Has anyone ever done an all-wheel drive Ranger?
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I've seriously been thinking about this myself. Isn't the diff out of the late model AWD Explorers lockable? Meaning you'd have available AWD (full-time 4WD) or 4WD (part-time 4WD), depending on t-case setting, al-a the 'Rovers and high(er) end Jeeps. Perfect!
Is the Explorer t-case worth a damn? From what I can tell the AWD Ex uses the BW4405 case.. which is described on TRS as:
My guess is that the need for the GCM bit probably would not make it too desirable. That and that it is a clutch operated AWD system.. I'd rather have a 'full-time 4WD' system w/ a real center differential. ... Then again, it held up to a V8!
Would the NP203 be usable? I thought I heard it was used in Ford applications.. (full-size pickups maybe?!) TRS doesn't list any details about this case. Is it even lockable?
If not, what about a Jeep system? Selec-trac or quadra-whatever-the-hell-they-call-it? They use the NV242 case, no? Others too if I read the Wikipedia entry right.
On ORR there was/is a decent convo going about getting a Torsen for the Ranger's front end into the mass market. How rockin' would that be, an AWD Ranger w/ Torsens at both axles that could still be locked into full-time 4WD?!
Is the Explorer t-case worth a damn? From what I can tell the AWD Ex uses the BW4405 case.. which is described on TRS as:
Works like a BW1354 but also houses a transfer case clutch. This clutch , which is controlled by the generic control module (GCM), enables the vehicle to be driven in 4wd on dry pavement. It also has a dealer installed Neutral (N) position mode.
Would the NP203 be usable? I thought I heard it was used in Ford applications.. (full-size pickups maybe?!) TRS doesn't list any details about this case. Is it even lockable?
If not, what about a Jeep system? Selec-trac or quadra-whatever-the-hell-they-call-it? They use the NV242 case, no? Others too if I read the Wikipedia entry right.
On ORR there was/is a decent convo going about getting a Torsen for the Ranger's front end into the mass market. How rockin' would that be, an AWD Ranger w/ Torsens at both axles that could still be locked into full-time 4WD?!
#12
it wouldnt be rockin at all IMO, the thing about AWD is that it does its "differentiating" in the tcase, meaning something breaks lose, it sends more power to the front or rear accordingly.
4wd gives all power to all wheels at all times when engaged. comparable to a locker of a differential.
maybe if youre just a street pounder thats only worried about snow, maybe the AWD would be a decent idea, but for ANY offroad applications (to be more specific, those of the non "rallying" kind if you want to call that offroading), 4WD definately definately trumps AWD...
also, have you ever heard of torque steer? buddy had it on his ZJ with all time 4wd and it sucked. not to mention, I had a lot easier time wheeling than him...
4wd gives all power to all wheels at all times when engaged. comparable to a locker of a differential.
maybe if youre just a street pounder thats only worried about snow, maybe the AWD would be a decent idea, but for ANY offroad applications (to be more specific, those of the non "rallying" kind if you want to call that offroading), 4WD definately definately trumps AWD...
also, have you ever heard of torque steer? buddy had it on his ZJ with all time 4wd and it sucked. not to mention, I had a lot easier time wheeling than him...
#13
Originally Posted by SuperGildo@RRP
it wouldnt be rockin at all IMO, the thing about AWD is that it does its "differentiating" in the tcase, meaning something breaks lose, it sends more power to the front or rear accordingly.
4wd gives all power to all wheels at all times when engaged. comparable to a locker of a differential.
4wd gives all power to all wheels at all times when engaged. comparable to a locker of a differential.
#14
I'm lost. Aren't most of these AWD t-cases lockable? Meaning you can lock into 'part-time 4WD'.. which is effectively what we have already. If that's the case, what is lost? You have full-time 4WD/AWD for street/snow use.. then toss a lever and lock the center diff to have part-time 4WD for off-road use. I've got a friend w/ a late 90's Jeep Grand Cherokee and it works quite well for him. Does the Ex AWD t-case not support this locked, part-time 4WD setting? Does adding the lockable center diff make the case even weaker than our BW cases already are? Where's the downside?
Ah ha! Well that certianly deep sixes that idea.. This is the BW4404 or BW4405 I take it.
So what about a Jeep t-case? Like the NV242. Or maybe a 'Rover t-case?
Originally Posted by rwenzing
Add that to the fact that the Ex AWD T/C is a single speed unit that doesn't have low range.
So what about a Jeep t-case? Like the NV242. Or maybe a 'Rover t-case?
#15
Originally Posted by NHBubba
Does adding the lockable center diff make the case even weaker than our BW cases already are?
where did you get that info?!?!
Originally Posted by NHBubba
So what about a Jeep t-case? Like the NV242. Or maybe a 'Rover t-case?
#16
Well, relatively speaking. I thought it was fairly commonly thought that the BW cases we use were not the strongest things known to man.. not the weakest either.. but.
What I'm getting at is this: Is the AWD case from the explorer a turd? And if so, why?
Sounds to me like the answer is yes, because it lacks low-range.
What I'm getting at is this: Is the AWD case from the explorer a turd? And if so, why?
Sounds to me like the answer is yes, because it lacks low-range.
#17
turd upon what basis i guess you should ask.
the only real problem with the 1354s/1350s are the sh*tty electric shift motors. otherwise I think they are pretty stout cases for a stock application. sure theyre no ATLAS, but if any factory case was, atlas wouldnt exist.
the only major problem with the 1350/54s are the chain drive but failure in that area is usually more of a maintenance problem.
I have no worries about doing a 1350/1354 doubler...
the only real problem with the 1354s/1350s are the sh*tty electric shift motors. otherwise I think they are pretty stout cases for a stock application. sure theyre no ATLAS, but if any factory case was, atlas wouldnt exist.
the only major problem with the 1350/54s are the chain drive but failure in that area is usually more of a maintenance problem.
I have no worries about doing a 1350/1354 doubler...
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