Transmission shot

[B'ham Jeeper]

Hey guys,

Same friend that has the 78 CJ-7 has another question. So he got his muffler installed....welded and it looks really good. He rewired after some of the wires melted....so he got in to drive it, backed up and the transmission went out. It is a 3 speed with a AMC 304 V8. Transmission goes into gear as expected but the wheels act like it is in nutral. Locked in front hub and tested, still nothing. The clutch linkage is ok.

So what kind of transmission is in this jeep? Is there a 4 speed that will bolt in? He lives in an apartment so all work is being done in the parking lot.

Any advice? He is thinking that he will never get to drive this....

 

[Junkpile]

It should be a Borg Warner T150 three speed, which was the standard transmission in 76-79 232, 258, and 304 powered Jeeps. It's a small cast iron cased three speed with a 2.99:1 first gear. They hold up okay to the 304, they just don't like aggressive shifting.

There is no perfect bolt-up solution, except for the Jeep T-18 and then you still need other parts for the conversion. The Ford T-18 and NP435 can also be easily used with some adapting. Those are big heavy HD truck boxes though. The granny gear fround in most of them, as well as their bomb-proof nature, make them popular for trail rigs. The downside is that they are heavy truck transmissions, and it feels like you are driving a 93" wheelbase dumptruck out on the road. Unless you actually need that deep gearing, he should consider the Tremec T176 four speed, like would be found in some early 80s CJs. The advantage is that it's a lightweight medium duty aluminum four speed which has a deeper first gear(3.5X:1) and a closer gear spread compared to the T150, which works better with the 304. In a lightweight CJ, they also handle power quite well. The other advantage is that you have to use the Dana 300 Tcase that also came in the donor Jeep, unless you use an adapter... but it woud be cheaper and better to just grab a used Dana 300 rather than mess with the Dana 20. It has a lower low-range than the Dana 20 in your buddies CJ, and it is a little stronger. Just make sure you grab the driveshafts too, the whole shebang basically drops in.

 

[currupt4130]

Go with the T176 like Junkpile said. It's a good reliable drivetrain.

 

[redrooster]

x3 on the T176/Dana 300 combo.
If he absolutely wants another 3 speed, he can probably post on the local CAOS boards and get one nearly free. Off Road Connection will likely have one also, but he will have to pay. Rebuilds are uneconomical since most folks would give you one to haul it off.

 

[B'ham Jeeper]

Thanks guys....

He had it towed today to a tranmission shop. He is now waiting on a quote, if it is to much he might go with the T176/Dana 300 combo.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[currupt4130]

Just tell him to get this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep...ryZ33733QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[B'ham Jeeper]

So Eric got a call from the transmission shop and they told him that the right rear axle shaft is broken. Would that keep it from going into gear? Remember he tested by putting it in 4wd too and nothing worked. So shouldn't the front wheels have moved even with the axle broken?

Any ideas or comments would be appreciated.

 

[redrooster]

Yes the front wheels would have pulled the Jeep if 4wd was engaged. You said he locked the hubs but didn't say he shifted into 4wd.
If the Jeep has the original two piece axle design, then he can and should upgrade to the one piece. There are many companies that have the kit such as Alloy USA, Superior and Yukon.
The old design had a splined hub at the wheel that was prone to strip out.
Scroll to the bottom of the page:
Superior Axle and Gear

 

[B'ham Jeeper]

Thanks Red,

Yeah he locked and shifted into 4wd.