Ok, after enjoying a day at Eroc and then blowing up the race car yesterday my mind is racing. It's time to get serious about the XJ/MJ buggy that I've been planning. I need to start collecting parts for this winter's build up. General plan is either an ls-1 or 5.0 with some sort of 3 speed auto, build some sort of crawler box, and then I need a tcase that can handle it. Oh yeah, I'll be running 38.5's first and then 42's. I'm not so sure that a 300 can take it now. I need front 2 lo. What options are out there, other than the $$$$$ atlas? weight is a huge concern also. I'm trying to keep it to 3000 or less (hopefully not a pipe dream). Oh yeah, my family owns a machine shop and I'm starting my own fab biz, so I typically can make my own adapters and such for just materials cost.

Easy

atlas

NP205 with modification to the shift rails. Cheap but heavy.

Atlas....

It is really cheaper than dealing with broken shit all the time.

Definately a NP 205. It is stronger than an Atlas and cheaper.
Do a search on how to twin stick a 205.
You can use the twin sticks for a 300 with little mods.
You can use the low range from a 203 with a doubler kit and have either a 2:1 or 4:1 case without losing any strength and it only adds 6" to your driveline.
If thats not enough you can put 3:1 gears in the 203 section and have your choice of 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, or 6:1.
All that is still cheaper than an Atlas.

LT 230, light weight (all aluminum), gear driven, 3.3:1 low with 4.3:1 gears and a crawler available, dunno if you would twin stick one though.

check the land rover forum.

If you plan some sort of crawler box then the 205 is perfect, although a little heavy (would be anyway because with motors like those you don't need it geared super low). Bryan Hamilto has one in his cruiser buggy (blue and silver at ERoCC) and Buddy just put one in his TJ. Easy to twin-stick and it won't break.

I have a 203/205 in my blazer with the 205 twin sticked, looks kind of odd with all of the shifters lined up in a row. But back to your question a 205 is heavy but will stand up to the abuse. The only draw back is that it does not shift as smooth as an atlas, the atlas is much easier to shift when you need it to most. I would not replace my dual case set up for an atlas by its self but I wouldn't mind puting an atlas behind my 203 for the times that i really need to crawl. Over all I am very pleased with my 205 and it is an easy conversion to perform I modified the range fork in about 5 minutes on a bench grinder.

I've contemplated the doubler, just figured it would weigh entirely too much. Do you have any idea what the weight of it is? I suppose I could contact ORD and ask them.

Easy

The Gen II (Aluminum) Doubler from ORD with the 203 rangebox and 205 installed is about 230 lbs.

Ryan

just figured it would weigh entirely too much

I've got a 4:1 Samurai case I'll sell ya! :D :D

NP205 = 141Lbs.
NP203 = 165Lbs. (80 Lbs. gear box only)
Plus the apapters Aluminum or steel.