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Klune V-Would you buy one?

toyotajeep

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So I am chatting with a buddy and he says he has a 31-spline in and out Klune-V. He will sell it to me pretty cheaply. I know they have been out of business for a few years etc. I have done some cursory searching and it looks like some parts are available here and there. I am concerned about parts availability.

Would you touch one? More importantly do you think I could get parts? I am thinking about using a different trans which would require a different input etc.

If I kept it as it is, I'd be into the whole tranny and t.case less than 1/3rd of the price of an atlas.

This is for a future project so not a hurry.
 
I bought a 2.72 Klune years ago. Still use it. No problems after the install. I would buy an Off Road Design Magnum today, they are a better design and still have support.

www.offroaddesign.com

Offroad Design Magnum Underdrive

The new Offroad Design Magnum Box is our super compact 4 speed transfer case system featuring our "fat shaft" technology that truly equips you to use any of the available ranges without fear of breaking the intermediate shaft. The Magnum Box retains the 1:1 and 1.96:1 ratio that an NP205 has...
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Depends on how cheap.

I thought they're the 1st to use t-case planetary sets to avoid making new gears. So I'd imagine all moving parts are available.
 
Im a fan of 1 t-case and a v fucking 8, so id skip on that long heavier drivetrain and additional backlash.
 
toyotajeep said:
So I am chatting with a buddy and he says he has a 31-spline in and out Klune-V. He will sell it to me pretty cheaply. I know they have been out of business for a few years etc. I have done some cursory searching and it looks like some parts are available here and there. I am concerned about parts availability.

Would you touch one? More importantly do you think I could get parts? I am thinking about using a different trans which would require a different input etc.

If I kept it as it is, I'd be into the whole tranny and t.case less than 1/3rd of the price of an atlas.

This is for a future project so not a hurry.
Click to expand...
If you need to swap inputs, probably not the best thing to buy without finding out if you can get the input you need first. I’d run a Klune and not worry about breaking it.
 
What are you gona swap input to?
Gm/jeep may not be an issue, modern ford or any dodge will probably be a big problem.

I forget exactly what they were based on but irrc they the first np/nv based crawl boxes so matching gear pitches with the output shaft, the custom part.
 
total newb said:
What are you gona swap input to?
Gm/jeep may not be an issue, modern ford or any dodge will probably be a big problem.

I forget exactly what they were based on but irrc they the first np/nv based crawl boxes so matching gear pitches with the output shaft, the custom part.
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:confused: If it’s 31 spline in and out, the only thing it will bolt directly into currently is a ford. And those Klune-V’s were based on the Ford planetary gears from a stock Superduty transfer case. They came in 2 ratios, 2.72:1 which is the stock Ford planetary. Then they had 4:1 and I’m not sure how they accomplished that.
 
JR4X said:
:confused: If it’s 31 spline in and out, the only thing it will bolt directly into currently is a ford. And those Klune-V’s were based on the Ford planetary gears from a stock Superduty transfer case. They came in 2 ratios, 2.72:1 which is the stock Ford planetary. Then they had 4:1 and I’m not sure how they accomplished that.
Click to expand...
The biggest thing is he says he wants to put a different trans infront of it but no info on what he wants to use.

4:1 is more than likely using the jeep or241 gear set or the 1 aftermarket 231 4:1 (i cant recall who made them atm) which are 2 off oe or completely custom input for anything other than jeep 21/23 spl.

2.72 is the standard np/nv ratio and is not ford specific. The 24/31/34 spl inputs are the ford specific part. Depending on what the gear pitch is for the planetary inputs maybe limited.

As i remember, 24/34 spl are ford only late model spline counts with means post '94 pitch only, if he pitch is pre 95 (early) those inputs are off the table, period. If he wanted to dodge/gm/jeep spl there maybe options to do that.
 
Unless it was a perfect fit for my application, no. Even then I'd be apprehensive of not being able to source parts.
 
Sorry for the late reply. It came out from behind a 4R70 Ford Auto which is 31 spline as I recall. He had the Ford 205 behind the Klune. I know alot of Bronco guys run the 205 directly behind that Ford auto.

It is my intention to run the Klune between a Ford NP435 and a Ford 205 that are currently married up.

After digging around I found reference to some guy using a Teraflex sourced gear set when his went bad or something. I am guessing they used off the shelf planetary gears. Can't find any real information online about current parts or availability. Website is dead etc.

The price is very reasonable so that I will likely buy it and use it on one of my Bronco projects. It is a buddy deal and he converted to an Atlas so he knows it works etc. because he ran it.

I appreciate your help. I really do. Thank you.
 
JR4X said:
If you need to swap inputs, probably not the best thing to buy without finding out if you can get the input you need first. I’d run a Klune and not worry about breaking it.
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I shouldn't need to swap. I am kind of a low-HP type of crawler. It will likely get put into your typical Dana 60/14 bolt crawler with a 5.0 Ford engine. Nothing spectacular. Front is 35 spline and tires will be 40's.
 
toyotajeep said:
Sorry for the late reply. It came out from behind a 4R70 Ford Auto which is 31 spline as I recall. He had the Ford 205 behind the Klune. I know alot of Bronco guys run the 205 directly behind that Ford auto.

It is my intention to run the Klune between a Ford NP435 and a Ford 205 that are currently married up.

After digging around I found reference to some guy using a Teraflex sourced gear set when his went bad or something. I am guessing they used off the shelf planetary gears. Can't find any real information online about current parts or availability. Website is dead etc.

The price is very reasonable so that I will likely buy it and use it on one of my Bronco projects. It is a buddy deal and he converted to an Atlas so he knows it works etc. because he ran it.

I appreciate your help. I really do. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Thats 31-31. It will fit as is then.
 
Depending on how cheap, I'd do it if I didn't plan to drive it a lot on the highway.

The shaft between the box and tcase is unsupported, so I'd expect it to wear out quicker than a nwf or ord box.

They had a 4:1 way before the Rubicon was released, so I'm also curious where they sourced that from.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
Depending on how cheap, I'd do it if I didn't plan to drive it a lot on the highway.

The shaft between the box and tcase is unsupported, so I'd expect it to wear out quicker than a nwf or ord box.

They had a 4:1 way before the Rubicon was released, so I'm also curious where they sourced that from.
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I wasn’t aware of the highway capabilities of it. I need to give the guy a call we are friends and he has a lot more horsepower than I will ever have. And he drives his a lot I’ll find out.

What I would like to find is some type of owners manual or something.
 
toyotajeep said:
I wasn’t aware of the highway capabilities of it. I need to give the guy a call we are friends and he has a lot more horsepower than I will ever have. And he drives his a lot I’ll find out.

What I would like to find is some type of owners manual or something.
Click to expand...

I'm only speaking from seeing lots of issues with older Toyota dual cases wearing out due to lack of spud shaft support.
 
toyotajeep said:
2.72
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I’d run it. It’s going to be mostly np241 components with a few custom parts. Not that different than any of the current planetary crawlers on the market. The 2.72 version I think was very reliable.
 
benw said:
I’d run it. It’s going to be mostly np241 components with a few custom parts. Not that different than any of the current planetary crawlers on the market. The 2.72 version I think was very reliable.
Click to expand...
It should have been the stock planetary from a Ford NP271 including a stock input shaft.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
So what were the 4:1 versions?
Click to expand...
I believe it used the same planetary as the teraflex 4:1 for the np231.

Someone said above that it used the np241or planetary but I doubt that is correct because the Klune-v came out way before the np241or.
 
benw said:
I believe it used the same planetary as the teraflex 4:1 for the np231.

Someone said above that it used the np241or planetary but I doubt that is correct because the Klune-v came out way before the np241or.
Click to expand...

Must have been, unless they were making their own.

I agree. I feel like I remember klune v from at least early 2000s maybe even late 90s?

Rubicon wasn't until 04?
 
JR4X said:
It should have been the stock planetary from a Ford NP271 including a stock input shaft.
Click to expand...
Don’t the 241 and 271 share most of the planetary components? I think you can put a 271 input shaft into a 241 to make it 31 spline.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
Must have been, unless they were making their own.

I agree. I feel like I remember klune v from at least early 2000s maybe even late 90s?

Rubicon wasn't until 04?
Click to expand...
At least 1999 if not earlier.

The rubicon came out in 2002 as a 2003 model year.
 
benw said:
Don’t the 241 and 271 share most of the planetary components? I think you can put a 271 input shaft into a 241 to make it 31 spline.
Click to expand...
Possibly. I don’t remember why I’m so certain that the 271 parts were sourced from Ford but I am certain I’m certain. Or I was. Or I made it up.

I had friends that had them when they were new and I was more into the crawler stuff. They were only 6 1/2 inches long total and a 205 or a D300 with one is almost the same total length as any 2 speed chain case but with way better gearing.

Giving it a quick search the 4:1 is rated for far less torque input than the 2.72 was. The 2.72 version was called the the Goliath and the 4.1 called David. Torque input rating may have been limited due to the crazy extra stress the 4:1 would put on the input of the t-case but I don’t see it explained that way anywhere. I thought it was because the 2.72 was from heavier duty trucks. I may have made that up all on my own also.
 
Depends on how cheap....Considering you can do eco box and eco box I for Fords using 271 gear sets....$1500
 
bunk said:
Im a fan of 1 t-case and a v fucking 8, so id skip on that long heavier drivetrain and additional backlash.
Click to expand...
The NWF box adds max 8" or so. Unless you're using it in a sub 90" wheelbase 100% easy to pkg.

Some of us like to crawl no spin and not rev the Piss out of shit. :flipoff2:
 
I half considered not even taking one for free…. But I did. Makes an excellent paperweight. The 32 spline shaft between the klune and 205 is nowhere near as good as what’s out there nowadays.

I have 2 magnum boxes, I’ll buy another if the need arises.
 

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