83 CJ7 Tranny Options

OK here's the deal. My brother has an '83 CJ7 with a T5 transmission/ Dana 300 T-case mated to a SB350 via an Advanced Adapters Bellhousing.

He broke the T-5. We're waiting on a reply from Hawk62cj5 who has the T-5 for sale along with a twin stick 300, but while we wait I was wondering what some of his other options might be.

He would prefer to direct swap his T-5 for another T-5 but he'd be open for suggestions.

If there was an automatic tranny out there that would bolt up to his Chevy and the 300 I think he would go that route IF he could find one pretty reasonable and accessible.

 

Didn't amc stick some Th-400's in with the 300?

BUBBA

 

nope
in the early 80's, AMC switched to Mopar 904, 999, 727 transmissions

 

If he's into offroading, now might be the time to do a t18 swap. I did one on my 83 CJ-7 years ago. The stock t5 bellhousing has the pilot holes that only need to be drilled and tapped to bolt up a t18. Then you just need the adapter for the d300. Not exactly cheap, but if your into it anyway....
Guess you probably have a adapter bellhousing since it is running a SBC, don't know if a t18 would work or not....
If you can find a t4 tranny they are identical to the t5 just without the 5th gear. If you can find one cheap and don't mind loosing the 5th gear...?

 

thought some more about it, if you are busting t5s, and don't want to do a t18, might look for one of the t176 4 speeds. From everything I have read, they have a reputation for holding up much better than the sr-4/t4/t5 trannys. They were used with d300s so they should be a bolt in. I would check input spline count to make sure your clutch disc would work and then overall installed length to see if driveshafts would need mods.

 

The T-176 is ok, though it breaks mainshafts at the TC end according to Nick. He posted about it a while ago... just a passing reference, may be hard to find.

There was never a TF 727 in a CJ because the pan interferes with the PSD front driveshaft. The 904 and 999 would work ok, clear the pan, and are strong enough, but you may as well go to a TH350 or TH400 from a Chevy 4x4 truck. These trucks came with New Process transfer cases, and you should be able to find one with an output shaft with 23 splines (D300? IIRC). All the NP transfer cases have the same bolt pattern - you just have to make the spline count match. I'm no expert on mixing and matching the D300 with Chevys - I'd have to do some research - but maybe Nick, or Eric at Novak, or the guys at the IFSJA board could tell you what you need.

Don't spend a lot of money on that T-5...

 

Oh yeah the 400 was with the quadra trac wasn't it..

BUBBA

 

I have an 81 T-176 with 39,000 miles sitting on my garage floor that was used with a NP208, not sure if it something you can use. PM if interested.

 

If he wants an auto TH350 or a rebuilt 700R4 is way to go if he already has a chevy engine. HE is gonna have to buy an adapter to mate to the 300 but he'll be glad.

 

All sound like good ideas guys. Keep em coming. We're also talking to a guy here in Ms who is parting out a Scrambler. Not sure which tranny would be in it but we're checking.

Also, Hawk's checking shipping prices for his T-5

 

These guys might be worth calling, the unavailability flag just showed up a few months ago.
http://www.5speeds.com/t5/jeep.html

 

I don't believe the t176 will bolt in place of the t-5 depending on the adapter he is using. The amc bellhousing had provisions for both.

 

Torque Command out of an Iron Duke 4cyl CJ (Early '80s)

Chevy bolt pattern/D300 bolt pattern- no adapters.

 

You mean a Torque Flite 904? http://www.jeeptech.com/wiki/index.php/Transmission/Factory/904
That would be neat if you can find one.

 

Actually only the Chrysler ones were Torqueflites, the AMC version was the Torque Command.

They pop up fairly often, and usually the sellers can't seem to be able to sell them, even at $50 or less.

 

Additionally, that site has the HD 904 incorrectly listed as a 909.

It is actually a 999 (They made a 998 for MoPars, as well)

 

OK- I'm just going to stop reading that site- the first gear ratio is wrong as well 999 has a 2.74 first gear, and also added clutches over the 904.

Generally, the 904 was used originally in 6cyl MoPars, the 998 behind the 318, and the 999 behind 360s, and HD applications, and the innards are interchangeable- I used the guts and tailshaft/extension housing from my 6 cyl Scrambler combined with a V8 904 series from a Dodge to swap the MoPar 360 that is currently in my CJ8.

Easier swap than a Chevy, actually.

 

I still have old issues of four wheeler where Jimmy Nylund did a project mail jeep. He added a front axle, the 904(?) auto tranny and a dana 300. Rear shaft was really short but worked, the engine was a 232. I've contemplated this in the past, if I was to do it I would want a donor vehicle complete with the steering column (with shifter), pedals, and shift linkage. I guess one could go with a floor shifter but I always thought it would be cool to open up the floor area by staying with the column shift. I have seen two late model CJ7s (81-86) with factory 258/904/d300s....kinda weird to see only the tcase shifter on the floor....
Plus one would need to add a tranny cooler...