bronchole
Driveway flexing!
- Joined
- May 13, 2009
- Messages
- 794
- Reaction score
- 51
- City, State
- Los Angeles, CA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1997 Monsterneer
- Callsign
- KI6MCO
Atlas II or Stak in a 2nd gen 5.0, What should I know?
We were on dirt/snow for about 10 minutes when my wife asked if I would put it in 4WD because she didn’t like the way the a$$ was sliding around on the ice/snow. I made the gyrations necessary to get the 4406 in to 4 low and moved on. About 300 yards later I was climbing a little icy hill just giving it enough gas to move up the hill, not even spinning the tires. All of the sudden there was a rather loud crabunk. I instantly let off the gas and hit the brake. We were doing about 2MPH forward then this happened. Hitting the brakes was enough to break the traction and have me slide down the ice about 15’. As we are sliding the smoke started pumping out from the hood. By the time we came to a stop I was looking at a large red patch on the ice where we stopped, NOT GOOD! Got on the radio to tell the guy I was wheeling with to come up and around me, it was safe.
So we crawl under the Monsterneer and take a look. It looks like the 4406 case split in to about 4 or 5 pieces. It looked like the portion of the case around the input to the rear output was still intact so we unlocked the hubs and I was able to shift the case in to 2WD, that surprised me. I was able to back it up and turn it around. We headed out and made the 50 mile drive home at modest speeds.
I have spent a few hours researching Atlas II, Atlas 4, Stak and Stack 3 speed. In all my experience wheeling my Early Bronco with the 4R70W, 3.15:1 low range, 4.88:1 gears and 35” tires I have been very happy with that combination. My Monsterneer has the same trans and tire size, but 4.56:1 gears. I don’t think that having more than 2 speeds in the transfer case (if the low range is at the correct ratio) is worth having to deal with the extra shifter in the cab and the extra cost. It’s more of a bragging right or for stick rigs.
I am leaning towards the Atlas II with 3.8:1 low range. I am looking for input from the masses and more specifically anyone with experience installing an Atlas II in to a 5.0 V8 2nd gen Explorer/Mountaineer.
Here is my application information:
1997 Mercury Mountaineer
5.0L motor
4R70w automatic transmission
Blown up 4406 transfer case (speed sensor on T-case, not in rear axle)
Ford 8.8 rear end from a F150, 4.56:1 gears, Detroit locker
Ford Dana 44 high pinion from a 78 Bronco, 4.56:1 gears, open diff
35” tires
Driven to/from trails
Driven on long raod trips
Will be driven on hard trails like Rubicon and Dusy Ershim, maybe even a hammer trail or so.
We were on dirt/snow for about 10 minutes when my wife asked if I would put it in 4WD because she didn’t like the way the a$$ was sliding around on the ice/snow. I made the gyrations necessary to get the 4406 in to 4 low and moved on. About 300 yards later I was climbing a little icy hill just giving it enough gas to move up the hill, not even spinning the tires. All of the sudden there was a rather loud crabunk. I instantly let off the gas and hit the brake. We were doing about 2MPH forward then this happened. Hitting the brakes was enough to break the traction and have me slide down the ice about 15’. As we are sliding the smoke started pumping out from the hood. By the time we came to a stop I was looking at a large red patch on the ice where we stopped, NOT GOOD! Got on the radio to tell the guy I was wheeling with to come up and around me, it was safe.
So we crawl under the Monsterneer and take a look. It looks like the 4406 case split in to about 4 or 5 pieces. It looked like the portion of the case around the input to the rear output was still intact so we unlocked the hubs and I was able to shift the case in to 2WD, that surprised me. I was able to back it up and turn it around. We headed out and made the 50 mile drive home at modest speeds.
I have spent a few hours researching Atlas II, Atlas 4, Stak and Stack 3 speed. In all my experience wheeling my Early Bronco with the 4R70W, 3.15:1 low range, 4.88:1 gears and 35” tires I have been very happy with that combination. My Monsterneer has the same trans and tire size, but 4.56:1 gears. I don’t think that having more than 2 speeds in the transfer case (if the low range is at the correct ratio) is worth having to deal with the extra shifter in the cab and the extra cost. It’s more of a bragging right or for stick rigs.
I am leaning towards the Atlas II with 3.8:1 low range. I am looking for input from the masses and more specifically anyone with experience installing an Atlas II in to a 5.0 V8 2nd gen Explorer/Mountaineer.
Here is my application information:
1997 Mercury Mountaineer
5.0L motor
4R70w automatic transmission
Blown up 4406 transfer case (speed sensor on T-case, not in rear axle)
Ford 8.8 rear end from a F150, 4.56:1 gears, Detroit locker
Ford Dana 44 high pinion from a 78 Bronco, 4.56:1 gears, open diff
35” tires
Driven to/from trails
Driven on long raod trips
Will be driven on hard trails like Rubicon and Dusy Ershim, maybe even a hammer trail or so.
