How did he accomplish this?

[Johnnyb]

I saw this on FB today and it got me thinking: how?
"NP435 transmission , Advanced adapters overdrive box, Dana 20 T-case"
Where does the overdrive fit in that mix? I know they sell one that bolts on the back of the transmission, but I don't think it would fit on the Dana 20?

Thanks,
JB

 

[jamesroney]

I saw this on FB today and it got me thinking: how?
"NP435 transmission , Advanced adapters overdrive box, Dana 20 T-case"
Where does the overdrive fit in that mix? I know they sell one that bolts on the back of the transmission, but I don't think it would fit on the Dana 20?

Thanks,
JB

Was it the old Advance Adapters Ranger Overdrive, that sandwiches between the bell and the NP435?

You certainly cannot run the Warn / Saturn / Advance overdrive for the Dana 18 on the 20.

 

[73azbronco]

probably just miss stated what it really is.

 

[Jakedog]

If there are more out there, I want one for mine. An overdrive and an np435 would be awesome for me.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Way back in the 90s Vintage Broncos (now defunct Bronco shot in AZ) had there shop truck in a magazine. It was a NP435 with overdrive. 2-speed Ranger aftermarket transmission tucked in between the transmission and the bellhousing. Advance Adapters sold them, they might still do. I think ProtoFab ran one on the shop truck as well. Fairly expensive back in the day. Not that common.

Looks like the instructions were last updated in 2012 https://www.advanceadapters.com/Att...loadGuid=edcd1e66-2ca5-4a77-9326-b94e326811a2

 

[toddz69]

Way back in the 90s Vintage Broncos (now defunct Bronco shot in AZ) had there shop truck in a magazine. It was a NP435 with overdrive. 2-speed Ranger aftermarket transmission tucked in between the transmission and the bellhousing. Advance Adapters sold them, they might still do. I think ProtoFab ran one on the shop truck as well. Fairly expensive back in the day. Not that common.

Looks like the instructions were last updated in 2012 https://www.advanceadapters.com/Att...loadGuid=edcd1e66-2ca5-4a77-9326-b94e326811a2

I was going to say - Keith from Protofab ran one of those in his truck. It's still there although I don't think his truck has moved in years.

Todd Z.

 

[Steve83]

Just because it was put together doesn't mean it's driveable or practical. I saw a 7.3L turbo E4OD early Bronco, but it had no t-case and on hard bumps on pavement, the front diff hit the oil pan. That one may have a ridiculously-short rear driveshaft.

 

[Johnnyb]

I wish I had linked or screenshotted the post on Facebook. It was a blue 70 and the guy was considering selling it for what seems like a reasonable price 50 or 60k (for what he described). Description sounded like he knew what he was talking about. It was cross posted in a bunch of bronco groups but I couldn't find it when I searched for it later. I'm betting it was the adapter linked above because the new process shifter appear to be further back and I couldn't spot the T-case shifters, probably because they were further back too.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Just because it was put together doesn't mean it's driveable or practical. I saw a 7.3L turbo E4OD early Bronco, but it had no t-case and on hard bumps on pavement, the front diff hit the oil pan. That one may have a ridiculously-short rear driveshaft.

They worked, they were drivable. Lengthwise it really isn't that different than putting a doubler on the back.

It was just a time when people were building Broncos on the cheap with junkyard parts. The NP435 swap was a few hundred bucks to swap in. That overdrive would cost a few thousand to swap in. You only found them on high end builds, and there were only a few people doing high end builds 30 years ago. It was the cost that kept them from being popular. That overdrive cost as much as I paid for my first Bronco at the same time.

Later when people were spending a little more money at Broncos, the Atlas was a real high end upgrade. It did what the Ranger did but in a different way. A more highway friendly axle ratio that didn't need the overdrive AND the lower crawl ratio for offroad use. The Atlas costs were very close to what the Ranger costs as well.

 

[Yeller]

The NV4500 came along and really reduced the need for the Ranger. I have driven a few vehicles with them. What I really liked besides the OD was the ability to split 2nd and 3rd, gave an option between not enough RPM in 3rd and floating the valves in second. All of them I drove were with an SM465, but not really different that a 435 for the drive. Also reminded me of driving a twin stick semi, on shifts to the next higher gear the need to shift both leavers LOL. Although, that was only needed in high load situations, one of them was in a 1ton dually that we pulled a dumb heavy trailer with, it really needed a Peterbilt in front of it.

 

[toddz69]

I wish I had linked or screenshotted the post on Facebook. It was a blue 70 and the guy was considering selling it for what seems like a reasonable price 50 or 60k (for what he described). Description sounded like he knew what he was talking about. It was cross posted in a bunch of bronco groups but I couldn't find it when I searched for it later. I'm betting it was the adapter linked above because the new process shifter appear to be further back and I couldn't spot the T-case shifters, probably because they were further back too.

I think I saw that truck on FB yesterday or Saturday myself. Looked to be a really well-built rig for the price.

@Broncobowsher and @Yeller were spot-on with their comments - the Ranger was OBE with the swaps of OD transmissions coming into vogue in the mid '90s and the Atlas option for transfer cases.

Todd Z.

 

[Broncobowsher]

The NV4500 was huge for several years. Then the ZF took that spot.

I'll throw in the horrible choice, they did make a T5 kit. Wasn't complete, in both the kit and the instructions. Was just a lightly odified Jeep T6 tailhousing that could be grafted onto a Mustang T5. But the mustang T5 was installed at a funny angle and the kit needed it upright. Figure that out on your own. Then the T5 wasn't that great in a lightweight mustang. Put in a Bronco and it liked to twist the guts out of it. Then the worst part, the overdrive was geared way too tall to be useful. It was fine in a lightweight, aerodynamic, low drag car that had excess low end torque to idle away on the highway.

I've only driven a truck with a 2-speed rear end once. it was interesting getting through all the gears. And that was just a simple switch on the shifter, not a second lever.

 

[1969]

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/gear-vendors-vs-warn-vs-ranger-overdrives

 

[ntsqd]

I'd like to own one of those Ranger OD's. Not sure what I'd do with it, but I want one and have wanted one since I first read about them in something like the late 70's or early 80's.....

Edited to add: I'm dimly recalling that when the Rangers first came out that they were offered two ways, one was an OD and the other was an UD. Don't recall what the UD ratio was, but roughly on par with the OD ratio. I think those might have been a flash in the pan and perhaps none were ever sold?

 

[ntsqd]

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/gear-vendors-vs-warn-vs-ranger-overdrives

GV-OD Pros:

• Super tough and durable
• Extremely high power and weight capability

I call BS on the GV-ODs. Merely slightly off-idle in reverse kilt mine dead, and because of changes that I made to the truck to fit the unit it's been a PITA to revert the truck to not having it. I'd have left it in, but then I'd be forever putting it into 4-Hi just to back up. GV has the parts needed locked up, can't get them anywhere and they won't sell you the parts, you have to ship the OD to them for repair.
Strongly NOT Recommended!

 

[Johnnyb]

Too bad they don't make a Saturn type overdrive for the d20!

 

[Yeller]

Too bad they don't make a Saturn type overdrive for the d20!

And stronger, they barely hung on with a flathead 4cyl.

I too am in the camp of don’t know why, but I’d like to have a ranger unit.

 

[Johnnyb]

Personally I drove a lot of two speed axles and super 10's and I love the idea of being able to split gears in an EB. Wrap it up in third, go to 3rd and a half, drop it go to 4th and then go to 4th and a half!

 

[blade]

Here's a shot of the Bronco.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Low transfer case gears. I wonder if they are the Tera-Low or the O'Brien?
It is an interesting build. Has some of that 80's build vibe with the triple gas tanks. But also modern build with the brake choices. Explorer brakes on a D60 has me thinking of a wimpy 60, semi-floating axle. There was the 5x5½ full float D60 and i guess they could have got creative and put Explorer brakes on that?