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Old 05-10-2013, 11:58 PM   #11
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Re: what is advantage of Atlas 2 over other 4x4 options ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaSportsmobile
If you have a bad rear u-joint, you are still going to have to drop the drive shaft.
Yep but I can still drive home

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Old 05-11-2013, 10:15 AM   #12
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Re: what is advantage of Atlas 2 over other 4x4 options ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by daveb
Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaSportsmobile
If you have a bad rear u-joint, you are still going to have to drop the drive shaft.
Yep but I can still drive home
Dave, I hope you are not implying that is an advantage of an Atlas T/C. Once I drop my driveshaft I can drive in front 2wd.

The only advantage I can see for an Atlas is the wide range of ratios available. Even that is iffy, because the stock Ford T/C ratio works well for most. And the Ford unit has proven to be very reliable in general use, while I have seen Atlas problems reported on this forum.

All that aside, if you are happy with your choice, and I'm happy with mine, then all is good.

Mike
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Old 05-11-2013, 10:57 AM   #13
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Re: what is advantage of Atlas 2 over other 4x4 options ?

And regardless of which TC.... If you break a rear axle shaft in your semi-float.... You aren't going anywhere.
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Old 05-11-2013, 02:34 PM   #14
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Re: what is advantage of Atlas 2 over other 4x4 options ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350
Quote:
Originally Posted by daveb
Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaSportsmobile
If you have a bad rear u-joint, you are still going to have to drop the drive shaft.
Yep but I can still drive home
Dave, I hope you are not implying that is an advantage of an Atlas T/C. Once I drop my driveshaft I can drive in front 2wd.

The only advantage I can see for an Atlas is the wide range of ratios available. Even that is iffy, because the stock Ford T/C ratio works well for most. And the Ford unit has proven to be very reliable in general use, while I have seen Atlas problems reported on this forum.

All that aside, if you are happy with your choice, and I'm happy with mine, then all is good.

Mike
Yeah you guys are correct. When my U-joint was goin out I was thinking I'd just wire it up under the vehicle w/o pulling it out of the TC and just leave it in neutral.
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Old 05-12-2013, 07:50 PM   #15
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Re: what is advantage of Atlas 2 over other 4x4 options ?

Here are my 2 little pennies

I don't speak on behalf of SMB, but I'm pretty sure the main reason they use the Atlas is because its the only brand new case they can get. The 271 that came behind the 5R110 transmission hasn't been available from Ford for quite some time. So, why not use a new t-case to go with the new Dynatrac axle? The ability to only engage the front axle is cool, but is it really needed on these vans? In my opinion, no. The variety of ratios is nice. We're doing our 1st Atlas install soon (as soon as we get it, 6-8 week build time)

The 271 is a great t-case, and it has flanges front & rear. So if you had a rear ujoint or driveshaft failure you can pull the shaft and go home on the front. Even then, its not a great idea to be running highway speeds on that front axle, emergency only. I've seen guys do this, pinion bearings on a HP axle don't like it much!

I've used 271's in every conversion that I've done. The only time I've ever seen one fail is when the front driveshaft bottomed out and broke it off (this didn't happen on a van) Sourcing them in manual shift form is getting difficult, so I'm pretty sure we'll be doing more Atlas installs in the near future.
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Old 05-13-2013, 01:39 AM   #16
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Re: what is advantage of Atlas 2 over other 4x4 options ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by UJOINT
its not a great idea to be running highway speeds on that front axle, emergency only. I've seen guys do this, pinion bearings on a HP axle don't like it much!


SMB told me the same thing on the speed issue. A slow drive to the nearest shop.
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