Cj-5 Transmissions By The Year

I have a 68' CJ-5 with the Buick V-6. Has some leaks in the transmission and started looking around at parts to get this fixed. I have found on numerous sites varying years at what transmission might have been put in this Jeep. KaiserWillys.com says that it should be a T-90, Herm The Overdrive Guy lists the T-86 in the 67' and 68' models with the V-6, but Novak states the T-14 replaced the T-86 in 67'. I was curious if anyone knew more about what transmissions were installed in different years. I know the easiest way is to remove the plate at the shifter and check but was curious since I have found differences.

Thanks,

 

If your first gear is synchronized, it's a T-14. If not, it's a T-86. The T-90 was never offered behind the V-6 from the factory. If it's there, someone swapped it in.

 

Consider me dumb with terms, but what do you mean by synchronized?

 

There are no dumb questions.
Can you shift into first at any speed without it grinding (like you can into second and third)? That's synchronized.

 

Thank you, that makes perfect sense and lowers stress. Seems like it can be hard to find parts for a T-86. T-14's I have found much easier. Thanks for the info

 

Look at the side of the transmission. The T-86 will have "T86" cast-in to the driver's side of the case. A T-14 will have "T14" or "1302".

The T-86 is very similar to the T-90 transmission. You can take a T-86 apart, and replace all the internal parts with T-90 parts. For many owners with broken T-86s, this is a way to salvage their transmissions when original T-86 gears are not available. Herm sells these transmissions complete, if you don't want to replace the gears yourself T-86 Transmissions | Herm The Overdrive Guy

 

Solid advice above, best to verify with the stamping on the case. I believe by 68, the T14 was the only offering behind the V6...assuming the original transmission is in there. T86 is rare since it was introduced in 66 and phased out mid-year 67 in lieu of the T14.

 

Most complaints about these transmissions would be noise, or popping out of gear, or grinding when shifting. Mechanical issues. As James stated, usually the Dana 18 transfer case leaks gear oil badly, but not the transmission.

If oil is dripping from the bell housing it's more likely engine oil than transmission oil. A 50 yo motor is very likely to need a rear main seal, which will come out of the back of the engine and drip off the bell housing bottom. Might look like it's coming from the transmission. A Borg-Warner 3-speed with a top shifter does not have that many places to leak from ... the static oil level is pretty low in the transmission, below the level of any seals. Take some oil on your fingers and smell it. Compare it to the engine dipstick smell, and put your finger in the fill plug of the transmission to get a bit of oil and smell that. Gear oil smells way different from engine oil.

 

The t-86 has a distinct bend in the shifter stalk. An easy way to identify them.

 

My '68 with V6 has the T86AA trans. It's titled as a '68. The plot thickens.

Take off the floorplate and look at the driver's side of the transmission below the shifter plate. If it's a T86AA, it will be cast into it right there.

 

So is mine but i think it was built in 67. Yours probably was aswell

 

A friend of mine just purchased a 1972 CJ5. from the wife of a lifelong friend of ours that has recently passed away. It will be a lobor of love but our friend spent a signifigent amout of money on it before his passing. It is something my friend will never sell unless or friends wife wants it back then it will be simply for the money he spent on it. Here's the problem. The transmission and transfer case is apparently unrepairable. going off assumption, and we all knows what that means, it is a V6 with factory overdrive as well as a factory PTO operating a hydrallic wench. Doesn’t seem to be anything like that to be found. Any and all suggestions appreciated.

 

The V6 ended in the 71 model year. 72 brought an extended frame and the AMC I6.
Either someone transplanted a 71 and earlier drivetrain into your 72
or
You have a 71 with the T14 three speed transmission or the T18 four speed.

First step is to positively identify your CJ.

Next, identify your transmission. A good source to do this:
https://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/transmissions/manual/manual-gateway.html
When identifying between the T90 and the T86 you may have to look at the mainshaft. It has a helical cut for the first gear slider

Compared to the T90's straight cut

Because of the rarity of the T86 parts, many folks install the T90 gears in place of the T86's, which will go into the transmission housing.

 

Thank you for the information. I'll go over to the guy that bought it and see if I can find the vin number. Try to run that and maybe I can get better info on exactly what he has. It may be a 71. Has the v6 badge.

 

My recommendation is to never, ever try to identify a transmission by the year of Jeep unless you are the original owner. You never know what a previous owner may have done. Too many times I’ve had customers do this then bring in a transmission that was nowhere near what they thought it was.
Always look at the transmission itself. Even then sometimes the I ternals have been changed as was mentioned. Especially true of T-86’s like mentioned and T-18’s.

 

My grandson has a 66 (built in Dec. 65) CJ5 that leaks from the transmission or transfer case. Is the fluid in the transmission shared with the transfer case?

 

Yes, if it's a Borg-Warner three speed.

This is getting pretty far away from the topic of the thread. Suggest to the recent posters they start a thread with their new questions. Mods may choose to split off what's here.