I just made a new friend today with a Troop he wants to sell. I am thinking of a new Crawler project. Tell me what you think...I DID READ THROUGH THE FAQ

'88 Troop, 156k mi, 2.8 4cyl (I believe?), AUTO TRANS, AUTO TYPE T-CASE(DON'T KNOW)

I am trying to figure out if the trans/ t-case would be a good combo. Low range t-case gears? Is this auto trans junk? Is it strong? It seems like an auto shifting t-case but it does have a floor shift, I COULD BE WRONG. I want to know if this auto trans will function on its side or if it dies at 45 degrees?

My Plan: Two steering Dana 60s (I will custom build using all Rockcrusher stuff), 5.13s/ welded, 35spline cromos, 3 linked with airs, hydro steering with assisted front, Chop top with functional doors, 8 or more point cage.
The idea is to keep it low, narrow, and high diffs with 42" tires. I want to keep a main body with stock engine, trans and beefed t-case. I want to wheel something with an auto trans also.

I'm just sick of looking at my beat rig, and want to do something different.

Thanks. Flame if you want I guess... or tell me some good trans/ t-case ideas

If it's the 4 banger, it's a 2.6. the v6 is a 2.8 gm. if it's the 4cly, that auto IIRC is the same that came in some toyota's. I don't know how much about that particular case or how it would hold up. It is probably fine for everything but the harshest beatings behind the stock engine.

you might be able to bastardize it with yota parts and use an auto-to-gear driven yota case adapter from Marlin. (Marlin might be able to help you more with this.)

Another option for you is finding a 2wd amigo with the 2.6 and auto just for the trans. you could run a divorced yota case using the OTT adapter beind it.

if it's the gm v6 you have a bunch of other options.

Whats "OTT", never heard. Sorry I'm into Yotas. So is that T-Case thats behind the auto trans the same for a 5 speed?
I would like to use that stock trans but maybe put it to an Atlas, 5.3 I think thats the lowest advanced is making them, not sure.

I really hate gms, don't want to have anything to do with 'em. My Silverado left me on the side of the road 10+ times in 6mo.

OTT: http://www.ottindustries.com/ they make an adapter to divorce-mount a toyota case.

I don't think the case is the same one that comes behind the manual's.

You might have a hard time trying to get an Atlas adapted to the Tranny...I would say engine+tranny swap and youll be good to go.

The 2.6, pushing Dana 60's and large tires, its ganna be a dog lol. Not saying it cant be done, IT ALL CAN BE DONE. And the 2.6 is pretty bulletproof. Mines going on 201k right now and no means of giving up.

i agree. you might want to think about 6.17 or 7.17's for 42's since you'll be pushing 4-5k lbs with about 100hp.

Yeah thats cool. Just thinking about the 6.0 Atlas and 5.13s in the diffs. I only need 100hp to make this work. I just really hate doing motor swaps if there is something already there that will work... This rig will be mostly on the trailer, not a driver, well maybe around town... You can't die going slow lol

Its deff possible. Are you going to rebuild the 2.6?

It would be a must to have some insane gearing as stated above. Thats some serious tire to consider. A healthy 2.6 will push 120HP.

The MUA5 (5 Speed Manual) is bulletproof also, more so than the 2.6L Engines. Again, im not sure how you would adapt an Atlas onto a Trooper Tranny.

Best of luck to you. If you do it POST IT UP!

No I'd just run the 2.6 stock. I've got a friend that builds all kinds of adapters. I would rather run dual toy cases or something like that. I don't need 42"s, maybe 38s, but with really narrow axles.

No I'd just run the 2.6 stock.

So it is the 2.6???

The auto behind the 2.6 is an A340H, the same tranny used in many toyotas. Marlin (and others by now maybe) does make an adapter to run dual toy cases behind this tranny.

For either the 2.6 or the 2.8 V6, you can also swap to an AW4 tranny (another A340 variant) from a Cherokee. This will give you the option of easily bolting up an Atlas, D300, Klune or other planetary crawler and the range of NP/NV cases.

The A340 series of trannies are pretty tough and would be a good choice for an auto.

--Dan

Thanks that helps alot.