Which Transmission, suspension, motor...?

[Upstate]

If you're running sand and mud...definately auto....here in the mountains I run my rig (Jeep) with a '92 Tuned Port Injected 5.0, older SM 465, Ford Dana 60 high pinion front and Dana 60 rear with 5.13s and detroit lockers on both ends.
Atlas TC, 3.8:1 gives me a crawl ratio of about 135:1 in Low/Low

The biggest advantage with the 465 is the hold-back on these STEEP, downhill mountain trails. For the road, I wouldn't give 2¢ for it.

We don't do much crawling over rock, more over downed trees(dead trees - put this in so any DEC officers reading this don't stop at my house). A lot of steep hills with washpan or some shale. My big concern is mud pack auto with heat then wheeling in the sand.

 

[muddysub]

Just unloaded a 4L80E for a friend tonight. Holy crap Batman that is a big transmission. Makes the 400 look tiny.

Yeah they're beefy, I sold the old th400 to use my 4L80E.

 

[Upstate]

Got my price back from Bowtie, $1800 and some change for the 700r4. I am going to be almost $1500 for the 400 with converter. I will be around $300 to have the SM465 up to speed. But I could sell the complete hydro bell set up towards the auto along with the 465s.

 

[Upstate]

Got my price back from Bowtie, $1800 and some change for the 700r4. I am going to be almost $1500 for the 400 with converter. I will be around $300 to have the SM465 up to speed. But I could sell the complete hydro bell set up towards the auto along with the 465s.

I can't find a Th400 from a decent company for much less than $1300. Add in converter and now I am within a stones throw from a well put together 700.

 

[kennyw]

No reason not to go with the Bowtie Overdrives when the prices are that close.

 

[Upstate]

The only wrinkle is now I am seriously thinking about going 5.3 with a 4l80 backed behind a 241.

 

[kennyw]

The only wrinkle is now I am seriously thinking about going 5.3 with a 4l80 backed behind a 241.

I would suggest not spending money until you decide

 

[Upstate]

I would suggest not spending money until you decide

That is the beauty of it, you never know till your done.

 

[muddysub]

That is the beauty of it, you never know till your done.

Thats the truth.

 

[Upstate]

Inside of one of the two SM465 I have. Super clean inside, rotated it till I found the biggest issue. Being it sat a little bit with no oil contact on one gear it looks like I got a little surface rust. Can be seen in the one picture. All of the gears look excellent though.