A Klune V 4:1 in the Mail Jeep?

[postalWagon]

Looking around this weekend I came across the Klune V Extream Underdrive. As far as I can tell from my reading it would be a simple bolt on set up, no drive line change (yet). The unit would just replace my TF727 tail housing.
So, the qusetion at hand is a Klune OR t-case, drive shafts and front axle?
most of my driving is fairly smiple trails with some parts that need lower gearing than my stock final of ~15:1.
my new final would be for the "David" ~61:1 vs "Goliath" of ~40:1

 

[Metcalf]

So is your postal jeep 4wd or 2wd?

 

[postalWagon]

2wd, not lucky enough to have found a 4wd one.

 

[marshal]

since you're going with the david and goliath theme, you should name your DJ, Postal Dave. :jump:

 

[Metcalf]

For a lower cost option why not just take this opportunity to bolt up a regular transfer case. This would give you a low range 2wd option and allow the option to add a driven front axle at some point in the future.

With the automatic and 2wd, even' stock' low range gearing would be a marked improvement.

I would be guessing you would be money ahead going with a transfer case over a klune-v box......

 

[marshal]

yeah i'd just do a dana 300, then you could twin stick it. then swap a set of JK44's in and stretch the WB a bit. oooooohhh I'm getting a stuffy.

 

[postalWagon]

dropping a t-case in may not happen, due to the funky nature of it being rhd......
are there any cons to just staying 2wd wit a low option(with a strong winch)? I have no plans to tackle anything "hardcore".

 

[Metcalf]

I don't think the RHD thing will make 4wd that much harder. If you can find some back issues FourWheeler magazine did a most excellent project with one back in the 1990s ( ish?).

You could also just do a transfer case with the drop on the other side. It would be tight, but possible. You are going to have to put in a driven front axle anyways....so having the diff on the other side doesn't make much of a difference.

Or....you can just go have fun with your 2wd. I still think a transfer case would be much less money overall than a Klune, even if you never use the front output. You could even do something original like drive a PTO front winch with the front output from the transfer case....that could be VERY neat!

Good luck with your project. With some lower gears and a locker in the rear you would probably go a LOT of places!

 

[corprin]

I remembered reading the Fourwheeler "Jeep for Cheap" articles from the early 90's when a DJ5D dropped into my lap a couple years ago. The project was abandoned before it started when my father was given a '65 CJ5, the DJ was supposed to be a father/son project.

During the research for the project I dug up the "revisited" article.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/featuredvehicles/129_0605_1975_jeep_dj_5d/index.html

The RHD is not an issue, even with a right side drop, so don't worry about that. The mag's project used a TF727 from a Scout, but I think I would go with something more easily adaptable to the t-case. The biggest problem that the mag, and I found, was the sliding doors hindering articulation when in the locked-open position. My plan was to cut the lower foot or so off the lower portion of the door, and affix it to the chassis, allowing the upper 2/3 to slide as normal, but not get in the way.

I have some other links on my other computer, I will post them if I remember.

 

[postalWagon]

I had planed on cutting my doors to clear the wheels, but I still want to be able to use a the windows. How did you plan on using the windows with cut doors?
The idea behind this project is to keep the jeep as close to stock while making it a good for the trails and roads I drive. If there is an obstacle, ie a really steep hill, I should be able to go up in low gear if not I bring out the winch.

 

[corprin]

Can't remember the details... post a pic of the interior of the door, and I will try to remember.