Crawler Box: What would you pay?

[dmc]

If you are going to do that much work and spend that much $, use the LS1/4L60E/Orion. That will get you low gears, durability and power. But this is expensive and thats not the key here. Maybe a thin adapter to allow use of the Orion is the way to go. $2k with low gears sounds like the ticket.

Putting a crawler box in front of the 80 tcase is going to create the same issues as Marks Crawl box. You still will have tank issue and floorboard issues. Marks box is not for everyone, but it is well built and works perfect. Its air shifted also, so there is not a 3rd shifter to deal with.

Adding a Marks box will give a stock 80 a crawl ratio close to 80:1
Changing to an Orion will net around 40:1

But....

I have asked this question to the 80 guys many times. What are you planning to do with this 6k lb truck? It will not be a serious rock crawler with even 100:1. I have followed Cdan, Mark from Metal Tech, NorCalDoug and many more, through serious obsticles and yet to see their well preped 80s not make it because of gearing or traction. 315s, 4.88s, and lockers will get you where ever you have the guts to go, and get you home without incedent. Now don't get me wrong. If there WAS a box available, and did not require any serious mods, it would definately sell. Hell, I would buy one just to be able to go slower and more controlled over the trails I would run.

Now...

If you want to get serious with the 80, lose 2k lbs, chop 1 foot off the front and 2 feet of the rear, gear the crap out of it and run as big a tire as a sawzall will allow.
My humble .02.
G

Gary,

You pretty much echo my sentiments. (or am i echoing yours?) I was one of the locals Johnny was talking about this about 2 nights ago. I just don't see the need. It would be nice to have a bit more gearing but for the price and work I just don't see it. My complaint about the 80 is the tranny. I've been saying since I owned mine that it really needs a L.5 gear. Both in high range and low range I would prefer to have a gear between 2 and L. I'm sure regearing the diffs will fix this. I doubt i'll ever be in a position in my 80 where I want or need dual cases.

Back to the original post. I don't think there is a market to make this profitable. I'm not in the fabrication business so perhaps i'm way off but margins would have to be extremely high to recoup the R&D costs on a product that only moves 40-50 units. And from my ignorant opinion I even think that number is a bit high. At least in the short term.
dmc

 

[Newps]

I would defiantly buy a crawler box if it were available for 2k to 3k. With 35 and 4:88’s I am still under geared and I have not even ran my 37s yet. My biggest issue with the stock gearing have been on decents. In Moab and Death Valley this became quite annoying. I would have to constantly ride my brakes to control speed. Also when the trail gets tight where precisions is needed the stock t-case gearing is not ideal. I would like to crawl slower then the stock gearing will allow. A second t-case just gives you more options.

 

[extremetoy1]

who is your friend?

Hey clownmidget, is your "friend" located in sacramento?