For anyone who is budget minded (or desires a stock appearance) I have
long been considering an application that seems to eliminate the problems of
the close ratio box and the 1:1 ratio final drive of a 4 speed. As has been
previously discussed on the list there are two Top Loader 4 speeds that come
with overdrive. However, there is a large gap between 2nd and 3rd gear that
is not desirable (though a few Tiger owners have used them to fit their
application).
Little know is that certain Jeeps in the early 1980's came with a Top
Loader 4 speed with a 3.01 1st gear and a 1:1 final ratio. It would be best
to think of this as a WIDER ratio Top Loader. Though the 4 gear ratios are
spaced wider than a standard wide ratio box there is not a 2nd-3rd gap like
the typical overdrive 4 speed Top Loader.
Jeep T-178 ratio's 1st 3.01, 2nd
2.08, 3rd 1.47, 4th 1.00
Standard Top Loader, Wide Ratio 1st 2.78, 2nd 1.93, 3rd
1.36, 4th 1.00
Standard Top Loader, Close Ratio 1st 2.32, 2nd 1.69, 3rd
1.29, 4th 1.00
Undesirable "Overdrive" 4 sd. Top Loader #1 1st 3.07, 2nd 1.72, 3rd 1.00,
4th 0.70
Undesirable "Overdrive" 4 sd. Top Loader #2 1st 3.29, 2nd 1.84, 3rd 1.00,
4th 0.81
My goal is to locate one of these transmissions and run taller tires on
the rear. Depending on how tall a tire I can use it is very concievable to
get the 1st gear equivalent to a standard wide ratio box with shorter
"regular" tires. On the other end (4th gear) the taller tires would
effectively be equivalent to an overdrive, again compared to shorter
"regular" tires. I have been "told" this gear set "should" fit into a
regular Top Loader case. The difficulty is finding the transmission (at
least at the Pick A Part prices I'm willing to pay). I have heard in the
Jeep crowd that this is not a very desirable transmission as it is seen as a
"close" ratio by them. Regardless, I've searched for two years all over
Calif. Pick-A-Parts's and not found one. Anyway, "if" I find the
transmission ($100 at Pick A Part) it seems like a low cost investment to
deal with both ends of the problems relating to the close ratio box I now
have.
Tom Witt B9470101
|