Anyone know any reason not to use a mini tcase on a cruiser? the $500 4.7 low range behind my sm420 would make for a super creepy system. Centered rear output is not that big of a deal. I have looked around and found that very few of the 23 spline tcases have ever broken. And some of those are hooked up to 400 hp smallblocks!!! Whatcha think?

Jason,
I am glad you posed this Q because I was just loging on to ask the same thing.
I saw that a Marlin is prototyping a 420 to minicase adapter that is 1" long. That opens the posibility of using a mini case, hell maybe even a double minicase in a 40. For the price of a mini case it might be worth it to see if it can hang in a cruiser without grenading. Hell of a lot cheaper than an Atlas.
Any of you engineer types think the Minicase will stay together?

BellyDragger has the dual marlins in his Amigo. 220 horse, and a HEAVY gas pedal foot and he has never had a problem.

I also wheel with a guy here in Carson who has an 85 toy truck with a built 350, turbo 350 and a toy t-case, and he also has a very heavy pedal foot. No problems!! :D:D:D

I have thought about this set up too. Centered rear out put would make the 1 ton axle swap do-able right now. Wonder how long till Marlins 420 to toy case is done?? :D

Originally posted by GloNDark
Wonder how long till Marlins 420 to toy case is done?? :D
That, my friend, is the rub. But after reading the Marlin thread over in the Toy section, it sounds like Marlin might finally be getting his act together.

Here is the thread, for you lazy people. :)
Marlin Thread (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45400)

Originally posted by rustycruiser
Here is the thread, for you lazy people. :)
Marlin Thread (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45400)

WHOO HOOO!!! :beer: for you! :D

If you don't want to wait for Marlin to develop his adapter, check this out from OTT Industries (http://www.ottindustries.com/SM465_SM420_to_Toyota_case.html) .

Originally posted by Shipwreck
If you don't want to wait for Marlin to develop his adapter, check this out from OTT Industries (http://www.ottindustries.com/SM465_SM420_to_Toyota_case.html) .
I think the Olson Twins make some great, and innovative products. I plan to use their hi-steer arms. But unfortunatly, with a 2F/Sm420ed FJ40, the Marlin 1" adaptor is more appealing than the 5" OTT one. I do like the fact that the OTT one can be clocked, though. Maybe I should extend my wheelbase and use it? :D :)

Originally posted by rustycruiser

I think the Olson Twins make some great, and innovative products. I plan to use their hi-steer arms. But unfortunatly, with a 2F/Sm420ed FJ40, the Marlin 1" adaptor is more apealing than the 5" OTT one. I do like the fact that the OTT one can be clocked, though. Maybe I should extend my Whealbase and use it? :D :)

AH classic example of, well I did this, but i had to do this, and to do that, I had to do that too....:D:D:D I love that!!

I plan on using their arms when I start my mini truck disk conversion. :D

Marlin has "gotten his act together" 20 times since I have known him.

I would go with the OTT unit because you know you will get it.

That or order the adapter way before you want to start your project.

Jason...sounds good..you go for it MAN!!

I've received a few emails from individuals running a Marlin minitruck crawler box with a Cruiser t-case. The adapter is in prototype, but is out there now in testing. One guy is running a 700R4 with a 4.7 crawler and a cruiser t-case.

I'm torn myself now....I have a 84 mini sitting in the garage with no future (ask my wife) and I have almost all the parts for a 203 swap as well. 203 is 2:1 stock, with 3.6:1 available for $1k exchange. Minitruck is 2.6:a stock with 4.7:1 available for like $1200 I think....decisions decisions....it would go behind a SM465 in my case.

6.5 x 2 x 2.3 x 4.1 = 123:1
6.5 x 2.6 x 2.3 x 4.1 = 159:1
6.5 x 3.6 x 2.3 x 4.1 = 221:1
6.5 x 4.7 x 2.3 x 4.1 = 280:1

Matlins setup is reportedly about $2k with the gears. The 203 with gears is like $1500....decisions decisions....

length may be an issue too, and I haven't checked on that yet....

Don't spend that kind of money and still leave the Lnadcruiser 3 speed case in the mix! You don't want that as your weak link!!

here's the thread I started on this subject (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46319) a few days ago.

seems as though popular consensus is it will be fine!

Nolen, that's been thought of.....I'm considering a split case in there, since I could then sell a SM465/plate adapter/72 t-case as a complete set, saving someone from separate parts AND from tapping that output shaft....

have to see how the summer progresses....

I priced the 4.7 gears at around $550 or so
I have a free tcase. The OTT adapter is I am sure quality work.
Now if Marlin comes out with another adapter that is only 1" thick then I will be golden. I can always sell the OTT adapter and replace it with a second crawler. Then gearing gets silly...

22" rear driveshaft does not sem like a problem to me.

Plus I still get to use Toyota parts :D


BTW, for those of you that are thinking of running The olsen's steering arms. I highly reccomend it. They are pieces of art...



Also, I got a call from AA about their Rocbox. It should be out in a month or two. They were trying to find out how many people would want the first production run. Personally I am geting worried about the 3 speed tcase holding up.
The roc box is going to be $1350 (far better than marlin IMHO) and includes all of the shifters (no 2 low, they are working on a dual shifter tight now) and a new x member. If I was not running 38" tires and just wanted lower gearing I would have jumped on it.

j/w, but why is the thread closed???:confused:

Most of you guys probably won't break the toy T-case... if you are a heavy footed cruiser owner you may just want to consider the other options...

when my 75 fj40 had stock axles I broke 27 spline pinions... so I put in a custom offset narrowed Ford 9" then I broke shafts!!!
so finally I broke my 4speed case in half and said "hell with it!"

I went all out:
'90 Ford 5.0L engine ::: T-18 trans ::: Toy pickup T-Case ::: Toyota Tacoma rear end (these have a 30 spline pinion!!!!!)

I made this adapter:
www.geocities.com/cwtoyota/projects/50swap/50swapf.html

The new setup was great, until one day I put in locker in the rear... I did some "Testing" on my motorcycle track... my friend was watching my crawl up this cliff and he said "I'll show you how to climb that hill!" he has a Samurai. that got me going... so I wheelied it and BANG!!! broke a rear output shaft on the T-case.

That convinced me that the case isn't strong enough... It couldn't stand up to the power of a stock 94,000 mile ford 302.

I drive hard, if you don't it may hold up, but I would reccomend a T-18 / 205 setup or for the chevy crowd use an sm465 / 205 setup.

Interesting, I keep hearing about the crawlers put behing 400hp smallblocks and holding up just fine.

The 205 is strong but limited in its gear choices.

I am going to try the mini tcase. OTT is coming out with a zero clearance adapter in three months or so. I will talk to them more about it..

I want dual tcases!!!

5.7 would be way too much fun.....

Take a look at the doubler and klune V... I think the crawl box from a toy is strong enough (provided you have 23spline gears) to hold up to any smallblock... but the rear output shaft on the toy tcase is only 27 spline... the same size as all those cruiser pinions we have all broken.

like I said in my previous post, they will hold up for MOST people. I personally would reccomend the 205 with a 203 doubler in front.

If you try the Toy you WILL love the gear ratios!!!:beer:

Maybe this is off track a bit, but has anyone busted open a split type transfer case on the trail? The 3.0 : 1 gears for that case is faily useable. What is the pricing like for split TC gears in the US?

Ben

Marks adaptors in Australia sells the split case TC gears for $1575AUS(i think?!?!)

Rockhopper also makes them, they have a new set out now for $1550AUS

Maybe something for you US boys to think about.

I think it would hold up as well as a late model cruiser split case, and thats about all I have to say in the matter.

Jeff

Originally posted by CWToyota
Take a look at the doubler and klune V... I think the crawl box from a toy is strong enough (provided you have 23spline gears) to hold up to any smallblock... but the rear output shaft on the toy tcase is only 27 spline... the same size as all those cruiser pinions we have all broken.

like I said in my previous post, they will hold up for MOST people. I personally would reccomend the 205 with a 203 doubler in front.

If you try the Toy you WILL love the gear ratios!!!:beer:


Klune and a doubler are way too long. That would add like 12" to my drivetrain!!!
The output shaft from a later model v6 pickup is much stronger and will bolt on.

I am going to try it and see how it does!!!