RonD/85Ranger4x4:
My mom's Fairlane had a 4 spd column shifter, I believe the pattern was:
R 2 4
| | |
-- --
| |
1 3
Neighbours had a Datsun mini-truck with 5 speed on tree.
Even when I was in high school, column shifting manuals slowed down the masses from being able to drive your truck.
pjtoledo:
Do you mean eliminate low range versus eliminate the transfer case?
I'm actually surprised more manufacturer haven't integrated the t-case into the transmission. Building transmission and transfer case all as one unit does make them more rigid - we see that already with integral bell housings
Drawback are:
It commits you to one supplier for both the transmission and transfer case. Expertise in one area doesn't necessarily mean expertise in the other.
And eliminating low range also removes the options of a deep low range ala NP241OR in the Jeep Rubicons.
But Ford probably needs to pick its battles there: desert/mud, not rock crawler.
The other one which surprises me is that there aren't more cam, aka sequential, shifted manuals. Motorcycles have had them for decades. You still have the control of a manual, but don't need worry about missing a gate. (Much easier for beginner to learn).
Quaife in the Nissan Skyline has both sequential shifter and integrated transfer case.
lvwill:
I hear you on crawl ratios, but I doubt it happens - high gear multiplication in transmission means you need thick shafts/large bearings in transmission to support, heavier u-joints, thicker driveshafts, larger differentials - all of which add weight and friction. Given the CAFE limits, we're stuck with double overdrives.
Personally:
I was thinking more likely the ZF 6 speed ratios, i.e. 5.79 1st, 0.72 6th then 0.57 7th with 5.13 axle ratios. Ideally, I would go even deeper with 1st, e.g. NP435 6.68 1st. Then your crawl ratio in 1st isn't significantly different than the M5OD 1st - 3.40, low range in 1354 - 2.48 with 3.73 gears, which was the most common configuration.
If your building a fully synchronized, i.e. including reverse, 6 speed, adding 7th speed only requires ~4cm, a sychro, needle bearing, snap ring and 2 gears. Much less than 10+cm for low range, and fewer parts. Based on a BW1354, low range needs: sun gear with needle bearing, planet carrier (which is a 4 part assembly) with 3 planet gears, ring gear, snap ring, shifter fork (which is a 3 part assembly) with wear pads. 5 parts vs 15, of which it is 2 versus 5 for the precision machined gears.
So, if you're reducing cost of manufacture, go with the 7 spd Lighter/costs less/better fuel economy & meets requirements of most.