Okay, I sense some tech-o-philes getting restless, so here's a theory I'd like to bounce off a few of you.
I see an opportunity for adapter manufacturers to step away from the useless drive train lengthening adapters currently available, and move towards the direction of adapters with added function, like lower gearing and such.
Here's my idea, it's similar to the Klune underdrive and the Ranger OD/UD, a trans to t-case adapter that is shift-able from a 1:1 range for normal use, to maybe a 2:1 low, and a 0.75:1 high, mainly for use with the short truck four speeds, like the SM465, SM420, and NP435. Simple enough, but what if you were to also drop the output of the trans at the same time? Like maybe to the same level as the transmission's idler shaft. You would need the input shaft to turn a reverse idler, with the ratio choices on it of course, that would turn the output shaft. Think of a truck four speed in reverse, the bottom idler is now turning forward.
The shifting mechanism and reverse idler could sit off to the side, opposite the front output of the t-case, and in the case of the truck four speeds, you could end up with a transfer case clocked flat, and flush with the bottom of the big four speed, creating excellent drive shaft angles and a smooth belly, if the drive train was raised enough.
Okay, shoot some holes in my theory, or tell me what would be needed to do it. Is my tech totally weak, or is this something that could be done?
I see an opportunity for adapter manufacturers to step away from the useless drive train lengthening adapters currently available, and move towards the direction of adapters with added function, like lower gearing and such.
Here's my idea, it's similar to the Klune underdrive and the Ranger OD/UD, a trans to t-case adapter that is shift-able from a 1:1 range for normal use, to maybe a 2:1 low, and a 0.75:1 high, mainly for use with the short truck four speeds, like the SM465, SM420, and NP435. Simple enough, but what if you were to also drop the output of the trans at the same time? Like maybe to the same level as the transmission's idler shaft. You would need the input shaft to turn a reverse idler, with the ratio choices on it of course, that would turn the output shaft. Think of a truck four speed in reverse, the bottom idler is now turning forward.
The shifting mechanism and reverse idler could sit off to the side, opposite the front output of the t-case, and in the case of the truck four speeds, you could end up with a transfer case clocked flat, and flush with the bottom of the big four speed, creating excellent drive shaft angles and a smooth belly, if the drive train was raised enough.
Okay, shoot some holes in my theory, or tell me what would be needed to do it. Is my tech totally weak, or is this something that could be done?