twin stick, and 1410 yokes. Way cheaper than other options at the time.
Something to ponder...
Click to expand...
X2

Wheel something with an auto and I doubt you'll go back.
 
upnover said:
Well, I cracked my crawl box again at the farm. I really thought the new mounting system would hold up, but, the 231 case(crawl box) is thin.
Click to expand...

While I started the questions at the Farm, not sure I got around to asking explicitly:

Do you think the thin cases could be remedied with some additional bracing, bracketing, or trussing, similar to the D20 to keep the case from splitting?

RenegadeT said:
good thing you did all that research...seems to be working well sitting in your garage for over a year
Click to expand...

Wonder if Brent has one of those in the CJ? It's been sitting OUTSIDE the garage for 4 years!
 
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