Future project, automatic or manual?

[B.M.800]

So anyways, sometime in the future I want to build an "ATV"...
Either /6 powered, or a 360 V8. Axels from a 70s Dodge, or 90 something Jeep. I would like to make it about the same sixe as a Wrangler, preferably smaller... Not plannin to use enormongo tires, just I think like 29in... what ever is on our Jeep...

But what kind of transmission, either a automatic, or manual, what do you think would be good?

Just a fun to drive beater, maybe scare some little kids too...


This is still in the idea stage here, but ask any questions you may have...

Thanks.

 

[anderkart]

Sticks are cool but sometimes when climbing/off-roading an automatic shift smoother and gets the power to the ground better. But either can work fine, your choice.

 

[newrider3]

A manual like a T18 will give you a much lower first gear ratio than any auto can.

 

[Big Boy]

I'd love to learn stick, honestly. Always thought they were pretty cool. So, I'd go with manual.

 

[redsox985]

So is this going to be like the size of a Suzuki Samurai?

 

[B.M.800]

A manual like a T18 will give you a much lower first gear ratio than any auto can.

Ehh... T18? Never heard of that... It would most likely be a 4 speed out of a truck we have sitting, motor might come out of it... but it needs some valve work(hoping thats it)

So is this going to be like the size of a Suzuki Samurai?

Yeah, something like that... preferably smaller actually.


Anderkart,

I dont know how serious offroading Ide be doing, no climbing... atleast not thinking about it now, could change when its all together n stuff...

 

[newrider3]

Google dude.

http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/t18_t19.htm

Came in Ford pickups forever, and in many Dodge pickups like one that you would be pulling the 360 from.

 

[B.M.800]

Google... hehehe, did have to google suzuki samurai....

My dad has a Scout, body is shot, frame prolly shot. I believe we are going to get the engine tranns transfer case and axels from it, not sure what he wants to do with them, maybe build something with them...

The 360 needs valve and/or piston work, hopefully the heads arnt damaged... Might be able to use a /6, Ill need to talk to my brother about it.

 

[anderkart]

Anderkart,

I dont know how serious offroading Ide be doing, no climbing... atleast not thinking about it now, could change when its all together n stuff...

Yeah, if you've already got a standard tranny, use it

 

[redsox985]

I would go with auto, but make sure there's the option for selecting a lower gear and keeping it there. Not just D/N/R/P, but have alike D/1/2/N/R/P.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

My dad has a Scout, body is shot, frame prolly shot. I believe we are going to get the engine tranns transfer case and axels from it, not sure what he wants to do with them, maybe build something with them...

I hate you. I've always wanted a Scout. What year? Likely has a Dana 20 or Dana 300 transfer case... Very good!

 

[B.M.800]

I would go with auto, but make sure there's the option for selecting a lower gear and keeping it there. Not just D/N/R/P, but have alike D/1/2/N/R/P.

How would I go about doing something like that?

I hate you. I've always wanted a Scout. What year? Likely has a Dana 20 or Dana 300 transfer case... Very good!

I love you too toystory... lol


I think 72, not sure about transfer case n stuff though...

 

[redsox985]

How would I go about doing something like that?

Steal one from a car that has this option. Does your car only have D/N/P/R? Mine has D/N/P/R/1/2 and my mom's is P/N/R/D(all 5)/D(4th and down)/D(3 and down)/2/1. This is good for either using engine braking when going down hill or going somewhere where low gears are needed and you don't want it upshifting, snow for example.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Look into B&M (and possibly other manufacturers') shift kits. I can't remember the actual name of the kit, but there is a kit that you apply to the valvebody of your slushbox to accomplish that.

 

[B.M.800]

Steal one from a car that has this option. Does your car only have D/N/P/R? Mine has D/N/P/R/1/2 and my mom's is P/N/R/D(all 5)/D(4th and down)/D(3 and down)/2/1. This is good for either using engine braking when going down hill or going somewhere where low gears are needed and you don't want it upshifting, snow for example.

No car, this is whats availible for me to plunder...
90 something Jeep grand, I6, auto, bad front diff.
70 something Dodge 150, 4 speed, 360 needs work.

The Jeep is set up like so... 1, 2, d, R, N, P.

Look into B&M (and possibly other manufacturers') shift kits. I can't remember the actual name of the kit, but there is a kit that you apply to the valvebody of your slushbox to accomplish that.

What exactly does this do? Of hte many things I havnt heard of, that is one... heh...

The Jeep is pretty much all there, engine runs, but is over 200 thousand, thats my main concern with it... you know, have the engine go just when the project is done lol.

Maybe I should try to get a title for the truck instead of butchering it?

Thanks for the input guys!

If i do go through with this, I may not start till next summer, Ive got a few other plans this year

 

[anderkart]

Look into B&M (and possibly other manufacturers') shift kits. I can't remember the actual name of the kit, but there is a kit that you apply to the valvebody of your slushbox to accomplish that.

The full-manual valvebody mod.

If the auto tranny has a governor assembly like the older GM turbo 400, you can just secure/wire the governor weights to the closed position for a free/DIY manual-only shifting mod.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

The full-manual valvebody mod.

Yup, that's the one!

If the auto tranny has a governor assembly like the older GM turbo 400, you can just secure/wire the governor weights to the closed position for a free/DIY manual-only shifting mod.

Cool! I just learned something! And we do like DIY/free, don't we?!

 

[redsox985]

The Jeep is set up like so... 1, 2, d, R, N, P.

The Jeep is pretty much all there, engine runs, but is over 200 thousand, thats my main concern with it... you know, have the engine go just when the project is done lol.

If it's one of those boxy style Jeeps, don't worry about 200k miles. My dad used to work at a used car lot where they had one with 190k miles. A guy called asking and my dad was real tentative, warning him it had A LOT of miles. They guy scoffed, asked, heard 190, and laughed some more...his had 460k and he wanted a new one because the interior of his was trashed and other stuff started to go, yet the motor still ran strong. He happily came in and paid the $5000 or whatever they were asking.

My dad, appalled by this, looked into them and found that they can run further than 500k. They started buying them at the local auction and they couldn't keep them on the lot.

 

[anderkart]

Cool! I just learned something! And we do like DIY/free, don't we?!

Yeah, I love free mods.

I used to dirt oval race a 1970 firebird with a 455 and a turbo 400 tranny in the Street-Stock class. Everyone built their cars as cheap as possible because the racers could 'Claim" your whole car for $450, and you had to sell it to them or you couldn't race in that class the rest of the season.

We raced on a small 1/4-mile track and my poncho had like 275 gears so I needed it to stay in 2nd gear. So I bought one of those B&M shift kits, installed everything but my tranny still shifted into 3rd even when I had the shifter held down in 1st...

I talked to a buddy that worked in a tranny shop and he told me about wiring/securing the governor weights so they couldn't expand. This simple solution made my tranny full-manual and stay in any gear desired, It also gave it brutally hard shifts.


Some of those B&M kits come with metal retaining clips to keep the governor weights from spreading, but bailing wire would work just as well.

We even welded the spider gears in the rear end for a freebie/DIY locker-3rd member.

 

[B.M.800]

If it's one of those boxy style Jeeps, don't worry about 200k miles. My dad used to work at a used car lot where they had one with 190k miles. A guy called asking and my dad was real tentative, warning him it had A LOT of miles. They guy scoffed, asked, heard 190, and laughed some more...his had 460k and he wanted a new one because the interior of his was trashed and other stuff started to go, yet the motor still ran strong. He happily came in and paid the $5000 or whatever they were asking.

My dad, appalled by this, looked into them and found that they can run further than 500k. They started buying them at the local auction and they couldn't keep them on the lot.

I believe its a 98 grand

Somethin like that...

500k... thats alot o miles, I would asume they were regularly taken care of... think any rebuilds among those miles?