Orion and Atlas transfercases avail soon

[Dusty]

I conversed with AA yesterday. Asked about an Atlas for the 80 series and recieved this:
Hi Dustin,
> We are currently working on an adapter to mate an Orion transfer
case
>to the FJ80 Cruiser. After the Orion adapter is completed we are going
>to start working on the adapter to mate an Atlas the same t-case.
>Please call me if you have anymore questions.
>
>800-350-2223 x-513
>
>Scott Corgiat

I asked him for a timeframe and if I could buy one now to test and recieved this:
We currently have a FJZ80 transmission and t-case that we are designing
off of.
Time frame: ESTIMATE
Orion = 3 months
Atlas = 6 = 9 months
We currently already have some test beds for the products.
The Tacoma t-case is totally different and the adapter will not work for
the FJ80.
I can keep you posted on the project if you would like, and call you as
soon as something comes available.

Scott Corgiat

Just hang in there

 

[AMMO]

Wow... Good stuff...

-Ammo

 

[theyis]

So, I think we will all agree that is one of the best pieces of news to hit the airwaves here recently. Question is, is the rear diff centered enough to run the stock axle behind the Atlas?

Kyon

 

[Dusty]

anyone have good experiences with the orion piece? An atlas would be the ticket but if the orion can be had without triveline mods and for cheaper...
http://www.bc4x4.com/inthenews/default.cfm?ID=248

 

[alia176]

Can a guy run one of these Tcases, large tires and still maintain the 4.10 R&P? Or do these Tcases only affect your LOW and LO LO LO gears for crawling?

 

[calstyl2]

My Orion is a 4.1 low range, no change in High/primary, this brings interesting ideas to mind, Early Orions had gear pop otu issues, current models are very good, Atlas is the best for crawling

 

[Dusty]

The atlas would be ideal. if the orion job could be installed without changes to driveline $800 + could be saved right there.

4:1 tcase vs current 2.5:1 is a 40% lower gear

going to 5.29 diff gears gives us 33% lower (+ go slow on hwy)

the diff in price between having r&p done in shop and a new orion is negligible. I can install a new tcase. I dont know if I could do the gears

 

[Slomo]

Very cool news indeed. I am curious as well on how AA would solve/deal with the offset rear third member.

 

[theyis]

I was planning on using an 80 driveline in my 40 build and when I talked to Jeremiah Proffitt he said he didn't think the offset would be an issue. A driveshaft builder I talked to said it would. I would tend to trust Jeremiah more since the driveline guy is going to error on the side of not taxing the driveshaft. Somebody out there must be able to give a practical answer.

So how wide is a tundra axle anyways...??

Kyon

 

[psfpilot]

Would an 80 series Atlas and/or Orion require conversion to part-time 4wd, i.e., with lock-out hubs, or are they designing one that will function like a factory AWD T-case with a higher numerical ratio low range?

 

[Slomo]

Good question. I can almost gaurantee that you would need to add manual hubs to the front axle. To the best of my knowledge both cases are gear driven and do not have a viscous coupler and designing a whole new t-case to keep AWD is such a small market (statisticaly) would not be worth the investment. Conversly doing a part-time "conversion" without having to tear apart the t-case and replace the VC with a spool would be greatly simplified. Only issue would be the front hubs and they have the same bolt pattern as the drive flanges so it would be a bolt on swap. Don't remember if the stub axles need to be swapped though.

 

[Dusty]

I wouldn't care about having selectable hubs. leave it in 2 wheel till the trail and then 4 wheel. turn radius is affected without center diff but most of the rest of the wheeling world doesnt have a center diff and for 4:1 gears (or better with an atlas) Ill use reverse more often.

 

[theyis]

I believe Dusty is correct. There are plenty of 4X4s out there without selectable hubs. So long as the diff isn't locked there shouldn't be a problem on the road. Once you are off road, who cares. You will be driving the front drive shaft all the time but that isn’t a problem.

Kyon

 

[Dusty]

wait a sec. I assumed the orion has selectable 2 and 4 wheel drive like the atlas. but i dont think does

 

[Hanna Quality]

Dusty, did AA mention changing the rear centered output on the current ATLAS?

I hope AA is making an ATLAS with a rear output offset to the pass side.

The centered output will not fit with the 80 gas tank.

 

[Dusty]

I didn't ask him. But I just did. I doubt it. Im willing to buy a fuel cell to make it work if not

 

[alia176]

Two questions:
-with that much torque, will your brakes be able to hold her?
-couldn't this super duper Tcase sit between the oem Tcase and the Trans so that it wouldn't affect our full time 4x4?

 

[psfpilot]

Two questions:
-couldn't this super duper Tcase sit between the oem Tcase and the Trans so that it wouldn't affect our full time 4x4?

This is what I am looking for - a substantially lower low range that doesn't eliminate the full-time 4wd aspect of my FZJ80.

 

[Grench]

OK. My ignorance is bugging me.

What is the difference between an Orion and an Atlas?

 

[theyis]

I was doing some research with High Impact (Klune-V) to see if we could get something going. That would do it for you. Unfortunately I haven't gotten far with it. I don't have access to a trans to see exactly what needs to be done. On second thought in order for you to keep the full time 4wd he would also have to adapt to the 80 T-case. Right now he has an adapter to the older split t-case but that one isn't full time. Too bad I don't have unlimited time and resources...

Personally, I'd rather have part time 4wd. Should get better gas milage...
Kyon