Atlas or STaK

[bobmed]

Next month I'm going to be changing out the 3 speed and dana 20
with a NP435 and either an Atlas or STaK transfer case.
Anyone have any good or bad experience with the Atlas 4 speed or the STaK 3 speed.
Atlas I would need to change the output on the 435 because the 4 speed does'nt come with 28 spline input. Novak has the adapter kit for $540 and the Atlas would be $2800 plus any options.
STaK makes a B box to fit the Bronco frame rails and will fit the same adapter as the D20. Advance adapters has the adapter for $400 and
the STaK B box is $2500.

 

[Greg]

Are you dead-set on keeping the manual? How about spending the adapter money on a C4, surely either Atlas or Stack makes a 'case that bolts to a C4(?) IMO, if you're serious enough about your wheelin to buy either of those cases, an auto is the next best upgrade.

I have nothing against manuals though, my 4Runner is a 5 speed.

 

[Milner]

Are you dead-set on keeping the manual? How about spending the adapter money on a C4, surely either Atlas or Stack makes a 'case that bolts to a C4(?) IMO, if you're serious enough about your wheelin to buy either of those cases, a auto is the next best upgrade.
QUOTE]

I have to agree. An C4 with the dana 300 adapter hooked to a 4spd Atlas is the ideal set up if you ask me. The 300 adpt is a couple inches short than the stock 20 adpt. Even with the 4spd Atlas you only loose a couple inches on rear driveline. You can go a little higher with the r/p for strength and roadability, and still have plenty of of gear on the low end.
C4 is plenty strong, I have beat one for 18 years

 

[Bart]

I'm glad to see this coming up. I'll be in the same boat in a month or so and have been pondering the same question. I've run Atlases in my last 4 rigs and love them. You can't beat the quality and reliability. But in my daily driver I think I want at least a 3 speed t-case. I haven't heard much about the Stak case, good or bad, so I'm assuming it's a decent case. I was leaning that way on price alone and thinking maybe 4 speeds is a luxury I don't really need.

Would love to hear some first hand experience on the Stak cases.

 

[Jay5.9L]

I like the idea of a 3 speed with nicely spaced ratios in the Stak more than the 4 speed in the Atlas that has the 2 and 3 ratio really close so there is not a big benefit and then a huge ass 10:1 that I'm not sure anyone would ever use. (now that wasa run on sentence!)

 

[TEAM FRED]

I'm interested in the STAK box as well. Mainly for the B box design for use in my Bronco.

I would personally keep the manual trans.

 

[Jinx]

I have a 4 spd Atlas in the shop right now, waiting for drive lines to go in the scrambler.

1# I liked the idea of Atlas/Advanced Adapters building it. Nothing against Stak but history is hard to beat.

2# Options are EVERYTHING the 2.72 is just a little deeper than my 300 at 2.62 where it works great in a lot of the wheeling that I do, then I can go to the 3.8, 10+ from there.

I have always hated getting stuck behind the 4.3 or 5.0 transfer case guy on the trail and watch him putt along. This way I can go 2 lo #1 (2.72) and cruise along, but I can still go deeper if needed. (lo #2 or lo #3)

#3 Has anyone else ever played in a serious boulder field and couldn't go slow enough? I am talking swallowing your 40" tires, glad you have the LARGE tranny cooler boulder field. While wishing you had Toyota stacked cases with 5.0 gears slow enough. All the while knowing you would hate to go that slow in any other wheelin'. I like the idea of being able to catch lo#3 and let the 700R4 do its magic...

#4 Last thing I would say is size, my 300 is 12" long and my short tail housing 4 spd atlas is only 15".

I think that sums up my thoughts on this besides custom built to my application, to my specifications, (32spline outputs, 1410 or 1350 yokes, etc.)

hope that helps.

 

[2BIGTJ]

If you search Pirate4x4 there is a great thread with many peoples opinions on Both cases. It may have been delited as i cant find it right off(alot of people fighting)

 

[bobmed]

I haven't really considered an automatic.
I always fried them in the past but there have been some good improvements in the transmissions and my driving since then.
The Atlas wins on the history.
The Stak has a good size made for bronco frame width.
With the auto the 4th in the Atlas would probably be handy.
The NP435 has a low gear about 6 to 1 and with the Atlas it goes to about 200 to 1 crawl ratio. I think that came to abut 2 miles per hour at 5000 rpm.
I already have a NP435 in the garage but I'll do some research on the C4 and the adapter money and selling th manual might make the C4 worthwhile but I do like manual transmissions except when I'm trying to drink a cup of coffee.

 

[Milner]

The Atlas fits pretty good too....not a 4 spd, but....

 

[Medsker]

If you search Pirate4x4...i cant find it right off(alot of people fighting)

People fighting? On Pirate4x4? Really? But...but that never happens.

 

[Jinx]

I haven't really considered an automatic.
I always fried them in the past but there have been some good improvements in the transmissions and my driving since then.
The Atlas wins on the history.
The Stak has a good size made for bronco frame width.
With the auto the 4th in the Atlas would probably be handy.
The NP435 has a low gear about 6 to 1 and with the Atlas it goes to about 200 to 1 crawl ratio. I think that came to abut 2 miles per hour at 5000 rpm.
I already have a NP435 in the garage but I'll do some research on the C4 and the adapter money and selling th manual might make the C4 worthwhile but I do like manual transmissions except when I'm trying to drink a cup of coffee.

either way you go you could be driving that 435 like a auto, it could be too low to stall.

You might want to talk to Great Scott. He is running a 203 205 doubler with a 4 speed chevy, kind of the same principle... options...

 

[78mitsu]

I've got almost the same setup as Greatscott, excpt he's got a 435 and I'm an nv4500, but the concept is about the same, in L-L-L you're using the brake and clutch, not the gas. Something to consider when getting that much gearing, You may not have enough brakes to stop. I've go the corvette master cylender 30% more fluid pressure then the truck mc and upgraded to bi-metal pads and shoes, still can't stop it in LLL without pushing in the clutch - it just keeps on truckin'

 

[fergusor]

I had a 250:1 in my to and I hardly used it because it was to low. I also broke more axles,gears ect.. than I ever did with 100:1. With that low of gearing I couldnt feel how much tenision was on the drivetrain.

I run a stak 3 speed and love it.

 

[bobmed]

I'm leaning toward the Stak.
I'm also going for a long block after tearing down my engine an finding
shredded bearings.
So it's looking like a new engine. clutch, rebuilt 435, stak 3 speed transfer case and lockers .
I was thinking I could spend the money on another Bronco in better shape but what would be the fun in that.?
And this way I know exactly what I have. A POS body with a brand new drivetrain.