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Doubler cost vs. Atlas

70jimmy said:
Greg72 said:
Even though it's made of aluminum, the Atlas4 has done a respectable job of holding my garage floor down...

It's not good for the Atlas transfer cases to sit for long periods of time without lubrication and movement of the internal parts. So to ensure that it will be in good working order when you are ready to use it I would be happy to install it in my rig to be sure it gets the periodic lubrication required to protect your investment. I would even pay shipping both ways. Just to help a brother out!!
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Short distance shipping is really not good on an Aluminum T case either, 70jimmy should be willing to pay to ship it all the way to the West Coast, to me. Thats just the exact right amount of shipping to keep it perfect working condition, of course after trail use on the Hammers trails. Thats the perfect breaking in period it needs and must have to work properly. To Colorado wont work, that will just ruin it. :D :p: :haha: :rotfl:
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I think if you already have a 203 in good shape that bolts to your trans or a 205 in good shape, a doubler is probably your best bet (unless you have a real short WB or light weight rig). I like the concept of the 241/205 doubler better anyway. Lighter, lower gears, and 4 speeds. But it reqires more fab work and doesn't really save any $$$.

Otherwise I think the Atlas is the way to go. By the time you get both cases for doubler, rebuild them, get the right adapters and outputs, the doubler kit, the triple stick, modded shift rails, crossmembers etc, you might as well just get the Atlas.

Question: How much longer is the 4 speed Atlas?
 
BGKYK5 said:
I think if you already have a 203 in good shape that bolts to your trans or a 205 in good shape, a doubler is probably your best bet (unless you have a real short WB or light weight rig). I like the concept of the 241/205 doubler better anyway. Lighter, lower gears, and 4 speeds. But it reqires more fab work and doesn't really save any $$$.

Otherwise I think the Atlas is the way to go. By the time you get both cases for doubler, rebuild them, get the right adapters and outputs, the doubler kit, the triple stick, modded shift rails, crossmembers etc, you might as well just get the Atlas.

Question: How much longer is the 4 speed Atlas?
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That expression always costs me money.... :D


:usaflag:
 
read original post closer

From Advance Adapters website
The Atlas 2 speed (4.3:1) prices at $2295 + shifters.

ORD will provide a complete doubler (w/ rebuilt cases) for about the same price.

The cheapest alternative w/o bells and whistles--
I picked up a 203 compatible w/ my tranny for $50 (doesn't appear to need a rebuild). Have a rebuilt 205 that needs machining for the larger bearing in the doubler kit or NW Fab is offering an intermediate shaft that will use the smaller bearing (205=$0). Doubler kit = $700. Drivelines = $300 (guessing). Steel for additional crossmember = $100. Dual stick shifter = $185.

Seems to me that the DIY doubler w/o rebuilding tcases is about $1000 cheaper. Of course my time is free :rolleyes:

Am i missing something??

Didn't read the original post close enough......any benefit of the doubler except COST :doah:
 
Last edited:
72blazerguy said:
From Advance Adapters website
The Atlas 2 speed (4.3:1) prices at $2295 + shifters.

ORD will provide a complete doubler (w/ rebuilt cases) for about the same price.

The cheapest alternative w/o bells and whistles--
I picked up a 203 compatible w/ my tranny for $50 (doesn't appear to need a rebuild). Have a rebuilt 205 that needs machining for the larger bearing in the doubler kit or NW Fab is offering an intermediate shaft that will use the smaller bearing (205=$0). Doubler kit = $700. Drivelines = $300 (guessing). Steel for additional crossmember = $100. Dual stick shifter = $185.

Seems to me that the DIY doubler w/o rebuilding tcases is about $1000 cheaper. Of course my time is free :rolleyes:

Using the smaller intermediate shaft may not be as durable, but I'm not planning on running tires bigger than 38" anyway. Am i missing something??
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To each his own. This debate could go on and on and on and...... you get the idea. The benifits of NOT having to fab a second crossmember and mod the front one is a huge benifit, the longer drive shaft length and lessoned drive angles is a huge benifit in a K5, especially the rear shaft angle. My time is not always free. Weight savings is a benifit too. The only NON benifit or issue is cost period. There's nothing about a doubler that is a better benifit then an Atlas. It it a better setup any way you look at it period, EXCEPT cost. By the time you mod the front crossmember, buy the steel to make a second crossmember, use welding wire, gas for the welder, electricity to weld and grind everything, buy the paint and paint it up and YES, your time, your near what an Atlas will cost. IF budget is a MAJOR deciding factor, and your time fabbing means nothing to you, then go doubler.
 
72blazerguy said:
From Advance Adapters website
The Atlas 2 speed (4.3:1) prices at $2295 + shifters.


I picked up a 203 compatible w/ my tranny for $50. Have a rebuilt 205 (205=$0).

Seems to me that the DIY doubler w/o rebuilding tcases is about $1000 cheaper. Of course my time is free :rolleyes:
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If everyone had access to free transfer cases like you....this discussion would be pointless.
 
odin said:
If everyone had access to free transfer cases like you....this discussion would be pointless.
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Got the 203 off Craiglist and the 205 was rebuilt for my K5 several years ago. I am going to try and put it together without rebuild kits for both cases which adds significant cost. Also, see my edit as my post was useless for this discussion.
 
I like the Atlas, but it would be the single most expensive part in my build. I can't shell out that much money for a single purchase. I'm going the doubler route. I already have a SM465 and NP205. I picked up a 203 with 10 spline input and adapter for $50. I'm keeping the adapter, but sold the input for $75. Bought a 32-spline NP203 for $50. Still need to purchase doubler setup and 32-spline main shaft for SM465. I'm hoping to find a Ford NP205 to steal the 31 spline input and 32 spline front output for another $50. I still need to take all the left over 203 parts to the scrap yard and recover a little cash. This is the cheapest/strongest solution I could come up with. It will also allow me to run a longer front drive shaft.
 
I just ordered my Atlas 4spd. As of now the cost is going up on the 4spd. It's a pretty big price increase too. It is already showing up on Advance Adapters site. The standard 4spd is now $3239.50 on their site which is about a $350 increase. We worked out a deal with Advance to offer them untill this Friday at $2650 plus shipping.
 
Oh poop! Why so much more? This is contradictory to economic recovery - uber inflation! At $2650 it was somewhat do-able, but not at $3239.:(
 
Just to further the argument, I did my doubler for under 700 including triple stick shifters.

Took about 4 years to find a 205 for well free in this case. Had come across quite a few for a couple hundred. I did not rebuild mine. I did not rebuild my 203, built my own shifters, had a buddy notch the rails on the shifters, built my own cross-members, and used the cheapest doubler out there.

So mine came in at just under 700 by the time it was in my truck and working, that said I would go 4 speed atlas if I had the money, not even a contest in my mind. If Stak would get their act together I would run a stak, I like them alot
 
72blazerguy said:
From Advance Adapters website
The Atlas 2 speed (4.3:1) prices at $2295 + shifters.

ORD will provide a complete doubler (w/ rebuilt cases) for about the same price.

The cheapest alternative w/o bells and whistles--
I picked up a 203 compatible w/ my tranny for $50 (doesn't appear to need a rebuild). Have a rebuilt 205 that needs machining for the larger bearing in the doubler kit or NW Fab is offering an intermediate shaft that will use the smaller bearing (205=$0). Doubler kit = $700. Drivelines = $300 (guessing). Steel for additional crossmember = $100. Dual stick shifter = $185.

Seems to me that the DIY doubler w/o rebuilding tcases is about $1000 cheaper. Of course my time is free :rolleyes:

Am i missing something??

Didn't read the original post close enough......any benefit of the doubler except COST :doah:
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I wouldnt really include drivelines in that equation. Swapping in the atlas will probably require some driveline mods, especially the front shaft since he wants to run a sm-465 with an atlas. Thats a really short setup and will probably require a bling 42 degree CV shaft
 
Adventurous 4x4 said:
I just ordered my Atlas 4spd. As of now the cost is going up on the 4spd. It's a pretty big price increase too. It is already showing up on Advance Adapters site. The standard 4spd is now $3239.50 on their site which is about a $350 increase. We worked out a deal with Advance to offer them untill this Friday at $2650 plus shipping.
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Hell I thought it over 3K so not a shock to me really. I figured $3300 anyways.
 
I'll let you guys know how a 465/203/205 setup works in a Burb once I get it done. Only a couple hundred into it, but I still need to get the doubler adapters and shifters. I'm going to splurge on the shifters and get the cable ones from NWF. Weight and length are no issue for me, and cost is relatively low.

As it is I dont know if I even need that low gearing with the granny low in the trans. In 4lo the truck will drive itself up a steep hill. But then where would the shock and awe factor be if I just stuck with stock:rolleyes:

Maybe I should get the truck home first...................its still in KS and I'm in ND.​
 
I was a little shocked at that much of a price increase too. I do understand the reason why though. Even with the price increase we should be able to come in cheaper then the price on their site. I ordered mine with cable shifters, 1350 rear cv flange, 1410 front yoke, and clocked flat. I should have it in 6 to 8 weeks.
 
Adventurous 4x4 said:
The standard 4spd is now $3239.50 on their site which is about a $350 increase.
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Yikes, that sure makes the doubler more attractive. I'm sure they'll still sell a ton of them to the bought not built J33P crowd. :rolleyes:

By the time I can afford it, there should be a bunch of used 4 speeds out there anyway. :D
 
BGKYK5 said:
Yikes, that sure makes the doubler more attractive. I'm sure they'll still sell a ton of them to the bought not built J33P crowd. :rolleyes:

By the time I can afford it, there should be a bunch of used 4 speeds out there anyway. :D
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They really don't lose their value much. Even used they will run around 2200 to 2500.
 
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