Atlas...UH OH!

[redrooster]

Last time out, I grenaded my transfer case on the first day of a 3 day ride. That's all right, I had ordered an Atlas the night before.
Well, now the Atlas is here and I'm running into all kinds of issues. To start, I bought an Adapter from Novak Conversions. It is the shortest one you can get but requires the transmission shaft be replaced. I got a local shop to disassemble the transmission and replace the shaft. It only took them a day and a half, so that was good because I was anxious to get the Atlas in there.
I managed to wrestle the transmission back in unassisted and started to bolt on the adapter plate and take some measurements. Dohh!!!
The Atlas is going to hit my fancy traction bar brackets that are welded t the frame rail. This usually wouldn't present a problem for a high stepper, but since I moved last year, I don't have access to the cache of welders and torches that I once had. I'm going to have to farm the removal out to a local shop which goes against my nature.
The damage so far:
Atlas II transfer case
Novak Adapter and shaft kit
transmission shaft swap
traction bar removal
new exhaust
new traction bars
I hope the Atlas is worth it. I'm in too deep to go back now. I'll try to get some pics on here when the swap is done.

 

[far_right]

ill buy it and put it in my Z71 :mrgreen: ill give $3.58 for it

which ratio is it

hope you get everything straight

 

[cewtwo]

Geez... I have a welder now. And I never thought I'd have a need for one... Then I got the YJ...

I can't answer your issues, but I can commiserate...

 

[Sully]

I hope the Atlas is worth it. I'm in too deep to go back now. I'll try to get some pics on here when the swap is done.

If you got the twin stick yea it's worth it! Sorry but I have no experiance with any atlas. Hope you figure it out and slap that sucker in there without to much trouble.

 

[currupt4130]

yea its worth it, ive seen quite a few of em go to work and its def worth it

 

[redrooster]

They all come with twin sticks and that is another issue I will have to address. Fortunately, I'm pretty good at fabbing transmission cover plates. This will be the third one I have made for it. It will be aluminum of course.
I got the brackets torched off this morning, so I am set for a weekend of wrenching to get the Atlas in there. Barring any more problems, I will have it in tomorrow. Everything should go pretty well from here. Then it will have to go back for exhaust and then to one of my boys to get a new traction bar setup.
If I can clock the case flat enough, I may be able to build a new crossmember and skid pan setup that will barely sit below the frame rails. The floor boards should be the only thing in the way of doing that. My buddy is trying to talk me into stretching the wheel base more by moving the rear axle back another 6 inches. I told him the well was dry at this point and I don't see myself having to drop another $500 for a new driveshaft and fuel cell. It has currently got a 101" wheel base.
I still can't believe I have to butcher up my 6 month old exhaust. That Sucks!

 

[Junkpile]

From a strength standpoint, it's really worth it. Are you running it behind the TH400? If so, the extra rear driveshaft length can't hurt anything.....but with a 101" wheelbase, that probably isn't a concern.