oldestof11 wrote:Do you have 3.54's or 4:10's?
Personally, the 1st Gen drivetrain is crap for pulling as is. You need to swap in and flip a NV271 from a 3rd Gen to get the low gearing we need. The NP205 is weaker and only has a 1.96:1. In fact, 1st gear 4x4 HIGH is just a tad bit faster (5.9xx to 5.5xx) than 2nd 4x4 LOW. Then you have a 3.xx:1 in 3rd 4x4 LOW which is too fast even with 4:10's.
Then you have the Dana 70.
I have 4 hooks, about 20-30 drag strip passes, and numerous street launches on my stock Sach's clutch. It holds pretty good. I have even slipped it quite good and it still holds 3rd, 4th, and 5th.
I would be careful when I said generation "x" trucks powertrain is crap for pulling... I know of many nights this certain gen 1, VE pumped, 205 truck sent them packin in their shiny newer crap.
1st, high range? maybe in stock class about 2005!
3rd gear, low range with a 205 and "non-highway" gearing is going to be the minimum if you want to get serious about kicking some asz. Don't forget the dual disc. My next move is direct, low.
The 205 will go a long way behind a VE truck pulling. Put a T6 billet rear bearing retainer on and run it. You can also upgrade the rear output shaft to one with no oil grooves. Or one that is supposedly cut from a blank dana 80 pinion $$$. The 205's "weakness" is the tall 1.96 low range which creates more bind internally with the helical cut gears that creates thrust and with massive cummins torque, the case splits. Thats why there is a PROFAB kit the mod gas guys run with straight cut gears, I believe it is 3.00 reduction in low, last I knew the 29 spline input dodge kit wasn't being made yet.
The 241/271 are plenetary drive 2.72 low range cases. They have less internal bind due to design differences. They can break too, the chains stretch and the thrust washers go out in the plentaries. I have had 4 of them pass through my shop with broken cases.
Junk the dana 70 and go GM 14 bolt FF, or dana 80.
Deep axle ratios are the real secret of successful pulling trucks. The mechanical advantage takes the strain off of the rest of the driveline and passes it to the axle shaft. Make that VE motor sing... if she goes, she goes
, and if she blows, she blows
.
Here's the little old VE truck taking it out the gate...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADqtVKVCM7Q