bulletproof running gears
 

im getting ready to start the build up of my truck im changing frames to make it 4x4 but i was wondering what is the best transfer case , manual shift trans and rear end and front diff. i want the combo to be bulletproof. the only thing is that i dont really want a bulldog 4 speed can i use a 5 speed out of a newer 4x4 pickup say a 89 or newer?

NP205 transfer case, NV4500 5 speed tranny (need adapter to mate together) dana 60 front and gm 14 bolt Full float rear end. Can you say $$$$$$$.
Realistic, what tires do you want to run? Say <35s then dana 44 front and dana 60 rear.

Yep, what Jim said

If you want to spend the dough invest in a richmond 5 speed and either a divorced NP205 or spend some more cash and drop in an atlas :) oh and don't forget a set of unimog or (portal) axles! Wait did he say bulletproof or my dream machine?

You know you could put in a TH400 thats just as tough as that manual NV4500. Its an auto which is a major plus in a truck in my view.

trans
 

im new to the 4 wheel drives but dont the trans have to be for a 4 wheel drive i know an auto trans has to be for a 4x4 or atleast the tail shaft has to be changed to the really short ones but will a richmond 4 or 5speed work with a 4x4

DIVORCED is a transfer case that runs as an independent unit meaning not mated to your transmission, there is usually some sort of a driveshaft type piece linking the two. Married is what you are familiar with the two are combined. It is my experience that 1 anything can be accomplished if you want it done and 2 if you don't know how someone with the experience and expertise can be paid to do it for the right price or 3 you can do the reasearch and have the ambition to do it yourself this being the least expensive route. Hope this helped and good luck

learning
 

believe it or not a year and a half ago i knew nothing about cars i just watched my dad work on them all the time but i just watched never asked anything so i still didnt know anything about other then i have seen that thing before. but me and my friend started researching stuff a year ago on the internet and we just now got done putting a gt 302 in a 95 fordranger with a c5 trans and a shift kit in it that we did are self the 302 has a 480 lift roller cam we did are self victor junior intake holley carb, msd distruibtor and we are now taking the trans out and installing a 2800 stall we lowered it c notch kit dvd player and playstaiton 2 push button starter. nether one of us knew what we was doing we just did lots of reading and i have pulled the motor from my 71 chevy and pulled one from an old monte carlo and put it in my by myself my brother helped me sit the hood off i did all the rest i just like challenging my self
me and my friend are wanting to learn to weld and do metal work after we do some researching and learn to weld good enough he is going to put sucide doors on his 95 ranger and shave his door handles, and tailgate latch...lol

Everyones born knowing nothing. And the older I get the less I know. Those are my two favorite Quotes. Good Luck

If you want pretty good stuff for the least money, get the stock SM465 4 speed trany hooked up to a 205 transfer case. This setup is very common and not expensve, about 500 dollars. You can find 205's with different size output shafts. I have an 87 1-ton that has 32 splines and a 72 pu with only 10. try to find the big one from someone that doesn't know what it is. Also a turbo400 and a 205 is a really good setup too, but more money, unless you get lucky.

A corp-14 from say a 1979 truck is common as hell and also pretty reasonable. I just rebuilt one end to end with a locker for about 800, but you can get a good one for about $400 to $500.

The spendy item is the dana 60 front. They are worth about 800 to 1000. Make sure it is a Chevy as the spring perches are part of the banjo casting. A dana 44 can be built really stong also, but the parts to do that can also be very costly. Unless you are running really big tires and high horsepower, the 44 will be fine.

That is the best stock stuff for a beer drinkers budget.

good luck