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One more question... Axles gears

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by BrettM0352, Aug 24, 2011.

  1. Aug 31, 2011
    Corveeper

    Corveeper Member

    Chanute, Kansas
    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2005
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    817
    Good point.
    The total cost of my transmission swap was probably just under $1000.
    A set of axle gears is going to cost, what, $200 per? That’s about $400 for both axles, rebuild kits for both are another hundo and a half each so you’re a good $700 in before even talking about labor to install them.
    Tera Low gears are around $800 aren’t they? Of course if you do the labor yourself you save money but my personal opinion is that your best bang for buck is with a truck transmission.
     
  2. Aug 31, 2011
    '74Renegade

    '74Renegade Active Member

    Fair Oaks, CA
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    Sep 1, 2005
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    I was in about $650 with my T-18, just for the adapter and rebuild with new bearings, 2nd gear and some syncros. The tranny was given to me and I did the rebuild myself. Then there are the extras to get it installed: bell housing, clutch/pressure plate, reworked drive shafts, flywheel resurfacing and in my case new exhaust. All told I think the price tag was about $1200. Had I spent the money to re gear the axles, even as low as 5.38 I wouldn't even have come close to the gear reduction I am getting with the T-18 and 3.73's, and I would have lost highway drive ability.
     
  3. Aug 31, 2011
    Corveeper

    Corveeper Member

    Chanute, Kansas
    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2005
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    817
    Mine was a little cheaper but I had a few things going for me. First, I was going from an SBC to a common GM transmission so I had a bell housing on hand that would do the job. Second I did replace the rear drive shaft with a custom length double cardan shaft but my transfer case position only shifted about 1” back and my front drive shaft had plenty of slip to handle the extra length. Third I didn’t include the price of a clutch because that had to be done regardless of a transmission swap and Welder Buddy handled making a cross member out of some material I had on hand, since the old one would no longer work.
    All together, and with the above conditions, my swap went together for between $900 and $1000.
     
  4. Aug 31, 2011
    trickpatrick

    trickpatrick Done? LOL

    North Idaho USA
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2006
    Messages:
    838
    This subject makes me cringe alittle everytime it comes up.
    I went through this a couple years ago and wish i had the hands on experiance I have now.

    I used all the calculators and asked ???

    But the minute I pulled my restored jeep out of the driveway I knew i made a mistake.
    And that is a sad way to find out you made a bad choice.

    I chose 3.73's and 31"s and a SM 420.

    And it was a dog on take off, as well as feeling like its in a 6th gear overdrive in 4th errr.

    First I would suggest driving somebody's rig setup like what you are thinking.

    After all said and done when considering gearing choices the biggest mistake I see is omiting the engine from your calculations.

    The motor,tranny Tcase, gears,and tire size must work in concert.

    If one of these is ignored your going to risk missing the mark....

    I now run 35's and have to get rid of those 3.73's

    So you need to make sure what you want the rig for and the tire size you really want to settle for.

    The 4speed is the bees knees start there..

    Basically if you have a big motor you can fudge the ring and pinion for less torque.
    But if your motor is small you need to go for more torque down one setlower than the calculator's say

    I really like the Novac calc. page.
     
  5. Aug 31, 2011
    '74Renegade

    '74Renegade Active Member

    Fair Oaks, CA
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    I would have been in this range too if I hadn't gone all out with the exhaust. The original single exhaust cross over was routed underneath the T-15 I and had to be cut for the T-18 to fit. So I replaced everything from the manifolds back, around and over anything that was in the way to keep it all tucked between the frame rails with rear corner exits.

    I have the 304 and have no problems turning 33's and 3.73's. Beforehand I compared the 1st gear of my t-15 to the second gear of the T-18, and while not exact, were close enough to not have much affect on overall street performance.
     
  6. Aug 31, 2011
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2003
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    5,466
    I have done (or been part of) 3 SM465s and am on my 2nd T18 install... all in all they have all averaged $1000 - $1200 no matter what I changed in the formula.

    I would echo trickpatrick - if you don't have experience with a setup, see if you can find one like it. All of my rigs are 4.88 or 5.38, SM465 or T18, D18 with OD, V6, and are 31 or 33 tire size. For us (me and my family) it is the best combo for what and where we wheel. We can run from 60 - 75 and have close to 80-1 crawl ratios when we need them. If you have the D20, or another Tcase you can not run the OD with, you really need to try it first as your limited on options by that one stick. That OD makes a big difference in your options.

    Other buddies that have the centered tcases usually run in the low 4s for axles and make up the crawl in the 4 speed and tcase. This is so they can still run @ 60 and have decent power when they need it.
     
  7. Sep 1, 2011
    Corveeper

    Corveeper Member

    Chanute, Kansas
    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2005
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    817
    That is exactly why I’ve stuck with the Dana 18 transfer case right there.
     
  8. Sep 1, 2011
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
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    Aug 7, 2003
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    :iagree:
     
  9. Sep 1, 2011
    BrettM0352

    BrettM0352 Member

    Fort Worth, TX
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2010
    Messages:
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    Thanks for all the input. I definitely learned a whole lot more than I was expecting from asking my original question.

    After a couple weeks of research accompanied by yalls recommendations, this is what my planned setup looks like it will be

    304 w/ minor performance upgrades (edelbrock Performer intake/cam, holley TBI)

    Ford T19 (because I want 1st gear synch'd and the 6.32)

    d20, no teralow for now. If I can find a d300 when I get back to the sates I'll go for that. Plus I dont want to deal with getting an offset axle for a d18 and all the hassle that would come along with that

    4.10's in the axles with an Eaton Elocker in the back

    31x10.50's on stock spring height

    Let me know what yall think. I still have 5 months deployed so plenty of time to change my mind.
     
  10. Sep 2, 2011
    jeepcj

    jeepcj Member

    cincy, Ohio
    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2009
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    601
    Just for what it is worth... I have run 33s on a couple of my jeeps in the past with the stock 3.54 gears and a 304 with no problems at all.. Of course you will lose some gearing. but I only missed it on take offs and when crawling over rocks..
    SO, if just moderate off-roading is in your plans or money is tight. Just run it and see what you think.. I didnt find the expense worth the trouble. JMHO.
     
  11. Sep 2, 2011
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
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    Before you buy the Eaton you might want to do a search for "Eaton ELocker complaints" or E Locker reviews. It was one that I was considering but decided to go with the ARB instead. You might be fine with 33's, but i ran across quite a few complaints about them not engaging, not dis-engaging, not completely locking. Maybe these issues have been addressed by now, I don't know. I do know it's one of the most expensive lockers out there.
     
  12. Sep 2, 2011
    '74Renegade

    '74Renegade Active Member

    Fair Oaks, CA
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    The T19 may be harder to find that a T18, and quite frankly for normal street driving you won't be using 1st gear. Just starting off in 2nd. I don't find it much of a problem shifting into non-syncro 1st, it's too low down shift from 2nd if you are moving, you will always be at a nearly complete stop when going into 1st and it just slips right in. There is something very satisfying about feeling those big straight cut gears engaging. Just my 2 cents worth.
     
  13. Sep 2, 2011
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
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    :iagree:
     
  14. Sep 2, 2011
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    The main advantage of the T-18 for this purpose: it can be done entirely with junkyard parts, without finding one of the scarce CJs that was so equipped. It will require some extra scrounging, and it will take longer to source all the parts you need, but it can be done.
     
  15. Sep 5, 2011
    80cj

    80cj Member

    Hawaii
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    Sep 1, 2003
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    Another possibility would be a T-177 coupled to a D300. With your stock 3.73 gears your crawl ratio would be 37 to 1. The T-177 is a very nice streetable full synchro transmission with 3.82 first gear, nice intermmediate ratios and decent stamina.
     
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2011
  16. Sep 5, 2011
    jasonjp62

    jasonjp62 Member

    Pennsboro WV.
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    On Jeep it would be a T176 wouldn't it, I do like the this tranny myself.
     
  17. Sep 5, 2011
    80cj

    80cj Member

    Hawaii
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    554
    Yes. the T-176 has 3.52 first gear and is identified by having a tag numer 5359390. The T-177 has a 3.82 first gear and the tag number is 5359389. The ID tag is located at the front of the transmission case on the passenger's side. Contrary to what you may read on some web sites, the T-177 was used in many CJ's. Just look for the tag number or else it will be difficult to distinguish from a T-176.
    [​IMG]
     
  18. Sep 5, 2011
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
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    Calling 37:1 a "crawl ratio" is a bit of a stretch. :)
     
  19. Sep 5, 2011
    80cj

    80cj Member

    Hawaii
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    Yeah well, how about "lowest gear reduction". Sound better? Still the same thing, right?:)
     
  20. Sep 5, 2011
    jasonjp62

    jasonjp62 Member

    Pennsboro WV.
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    Hey I have one of those setting in the garage the t177 that is. I just figured it was the 176.........I learned something new today.
     
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2011
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