Advance Adapters: Vintage Saturn Overdrive to the Latest Tremec TR4050 4x4 Transmission Conversions

Advance Adapters has met the needs of the 4x4 community since 1971. A legacy product for 1941-71 Jeep 4x4s with Model 18 Spicer transfer cases is the (Warn-design) Saturn Overdrive, which Advance Adapters has manufactured and improved since 1991. The unit fits neatly at the PTO opening and provides a 25% planetary overdrive for highway use with split shifting between transmission gears.
Fast forward to the contemporary 5-speed overdrive, heavy duty aluminum case Tremec TR4050 4x4 transmission that is now available through Advance Adapters. A replacement for the NV4500, these new TR4050 transmissions feature a synchromesh 6.16:1 first gear plus 5th overdrive. Rated 600 lb-ft torque, the TR4050 is an ideal conversion for a gasoline V8 into a 4x4 Jeep®, Land Cruiser, early Bronco or 4x4 light truck. Steve Roberts walks us through this popular conversion strategy.
For more information and how-to visit www.4WDmechanix.com and forums.4WDmechanix.com.

[@user-im2tc6pl9i]

How bout 80s 454 2wd infrequent car towing, 12 gvw ? Adequate torque capacity?

[@RoadReadywithMosesLudel]

During that era, I used the Advance Adapters Ranger "Torque Splitter" that commonly went between a Chevrolet V8 bellhousing and an SM465 Muncie truck 4-speed. 0.73% overdrive and a rugged torque rating made the two-speed Ranger gearbox popular. Though no longer manufactured due to alternative conversions like an NV4500 or NV5600 transmission, or the new Tremec TR4050 design that Steve Roberts and I discuss in the video, the Ranger Torque Splitter would work well with an SM465 4-speed in a 2WD hauler. If you cannot find a used Torque Splitter, a used NV4500 or NV5600 conversion might be cost-effective. The Saturn Overdrive is exclusively for a Model 18 Jeep or early Scout application and would be too light duty for your truck's torque and load requirements. The Saturn is designed to fit in the PTO opening of the Model 18 Spicer transfer case.