Orion versus Stak or Other T-cases

[Sputnik40]

Any pointers to threads on this topic appreciated. I'm saving pennies for a stronger t-case to go behind my SM420. Currently running an FJ40 rear with Poly's (waiting on second set) and disc brakes thru a mini truck d-shaft made up by Jesse. I have a D60 that someone owes me and am hoping to have picked up this winter - supposedly has moser shafts, disc brakes and chunk with same gears.

I really would prefer to stay with the Orion case and offset rear diff. due to my average fabbing skills and most importantly time and money.

A 4 link is also in the near future.

Any advice, thoughts or leads to others who have done either appreciated. Just want to start putting all the facts and my ideas together so I can make the best decision for what I want to do.

 

[Isotel]

if you can make the D60 work i would go with a stak or atlas.. cheeper and more common!
Sell your current offset axle to help with the cost!

 

[bustanutley]

atlas or stak will be the last t-case you will ever buy, plethera of gear choices, front dig, with the orion you are stuck with an offset rear. The choice is very easy in my mind

 

[R.K.]

You might want to consider the LoMax 205 also, Bill. You get the strength of the NP205 with the lower 3:1 gear ratio. You can front digs with this t-case too. The LoMax has worked great in my Cruiser!

http://www.jbconversions.com/pages/products/lomax205/index.html

The same company offers a 4:1 gear set for the Dana 300 as well. I know a few guys running SM420s mated to Dana 300s with 4:1 gears, they all seem to be happy with it.

 

[Sputnik40]

Yeah - part of my frustration has been the Orion's high cost once you buy the 32 spline front output and housing plus adding on a disk brake.

R.K. Wishing I'd spent more time studying your setup last May - I only saw you briefly at the top of the chute at Schoolbus - I like that Lomax and the prices. You planning on going again next year if the trails are still open - with so many options and that D60 floating out there I need to simmer down and lay this out right so I don't have to redo in a few years - I keep saying no more mods, and then I find I need/want something...

 

[R.K.]

R.K. Wishing I'd spent more time studying your setup last May - I only saw you briefly at the top of the chute at Schoolbus - I like that Lomax and the prices. You planning on going again next year if the trails are still open - with so many options and that D60 floating out there I need to simmer down and lay this out right so I don't have to redo in a few years - I keep saying no more mods, and then I find I need/want something...

I will be there in May, as long as the trails are still open. I know what you mean about thinking you are finished with mods, and then changing your plans!

 

[Dusty]

atlas or stak will be the last t-case you will ever buy, plethera of gear choices, front dig, with the orion you are stuck with an offset rear. The choice is very easy in my mind

I love the stak 3 speed. My brother has one in his trugy. It is so nice to be able to crawl and mud/sand. Np205 is bombproof but how many staks/atlas have you ever heard breaking? even under huge trucks.

 

[Sputnik40]

R.K. Do you ahy buildup threads of your centered rear? The Dana 60 I'm supposed to get is from a guy from Asheville who sold me a boogered set of 40" MTRs' (his tyre guy ruined the bead on one, hurt two and well he offered the D60 as compensation as he really shouldn't have sent them after that, but didn't notice). It's just been a pain getting him to coordinate with friends from Pickens who are going to pick it up... Until I see it - I won't know if it's my best option.

Liking the centered rear output options best thought - just have to make sure I can do and not break the bank - then again, the difference in cost from Orion really helps.

Any build threads similar to what I'm looking at appreciated - FI and DUI'd 2F to SM420, flipped springs both ends - but considering the same 4 link that Mike M. did last year...

 

[Trollhole]

The Dana 60 I'm supposed to get is from a guy from Asheville who sold me a boogered set of 40" MTRs' (his tyre guy ruined the bead on one, hurt two and well he offered the D60 as compensation as he really shouldn't have sent them after that, but didn't notice). It's just been a pain getting him to coordinate with friends from Pickens who are going to pick it up... Until I see it - I won't know if it's my best option.

You will know in 16 days.

 

[R.K.]

R.K. Do you ahy buildup threads of your centered rear? The Dana 60 I'm supposed to get is from a guy from Asheville who sold me a boogered set of 40" MTRs' (his tyre guy ruined the bead on one, hurt two and well he offered the D60 as compensation as he really shouldn't have sent them after that, but didn't notice). It's just been a pain getting him to coordinate with friends from Pickens who are going to pick it up... Until I see it - I won't know if it's my best option.

Liking the centered rear output options best thought - just have to make sure I can do and not break the bank - then again, the difference in cost from Orion really helps.

Any build threads similar to what I'm looking at appreciated - FI and DUI'd 2F to SM420, flipped springs both ends - but considering the same 4 link that Mike M. did last year...

I don't have a buildup thread for the centered rear. I didn't build the axle, a friend of mine here in NC did. I can put you in touch with him if you're interested.

I would definetly recommend going to a centered rear output t-case, you have so many more options for t-cases and axles. The off-set rear really limits you.

The guys I know running SM420/Dana300s have them in a Jeeps and a buggies, so I'm not sure how well they'd compare to your rig.

 

[Sputnik40]

You will know in 16 days.

Thanks Marshall - don't mind offending anyone, UC has the best people in all of Cruiserdom !!!

 

[lowtideride]

Not a lot of in-case gearing options but a 60series split case is mighty strong. Acutally I have never heard of a well maintained 34 or 38mm 60 case breaking...

Spaceghost ran one in his comp rig for a while I believe with a toybox in front of it.

So if gearing is what you are after, pick up a used case and throw a toybox infront of it.

Or if strengh is what you are after just get the case and some 3.1 gears to go in it.


Just a thought....But your a nut so who knows what you'll end up with.

 

[Tapage]

Ditto with Lowtideride ..

Coulbe a diferent leage ... but I'm very happy with my split case BF1A and the marks underdrive gear set .. I thought all depends on your plans .. but with 3.05:1 and R&P pretty happy .. again coul be not enought for you ..

 

[Mace]

If you are contemplating a Stak/atlas or an Orion.

Go with the stak/atlas

by the time you actually need an orion, the stock axles will not get you by..

Plus, it is a hell of a lot easier to link a centered rear DS.

 

[bustanutley]

putting Marks gears into a split case costs 1725aus thats about 1500us thats well on your way to owning a stak or atlas, again, the last transfer case you will ever have to buy. The Mark's gears are only 3.0:1

 

[Gumby]

I don't need a different adapter to run an Orion. The cost of 3:1 gears for a split case plus the cost of a different doubler adapter makes the Orion a pretty easy choice for me. With the doubler, it'd give me a 4 speed.

I just gotta get in touch with Poser and bribe him with a Carolina band saw.

I did get hung up on my 203 a couple of times last week. a clocked atlas or STaK sounds pretty good if money was no object.

$2K-2.7K for an Atlas or STak plus $2-500 for the adapter, none of which will work with my doubler, or $1500 for a 4:1 Orion.

 

[Sputnik40]

My reasoning behind even thinking about a new case is future wheeling - I'm happy with my gearing for the east coast, but hope to go west in the upcoming years - for 2 to 3 weeks. Just want to enjoy all that high traction dry scenery.

The other reason is for the case strength and output strength - so when I say Orion, I really mean I was looking at the Orion HD, twin stick it just for reliability (yeah, no front dig), and then add in Jessie's disk brake kit and multi-drilled flanges and well damn, that's pricey - but it's a bolt in deal for me.

I just need to learn a bit more about my rear axle options - then work the budget from there.

Not gonna happen this winter - but it's nice to know where you're going so as to start collecting the right parts.

I'm really liking what I'm learning about the Stak 3 speed case, but am also realizing that it's such an incredible box I'd be inclined to figure out how to build the 40 up around that - and well, that's would be damned expensive and time consuming. So yeah - it's great, but it's almost overkill for a wheeler that lives in Florida and trailers thousands of miles a year to wheel.

Anyways - will see when SC picks up that Dana 60 I'm owed.

 

[Trollhole]

Thanks Marshall - don't mind offending anyone, UC has the best people in all of Cruiserdom !!!

Picked it up yesterday. Heavy sucker. Disk brakes and all. I remember seeing some sort of sticker on each axle plate. ANyway Alan has it. Due to it being so heavy he will probably be driving around with it until you come and get it.

 

[Sputnik40]

Picked it up yesterday. Heavy sucker. Disk brakes and all. I remember seeing some sort of sticker on each axle plate. ANyway Alan has it. Due to it being so heavy he will probably be driving around with it until you come and get it.

Woo Hoo! Supposed to be Moser shafts!!!

Hope ya'all had a good session - look to Jim to post some pics of the insane rock garden bashing I did Saturday - two others broke axles - getting pretty hairy down here! The right side of the tub is toast, as is the hood - but it was so much fun driving sideways I just said to heck with it - gonna tub it anyways.

 

[lowtideride]

Woo Hoo! Supposed to be Moser shafts!!!

Hope ya'all had a good session - look to Jim to post some pics of the insane rock garden bashing I did Saturday - two others broke axles - getting pretty hairy down here!

Hell of a trip... Wish I wasnt the other one who broke both axles


Nice rock rash