I need advice on which of the tcases I should go with. Price isn't an issue. It doesn't really matter to me to have a huge selection in different speeds like 4hi, 4 low, 4 low-low, front only, etc, etc. I just want the lowest gearing and bang for the buck and ease of install (one day bolt in swap is best). One criteria is going to be length because with just the 465 and 205 my driveline sits at 27 degrees already. So, help me out.

i didnt pick one because i don't see any way to fit it. i mean what you have is very short now, i think every thing else will be longer.

ok i screwed up, the atlas 4.3

I would go 203/205 homemade. But that doesn't fit with your easy of install. It should just be a little longer. Since you said money was no object - why not just get an atlas?

you say price is not an issue, then you say 'bang for the buck'...doesn't make sense:rolleyes: just get the Atlas

atlas 4.3 with klune underdrive, whatever the lowest they have. Stupid question.

Ditto, stupid Question, but only cause you said MONEY ISN'T AN ISSUE. But go with the AtlasII 4.3; it would be shorter (*I think*) and would be strong as hell to match the SM465. And since money is not an option, make sure to get the 30 (or was it 32) spline outputs.

Since $$ isn't an issue- I voted to go with the Atlas for the following reasons:

*Easy to install
*Shortest installed length (of the options offered)
*Twin stick shifting
*Very strong tailshaft
*Nearly indestructable when used in a trail rig

i like the ord 203/205 but i didn't have the wheelbase so i went with the atlas. if you use a tranny that had a np208 behind it you won't need an adpter plate for the atlas either :D

I voted for the home made 203-205 doubler cause that's just cool that Abba can make those...also, I have an Atlas and a front 60 and you keep copying me:flipoff2:

I understand about the rear shaft issue though...I had to go CV just by switching from the D20 to the Atlas. If the 203-205 won't fit, then it's an easy question to answer.

Money no object - a Klune 2.7 with Atlas 4.3. I'd rather have a 2.7 Klune vs. the 4.0 with the Atlas because I believe the planetaries are stronger. And then if you broke this set up I'd get an ORD Gen II Doubler. Because price isn't an issue. Right?

7.17 axle gears?

Hmm, didn't think about mixing the Klune and Atlas cases. Now, see it wasn't such a stupid question since I didn't think of that combo :p :p

And yeah, while money won't be an object (atleast up to about $7500 that I get to spend soon) I don't want to be a moron and blow it all on the tcase combo unless it REALLY is worth it in the long run (hence the bang for the buck comment).

What I'm looking for is a rig I can still drive on the street to get to where I am going, but I want it low in the tcase so I can compete well at comps like CalRocs eventually. So, help me out some more here guys.

Right now I have, and what I am going to keep, a very low end torque 231-V6, sm465, 14 bolt rear, 60 front, 4.65 gears (5.13 are the lowest out there for the 14 bolt). I could lower my tranny and tcase to help with driveline angles, but I like it all stuffed above the frame rails like I have it now.

Here's my thoughts so far:

-The Atlas 4.3 and the Klune V 2.7 would be a really nice 351:1 lowest overall for me at this point. However, would that be an overkill low? And, how long would that combo be? Would it be longer than say a 203/205 combo?

-I could put the 3.6:1 in the 203 to give me a 213:1 lowest with the 203/205 (about $2000 with the 3.6 gears and about $1000 with regular gears) combo and Abba could help build it so I would be giving my money to a buddy instead of a company I don't know except by name. However, is 213:1 overkill or just right? And, the regular 203 gears would put me 118.

-Just the Atlas 4.3 ($2500) would give me a 130:1 and would be about the same size as the 205, right? 130:1 seems like a nice low, but is it low enough for my V6 in comps?

-I could get the ultra-low Klune V "David" 4.0 (about $2500 with the necessary adapters). They say it moves the output back by 3 inches and just put that sucker in front of my existing 205. This would put me at about 237:1.

IMO, right now is the Atlas 4.3 or just the Klune V "David" but leaning toward just the Atlas now and a Klune V later if I decide I need it.

What do you guys, and gals, think?

Atlas now and Klune later seems to be the most sensible way to go. That's what i'm gonna do when i win the lotto.

-Steve

I would go with the 203 with 3.6:1, and the 205 combo. I have done some research on this, as i have the exact same setup you do now, and i have a pretty short rear shaft. The problem with the klune-Atlas, is you need a 3.5" adapter for the 465toKlune, you can get it from Novak for about $500. The advance adapter for the same app. is 5.25", go figure??? so that will be a lot longer than your current setup. I am assuming you have the factory coupler btwn the 465&205. The 203 has a small factory adapter that bolts to the 465, then the Wagoner Machine setup is 9" from there to the 205. The factory coupler is about 8", so you will ad about 2-3" to your current driveline. I think you will need a CV in any case, just call Jess, he will hook you up.

SO- 4.3 atlas and 2.72 klune means better low gears, but longer setup, the low-geared 203 to 205 means higher gears, but shorter, and they are about the same as far as difficulty.

FYI - 203 doubler, you'll be into it about $1500
atlas&klune - more like $4500-$5000

i say go 203, and use the $$ saved for CV rear shaft, and new tires, err something else.

Call Wagoner Machine for more details -

If an atlas is 13.8" + klune v 6"? how long is your driveshaft going to be?:confused:

Originally posted by elf_cruiser
I would go with the 203 with 3.6:1, and the 205 combo. I have done some research on this, as i have the exact same setup you do now, and i have a pretty short rear shaft. The problem with the klune-Atlas, is you need a 3.5" adapter for the 465toKlune, you can get it from Novak for about $500. The advance adapter for the same app. is 5.25", go figure??? so that will be a lot longer than your current setup. I am assuming you have the factory coupler btwn the 465&205. The 203 has a small factory adapter that bolts to the 465, then the Wagoner Machine setup is 9" from there to the 205. The factory coupler is about 8", so you will ad about 2-3" to your current driveline. I think you will need a CV in any case, just call Jess, he will hook you up.

SO- 4.3 atlas and 2.72 klune means better low gears, but longer setup, the low-geared 203 to 205 means higher gears, but shorter, and they are about the same as far as difficulty.

FYI - 203 doubler, you'll be into it about $1500
atlas&klune - more like $4500-$5000

i say go 203, and use the $$ saved for CV rear shaft, and new tires, err something else.

Call Wagoner Machine for more details -

Good advice. Thanks :D :D

Originally posted by scramblin
If an atlas is 13.8" + klune v 6"? how long is your driveshaft going to be?:confused:

Well, you have to remember that now the stock 465/205 adapter and the 205 take up most of those inches right now anyway ;)

Originally posted by elf_cruiser
I would go with the 203 with 3.6:1, and the 205 combo. I have done some research on this, as i have the exact same setup you do now, and i have a pretty short rear shaft. The problem with the klune-Atlas, is you need a 3.5" adapter for the 465toKlune, you can get it from Novak for about $500. The advance adapter for the same app. is 5.25", go figure??? so that will be a lot longer than your current setup. I am assuming you have the factory coupler btwn the 465&205. The 203 has a small factory adapter that bolts to the 465 , then the Wagoner Machine setup is 9" from there to the 205. The factory coupler is about 8", so you will ad about 2-3" to your current driveline. I think you will need a CV in any case, just call Jess, he will hook you up.


The part high lited in red is false. The factory adapter from NP203 to SM465 is 4.25 inches long as the next picture will show. Not short by any means.

http://www.garlic.com/~mjstone/pic/np203adapt.jpg

Also, last time I talked with AA(about 6 months ago while I was in the area), they don't offer an adapter of any sort to go from the SM465 to NP203 and told me they weren't planning on recreating the factory adapter(not enough demand).

That being said, I'd still go with the NP203(3.7 version) to SM465 to Altas or NP205 if money wasn't an issue.

FWIW, it would be possible to adapt an NP203 to a SM465 and use about a 2 inch adapter between the two. It would require either a new 10 spline input gear to the NP203 or using the Dodge 23 spline input gear on the NP203 and have a 23 spline SM465 mainshaft made. I'm looking into the later option myself as a new mainshaft will cost about $250 to have made/modified and another $300 or so for the adapter:p

Originally posted by offroadr35
atlas 4.3 with klune underdrive, whatever the lowest they have. Stupid question.

actually that would be a pretty DUMB thing to do. you have a 4:1 redux box, then a 4.3:1 case... wheres your options? go with the 2.7 klune and the 4.3 atlas... that gives you 2.7:1, 4.3:1, or about 9:1 transfer case ratios. not just 4:1 and 16:1.

Humm,

Money no object.

Rover LT230. I know there is an adaptor to mate it to a SM465. its light (kinda), strong as anything else (not joke), and fairly short ($1500 new, ~$400 for used).

Stock low is 3.3 but you could also get an underdrive which bumps it to about 9 to 1 ($2650 new).

http://www.eastcoastrover.com/Underdrive.html

Then you would have to ditch the 14 bolt and get a pass offset D60 out of a van or something.

Ron

I just wanted to spit out one more idea, which is 203/ atlas. leave the 203 with the 2.01:1 gears for now, and if you want to go lower, the 3.6 is avaliable, plus you can run a higher low range for things like sand and mud where you need more wheel spin, but want the torque at the wheels. From what I have seen, the Atlas II is a VERY well buily unit that have been well thought out. Also, the Atlas II is built as a replacment for the Dana 300, so it has similar dimentions.. something to think about. I dont know the difference in size though between the Dana 300 and the NP 205. With that Said, If I had the $$$, I would go atlas.. it is nice (Though, I am probabally going to go 203/203/twin stick 205 myself (7.92 low) for cost reasons). Good luck. Garrett

The part high lited in red is false. The factory adapter from NP203 to SM465 is 4.25 inches long as the next picture will show. Not short by any means.

Thanks for the pic John. I was told that the adapter was not a major concern by the guys at ORD. But, i suppose they usually put the doublers in trucks, or blazers which have more room. So - in light of this, the Klune should actually be shorter.

465-Klune-205 = 3.5" + 6.5" + 1" = 11"

465-203-205 = 4.25" + 9" = 13.25"

Another suggestion would be to swap in a 420 tranny. they are about 3" shorter than a 465, i think. I f you went 420-klune-205, you would be the exact same length as now. That's what i have been considering since i read this post.

Good Luck!!

Originally posted by elf_cruiser

Another suggestion would be to swap in a 420 tranny. they are about 3" shorter than a 465, i think. I f you went 420-klune-205, you would be the exact same length as now. That's what i have been considering since i read this post.

Good Luck!!

Hmmm . . . now that's an interesting idea I hadn't considered. That'd even give a low of 63:1 and a low-low of 252:1 if I went with the "David" Klune V.

Dammit, there are just too many options out there :D :D :D