I talked to Jack a year or so back, and was told that even after spending the appx. $1500, you still had to come up with a gear from a Bronco 20 to make the whole thing work, no thanks. Now this may no longer be the case, but if one were going to spend that much, I would make sure I was getting a complete kit like Terra sells. Also make sure it will work with the transmision spline you have. Chances are that if you have the TH-400 automatic, it may not work. Terra has a kit to work with both manual and auto.

Tim
'66 Jeepster Commando w/Buick 252/4.1L V-6
'70 Wagoneer w/Buick 350 V-8
'76 Wagoneer w/AMC 401 V-8 (sold)

 

ATLAS II and that is all I will say if someone is spending the $$ like that on a D20. I thought Tera make a 4:1 kit for the D20 now?

John
70 Jeepster with "Hurc package"
225 V-6 with HEI, SM465, D18, D44's, SOA on custom antiwrap springs, 36's
48 flattie 225 V-6, T14, D20, D27/D44 33's.
98 Tacoma Extended Cab V6

 

I have the Atlas II 3.8:1 low range xfer and it is a very stout unit. Since it's stoutness is due to it's large size, it does require you to either have it hang down more than you would want or if you want to clock it higher it will require notching the inside right frame rail then reinforcing it after it's been cut. The Atlas retails for $2400, but can probably be had for $1800-2000. I think that the Tera 3.15:1 kit for the Dana 20 is a very cost effective way to improve the anemic 2.0:1 stock low range. I think it runs in the $750-1000 range, but you do get all new gears to put in. Had this kit been available when I was ready to buy, I would have bought it and the low gear set for my TH-400 rather than going thru all the hassles of mods required to make the 700R4 & Atlas II fit in.

Tim
'66 Jeepster Commando w/Buick 252/4.1L V-6
'70 Wagoneer w/Buick 350 V-8
'76 Wagoneer w/AMC 401 V-8 (sold)

 

hey Tim, Ive been thinking about the atlas too. They actually have a lower gear than 3.8 available. I also really like the twin stick.do they give you an adapter for your tranny or do you have to buy it too. (and where can you find them for $1800??)


70 in Boone, NC

 

Yep 4.0:1 is available too. I felt 3.8:1 was plenty for me. They do give you an adapter for the tranny for an additional $500-600. See what I mean by being cost effeciant to convert the existing Dana 20 with the Tera-Low kit? I would do some searching on the net for price deals for the Advance adapter stuff. Parts Mike sells at a discount, I believe. Probably a post on the short wheelbase board might yield some resources for better prices on the Advanced stuff.

Tim
'66 Jeepster Commando w/Buick 252/4.1L V-6
'70 Wagoneer w/Buick 350 V-8
'76 Wagoneer w/AMC 401 V-8 (sold)

 

THe other Atlas 2 is a 4.3:1 as I recall. It comes to a sum of about $3000 when yo have all the parts to install it sitting on the garage floor, but on a plus side it looks pretty nifty. /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

John
70 Jeepster with "Hurc package"
225 V-6 with HEI, SM465, D18, D44's, SOA on custom antiwrap springs, 36's
48 flattie 225 V-6, T14, D20, D27/D44 33's.
98 Tacoma Extended Cab V6

 

How strong is our D-20? If you spend the money and change out the gears is the D-20 still a good transfer case? I'm asking because I already built the axles and don't want to change the gearing in them(4:10s) but off road I need to crawl a little slower. I'm also looking into a different transmission. 1st gear seems way to high. I'd like to get a transmission transfer case setup out of something that'll bolt up to the 225 (i like the 225) with both lower and higher gears (4 or 5speed) any ideas? I know most transmissions have a final at 1:1 but dont some have higer, or can you make high gear higher?

Tom
69 Jeepster
89 Suburban 4wd
00 Expedition 4wd

 

Yep, my mistake on the Atlas. 3.8:1 & 4.3:1 are the choices. The Dana 20 is plenty strong for V-8 power. It was used for the V-8 Jeeps of that era as well as the V-6's. If you're running a manual tranny, (probably the T-14), then the SM-420 or Jeep T-18 four speeds would be good choices. Very stout and very low 1st gears. If you want 5 speed, then NV-4500 is the one, but you pay a high price for it.

Tim
'66 Jeepster Commando w/Buick 252/4.1L V-6
'70 Wagoneer w/Buick 350 V-8
'76 Wagoneer w/AMC 401 V-8 (sold)

 

Any Ideas what the gear ratio's are for first and final in those?

Tom
69 Jeepster
89 Suburban 4wd
00 Expedition 4wd

 

SM420:
1st: 7.05:1
2nd: 3.58:1
3rd: 1.71:1
4th: 1:1
REV: 6.78:1

NV4500:
1st: 5:61 or 6.34:1
5th: 0.73:1 OD

Joel F.
Marquette, Michigan
Project No-Bucks
http://home.off-road.com/~nobucks/
'68 Jeepster Commando
225 V6/SM420/NP205/Dana44's

'79 Scout Traveler

 

I checked my local 4X4 shop bulletin board today, I can get a T150 with a D20 for about $200.00. Another guy has a NP435 with a granny low with a D21 for about $450.00. Are either of these interesting? Of course I'd like to get something that would bolt in without too much hassle (like changing driveshafts that I just had made)

Tom
69 Jeepster
89 Suburban 4wd
00 Expedition 4wd

 

You will be changing shafts for anything you do. If just the drivetrain bolts together then you can call it low hassle, after than it is creativity, dirt, and a PITA sandwich.

John
70 Jeepster with "Hurc package"
225 V-6 with HEI, SM465, D18, D44's, SOA on custom antiwrap springs, 36's
48 flattie 225 V-6, T14, D20, D27/D44 33's.
98 Tacoma Extended Cab V6

 

If you want something that's pretty much a "bolt-in" then you want to go with a GM tranny. Anything else, you're going to have to adapt to your bellhousing or engine. So, it's really a question of whether you want to adapt the tranny to the engine, or you want to adapt the t-case to the tranny (Unless you use an SM-465 w/either an NP205 or a Dana 20 already mounted to it).

Joel F.
Marquette, Michigan
Project No-Bucks
http://home.off-road.com/~nobucks/
'68 Jeepster Commando
225 V6/SM420/NP205/Dana44's

'79 Scout Traveler

 

The NP 435/Dana 21 is most likely out of a Ford which means the TC outputis on the wrong side and the Dana 21 is a single speed transfercase. The big three used 1 speed units behind granny low manuals for a while because they didn't think a low range woould be necessary with such a low first gear.

Scott C

 

Is there a twin stick kit for our D20's?

Tom
69 Jeepster
89 Suburban 4wd
00 Expedition 4wd

 

I've never seen a kit but here's a link to DIY. http://www.members.tripod.com/surfmac/5html

'75 CJ5,258 w/Howell EFI,T18a,4.27's,33's,On-board air,Warn 8274

 

Here's another: http://www.binderbulletin.org/techlib/drivetrain/twinstik.htm

Tim
'66 Jeepster Commando w/Buick 252/4.1L V-6
'70 Wagoneer w/Buick 350 V-8
'76 Wagoneer w/AMC 401 V-8 (sold)

 

Perfect, thanks guys.

Tom
69 Jeepster
89 Suburban 4wd
00 Expedition 4wd

 

I dont see why these guys don't just use D18 shifters. I looked at this setup for my D20, because it will be in my flattie, and I wanted a stock look. I have decided for now not to do it, but if you wanted to D18 shifters and a peice of 1.75" square steel tubing would do the trick with a bit of welding. The square tubing has the perfect inside diameter for the shifters to set in there nice and tight, so you just notch it out so you can run the linkages. The binder site seems to have the semi right idea. I made an extended shifter linkage on my D18 with the square tubing and threaded rod, I have not messed with the D20 though, something to do later I guess.

John
70 Jeepster with "Hurc package"
225 V-6 with HEI, SM465, D18, D44's, SOA on custom antiwrap springs, 36's
48 flattie 225 V-6, T14, D20, D27/D44 33's.
98 Tacoma Extended Cab V6