lower gears

[camcruiser13]

i am running a 350, 76' fj40 4 speed and stock everything else and have been looking and ring and pinions and things to help lower my crawling speed without spending huge jack. does anyone have any ideas, lower gears for t-case, ring and pinion etc.. i would appret iate it

 

[Tigerstripe40]

i am running a 350 and stock everything else and have been looking and ring and pinions and things to help lower my crawling speed without spending huge jack. does anyone have any ideas, lower gears for t-case, ring and pinion etc.. i would appret iate it

what year cruiser?

what transmission do you have, 3 speed? 4 Speed?

the cheapest way to lower your gears is either an SM420 or an SM465.

I did an SM420 and did it for about $500-600 including price of a New old stock transmission, adapter, etc.

 

[usmcruiser]

You may even be able to do it for cheaper than that. If you have a Pick and Pull where you live. I picked up a SM465, NP203, and a NP205 all for less than $100. Granted I havent bought the adapter plates yet but this will give me a super low crawl ratio.

You wouldnt be able to get all this in your 40 just becasue it is too long but the SM465 would be a great gear reducer. Plus I hear that it is very easy to mount to a 2f and 3 speed t-case.

 

[Tigerstripe40]

i am running a 350, 76' fj40 4 speed and stock everything else and have been looking and ring and pinions and things to help lower my crawling speed without spending huge jack. does anyone have any ideas, lower gears for t-case, ring and pinion etc.. i would appret iate it

OK, so you are going to need the proper bellhousing for your V8 to moutn to the SM465. If the V8 has been moved forward (the shifter being under the heater is a good indication of this) you will probably have plenyy of room for a NP203 doubler behind the SM465. That is the route I would go if I had a V8.

 

[camcruiser13]

yeah my shifter is under the heater, im just getting started learning all the drivetrain info, where and how hard is it find and do this stuff by myself?

 

[usmcruiser]

Try looking at Jack Rice's web site. He has done an incredible wright up and it has taught me alot.

http://medusa.ih8mud.com/Cruiser.html

Specificly look at the fj45 page. (Drivetrain)

 

[Tigerstripe40]

yeah my shifter is under the heater, im just getting started learning all the drivetrain info, where and how hard is it find and do this stuff by myself?

SM465 should be pretty easy, along with the bellhousing. Look in any 68-88 GMC or chevy pickup with a V8 and a manual transmission. Look for one with Full Time 4 WD (late 70's) alot of these came with an NP203 as that one is a full time case. (you will discard half of it)

 

[wngrog]

SM465 or SM420 are the best bang for the buck. Trade your 76 transfer for an early transfer and bolt it right up.

 

[camcruiser13]

will ring and pinion give me any lower ratio for crawling?

 

[camcruiser13]

also ive seen gear splitters are these any good ?

 

[Rock Taxi]

also ive seen gear splitters are these any good ?

Yes.

Ed

 

[hammerhead]

Rock-box - Advance adapters $$$$$$$
Toy-box - Marlin crawlers $$$$
SM 465 - local junkyard $$
SM 420 - also used but harder to find $$$

I agree that a 465 is the best bang for the buck. Use one of Woodys plates and a 3spd t-case. I run this combo and it works great.

 

[cjtt350]

gears

well i will be going to put a marlin in mine- when the money comes -

 

[camcruiser13]

is there anything i could do in the mean time with my stock sh!&

 

[Eskimo]

R&P's aren't cheap, and the gain you get is marginal. The 465 route is the BEST bang for the buck by far...

You'd go from something around a 32:1 to just about 60:1 with only the 465 swap...

Besides, keeping 4.10 R&P's means you can get replacement third members everywhere cheap.

Unless you set the gears up yourself, you're looking at ~$800 for 2 sets of R&P and setup. You could pay someone to do the SM465 swap and not pay that much.

 

[tewlman]

i got a buck and a half in my sm420, and it is in good shape. have a machanic friend that had it laying around, he bought it for a pulling truck but never used it.