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4-speed Preferences

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by BrettM0352, Jan 10, 2012.

  1. Jan 19, 2012
    pathkiller

    pathkiller Member

    Lorton, VA
    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2005
    Messages:
    878
    Depends on what your end goal is. If you want a heavy cast iron truck transmission with a very low 1st gear, then yes, the T18 and NP435 are your top choices. For most of your driving you will never use the 1st gear, it will only be there for rock crawling and towing something very heavy (which I wouldn't do with a CJ anyway). If you're not a rockcrawler then it will be useless most of the time and you'll essentially have a 3-speed transmission.

    I have a T176 which offers a decent 1st gear ratio, but not a crawl ratio. It is an aluminum cased medium duty transmission that holds up pretty well behind stock V8 power. If your interests are light trails and street driving I suspect you'll be much happier with a T176 or even a later AX15 or NVG3550 5-speed than you would with a truck 4-speed. The good part about a T176 is that it's a simple swap because it's a stock Jeep setup. Mine is from a 1980 CJ5 and I used the D300 t-case that came with it, so there's no adapters at all and it fits in my 74 like it was made for it. My Scrambler has an AX15 5-speed and I adore it. The overdrive is very nice on highway trips.
     
  2. Jan 19, 2012
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    Messages:
    2,115
    T18 jeep...if you find the rare 6.32/1 first gear...it's pettry strong one and bolt on amc 304 without any problem
     
  3. Jan 20, 2012
    BrettM0352

    BrettM0352 Member

    Fort Worth, TX
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2010
    Messages:
    448

    You can't fit a 3550 or an AX15 in a 5, can you?
     
  4. Jan 20, 2012
    '74Renegade

    '74Renegade Active Member

    Fair Oaks, CA
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2005
    Messages:
    1,275
    I have a buddy who did a 3550 w/ a 4.3 v6 in an intermediate. He ended up with about the same driveshaft length as the 304/t18 combo he had before. Pretty sweet setup, it was almost like driving a new jeep, aside from the CJ handling characteristics.
     
  5. Jan 22, 2012
    54cj3b

    54cj3b Member

    evergreen colorado
    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    Messages:
    236
    I chose the 465 for one reason It powers up those 90 deg hills with ease and it didnt require a longer shaft
     
  6. Jan 23, 2012
    69Rustj5

    69Rustj5 :)

    Logan, Ut.
    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2008
    Messages:
    55
    That seems like 2 reasons to me :)

    Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
     
  7. Jan 23, 2012
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2006
    Messages:
    1,929
    79 CJ T18. Reverse is right and down as far as I can tell. It's not in the jeep yet.....
     
  8. Jan 24, 2012
    SFaulken

    SFaulken Active Member

    Bellevue, WA
    Joined:
    May 24, 2011
    Messages:
    1,178
    I've got a T18 out of a 82 F350, and its down and right, which is where reverse belongs...

    (My daily is a 2009 2500 Dodge, with the Cummins and a G56, and Reverse is to the Left and Down, and it makes me nuts. I deal, but I don't like it.)
     
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