Looks good. I assume you're only planning on a soft top in the future?
CK5
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DO NOT OPEN IN PUBLIC, YOU WILL BECOME INSTANTLY ERECT!!!
- Thread starter truck-oholic
- Start date
Correct, soft top only, hence the truck tailgate.
By chance i was also able to leave it 3" longer than i thought too. Stuff like that is why i always plan for 5" of extra tube on each end when cutting my initial piece for bending. I'm still shorter than my initial design and that will require some additional design changes but it's going pretty good so far all things considered so I'm happy.
Are you planning on running any tube through the firewall?
As of right now, no, but that could change.
Hahahahahaha!!! Made me do a double take!
I thought you had brakes on your tube bender....whoa that thing is fast
Ha, that would be something else. Honestly, right now my little wheel barrow compressor has a hard time keeping up. If i go wide open on say a 90 it runs the whole time and gets slower and slower. Going to get a big ass compressor for my shop i plan on building eventually.
Ok, I need some help figuring out my options on this predicament. I guess it's overall a good problem to have and one that I somewhat anticipated but not like this.
The transfer case system I had intended to use and have built everything around is a 203/205 that I am almost certain is using a Jed's Machine kit. The overall length of the adapter is 3". As luck would have it, I came across a screaming deal last year and was able to pick up a brand new Lomax 205 for basically free. Finally was motivated today to drop the old system and go about swapping the 205s to put the Lomax behind my doubler and this is where the issues arise.
The Lomax is a standard 32 spline short input. Breaking down the doubler which I hadn't been in before (bought already assembled with the 205), it is using a 31 spline output which I believe is a shortened and resplined Ford 203 output and then previous owner swapped in a short (or shortened) 31 spline input on the 205 to match the doubler output. Well, I was just planning on swapping the two 205 inputs with each other to make everything hunk dory since the female inputs are the exact same length and OD, using the same oil seal and bearing cap, but pulling them both out that is an obvious no go due to gear sizing differences. Speaking of which I am kind of surprised that the Lomax input gear is so much smaller than a stock gear but I guess that is part of how they are getting the extra reduction? Anyway, I am overall pretty pleased with the quality of the Jed's kit and keeping it would be my first choice due to time and money already invested in using it.
So, here are the options as I see them and where I need some advice.
Option 1) Somehow get a 31 spline Lomax input from JB conversions (don't think they even make them anymore) or from someone who has an extra (yeah right) or more likely from someone who has a 31 spline input and wants my 32 spline input.
Option 2) Contact Jed's Machine (think he is still in business?) and see if he can sell me a 32 spline output for the adapter I already have or buy a whole new adapter kit with a 32 spline output to match my existing Lomax input
Option 3) Buy a 32 spline ORD adapter kit and possibly have to rework my "Rib Cage" mounting system slightly since I think ORD's kit is less than the 3" of the Jed's adapter. This wouldn't be that bad honestly and I think is a strength upgrade over the Jed's kit, unless I am able to get one of Jed's new billet 8620 shafts that he started using instead of the shortened and resplined stock shaft
Option 4) Open to suggestions
Here are pics:
Original 205 case and doubler on the left, Lomax on the right
31 spline 205 input left, 32 spline Lomax right
31 spline 205 input left, 32 spline Lomax right
32 spline Lomax left, 31 spline 205 input right (this is where I question if this this has been shortened since it sure looks like plasma cut marks on the face of the input
Lomax case internals
Stock Figure 8 205 case internals
Doubler output
Doubler output internals
203 side adapter plate
The transfer case system I had intended to use and have built everything around is a 203/205 that I am almost certain is using a Jed's Machine kit. The overall length of the adapter is 3". As luck would have it, I came across a screaming deal last year and was able to pick up a brand new Lomax 205 for basically free. Finally was motivated today to drop the old system and go about swapping the 205s to put the Lomax behind my doubler and this is where the issues arise.
The Lomax is a standard 32 spline short input. Breaking down the doubler which I hadn't been in before (bought already assembled with the 205), it is using a 31 spline output which I believe is a shortened and resplined Ford 203 output and then previous owner swapped in a short (or shortened) 31 spline input on the 205 to match the doubler output. Well, I was just planning on swapping the two 205 inputs with each other to make everything hunk dory since the female inputs are the exact same length and OD, using the same oil seal and bearing cap, but pulling them both out that is an obvious no go due to gear sizing differences. Speaking of which I am kind of surprised that the Lomax input gear is so much smaller than a stock gear but I guess that is part of how they are getting the extra reduction? Anyway, I am overall pretty pleased with the quality of the Jed's kit and keeping it would be my first choice due to time and money already invested in using it.
So, here are the options as I see them and where I need some advice.
Option 1) Somehow get a 31 spline Lomax input from JB conversions (don't think they even make them anymore) or from someone who has an extra (yeah right) or more likely from someone who has a 31 spline input and wants my 32 spline input.
Option 2) Contact Jed's Machine (think he is still in business?) and see if he can sell me a 32 spline output for the adapter I already have or buy a whole new adapter kit with a 32 spline output to match my existing Lomax input
Option 3) Buy a 32 spline ORD adapter kit and possibly have to rework my "Rib Cage" mounting system slightly since I think ORD's kit is less than the 3" of the Jed's adapter. This wouldn't be that bad honestly and I think is a strength upgrade over the Jed's kit, unless I am able to get one of Jed's new billet 8620 shafts that he started using instead of the shortened and resplined stock shaft
Option 4) Open to suggestions
Here are pics:
Original 205 case and doubler on the left, Lomax on the right
31 spline 205 input left, 32 spline Lomax right
31 spline 205 input left, 32 spline Lomax right
32 spline Lomax left, 31 spline 205 input right (this is where I question if this this has been shortened since it sure looks like plasma cut marks on the face of the input
Lomax case internals
Stock Figure 8 205 case internals
Doubler output
Doubler output internals
203 side adapter plate
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If it were me mine, I’d probably go the ORD shaft route. They are well established for having strong shafts where the resplined shafts can be weaker.
Or choose option 5) sell me the Lomax.
Or choose option 5) sell me the Lomax.
If it were me mine, I’d probably go the ORD shaft route. They are well established for having strong shafts where the resplined shafts can be weaker.
Or choose option 5) sell me the Lomax.
Ha, yeah, if anything is getting sold it's going to be the Jed's doubler with or without the 205 to match. I was originally planning to sell the GM 205 when I installed the Lomax but I have been thinking lately about keeping it and putting an Eco Box in front of it since I already have the donor guts sitting on a shelf and then putting that assembly in another badass GM build.
AFAIK JB Conversions never made a 31 spline input for the Lomax.
That Ford 31 spline input is stock, they all look like that. No clue why, but that's normal. Looks like a re-plined shaft as well.
That Ford 31 spline input is stock, they all look like that. No clue why, but that's normal. Looks like a re-plined shaft as well.
round pattern 205? With a donor 241 on hand the eco is an attractive option.
Stock 205 is a figure 8 but I know NWF has an adapter. I think you are running that exact setup. What is the overall length of your Eco Box with Figure 8 adapter? I won't be running the mounting foot you have so subtract that 1/4" or whatever it is. My Jed's Machine doubler assembly is 8.75" overall. He's my first call to see if he can sell me a 32 spline billet 8620 shaft.
I only ask about the round pattern because you could avoid the $175 (IIRC) cost of the adapter. This is also 8.75" w/out the foot but that does not include the trasmission adapter.
Yeah, I wasn't needing trans adapter. Only thing I was concerned about was doubler length since that is the only variable that could change.
So, BIG UPDATE!
Called Jed's and they still have a very few 32 spline 8620 heat treated shafts left on hand so went ahead and got one of those coming for $220. He said NWF and his shaft were literally the same shaft for awhile so I am pretty confident in his product and the rest of his kit is really pretty impressive in my opinion. Unfortunately his orders have been declining presumably due to less people using 203/205 doublers in general, opting for the planetary boxes like NWF and ORD instead so he probably isn't going to be making any more kits.
Also called ORD and spoke with Chris H, sent him some specs and pics, and he said their shaft is also a direct replacement for Jed's kit and is $295 by itself. Their 203/205 GM adapters are also 3" and the same style as Jed's so that definitely gives me additional insurance should anything happen to the 8620 Jed's shaft which again, I no longer question the strength in at all.
Lastly, the ECO Box being the same dimensions I could have thrown one of those in front of the stock 205 with their figure 8 adapter to get nearly the same effect as a 203 in front of the Lomax but the Lomax is considerably stronger than a stock 205 and I really wanted to use it in this build at this point since this is my all out, ultimate strength build. I actually still plan on putting an ECO Box in front of the stock 205 and using it in a future badass rig that I'll also never finish, LOL. I've come to accept I have a problem with hoarding 4x4 parts.
Anyway, figured this was useful info to someone but obviously most won't need it.
I'm glad you get the problem worked out but I fail to see how this helps me end up with the Lomax? 
i always wanted a lowmax 205 also .
Also went ahead and ordered a new 32 spline input for the stock 205 and a new 32 spline front output for the Lomax. The stock 205 already had a 32 spline front output but the Lomax had a 30 spline front output.
I'm glad you get the problem worked out but I fail to see how this helps me end up with the Lomax?
Hahaha, I know. I had been somewhat looking for awhile before getting this one and I had to buy a whole blazer to get it. They are pretty damn hard to come by since they are no longer being produced. There was one in Nashville for like $1,300 that I just missed 2 yrs ago and I kicked myself over that for a long time. Most people want $2k for them even used just because they are so rare now.
