'55 Cj5

Hi all, obviously brand new here. I have recently aquired a '55 Willys CJ5 and it has some tranny issues. Am I better off rebuilding the T90 in the jeep or pick up one at a place like Krage for 500 bucks. This thing needs a lot of tlc and new parts. Trying to get it back to original (or close to it), does anyone have suggestions.

Thanks in advance and good to be here!

Marty

 

Rebuilding it yourself will save you a lot of $$, and it's a great learning experience. Like most mechanical parts on a jeep, the T90 is as simple as it gets and shouldn't be hard at all. Even if it has major damage like gears missing teeth it's still proably cheaper to do it yourself. Take the money you save and put it tward somthing else on the Jeep. For that matter, do the t-case at the same time with the $ you save.
Scott

 

Glenn,

I can do motors, electical, welding, paint and body work but have zero experience with inside trannys. I picked this thing up and I can get second gear, no reverse, 1st or 3rd. They are just flat out locked up. Should I try to drag it with it in those gears. It just won't budge.
It sat for somewhere around 10 years and as far as I know it had no fluid in the tranny or transfer case all that time. I would assume that is the problem. I filled it with ATF and let it soak for about a week and it still seems to be no better.
Any imput is really appreciated.

Marty

 

BTW this thing looks almost new inside! Go figure???

 

Take it out and take it apart. Forcing it might end up breaking somthing (if not the tranny, somthing else). It might have a bent shift fork or somthing. It should be easy to figure out when you dig into it. Get the Jeep CJ Rebuilders manual 1946-1971 by Moses Ludel. It's got a chapter with step by step (and lots of pics) on rebuilding the T90. Manual trannys don't usually lock up just from sitting (unless somehow it rusted solid, and that pretty much can't happen if it's full of gear oil)...it was probably bad when it was parked. Transmissions aren't full of Voodoo (well, automatics are)...most are pretty simple compared to an engine. Most people just never dig into them.

 

Read through these and do it yourself. I can't really do any of the things you listed, or anything else mechanical, and I had no problems at all rebuilding my tranny. Cost me less than $200 with all tools, a rebuild kit, a new 1st gear, paint, brake cleaner, etc included in that calculation.



http://www.willystech.com/wt/T90RebuildGuide/T90rebuild.htm


http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/t90_rebuild.htm

 

It sat without any oil in it for I don't know how long. Supposidly for 10+ years. Just not sure if I have the time (with all else it needs) to start tearing the gear box apart. I tries to move in first gear and I can rock it by letting out the clutch but it will not roll. Maybe I will pull it and look inside and decide whether or not I feel confident enough to tackle it.
Thanks for all the help.

Marty

 

If you take the floor cover off, you can take the top off of the T-90 and look inside. If you feel confident enough to R&R the trans and transfer case, you should be able to rebuild it. Rebuilding transmissions is really fun - the hard part is getting it out of and into the chassis.

If you want to pay to have someone else do it, Herm (the Overdrive Guy) will probably exchange it for you. I'd feel more confident in one of his rebuilds than one from Krage or where ever.

 

Could this problem be caused by the shifter assembly? I can remove the cover and shift manually but when I replace the shifter the problem returns. Also if I push down on the shifter as if you would for reverse in many trannys I can swing the shifter up and to the left all the way to the dash.
I would be great if it was only the shifter or forks

 

You're right. It's not worth messing with. Send it to me, along with the T case, and I'll give them a good home. R) R) . Seriously. like has been mentioned here, it's not that hard to rebuild. Using the references mentioned in this thread, along with all the informational help available on this forum should get you through it.

tommy b

 

The T90 I gutted had been rebuilt, then sat several years without being used. The shift rails were rusted to the point they wouldn't budge. As Glenn said, I used PB Blaster and a punch to free them up.

My gears also had some surface rust. Here is a chronicle of my experience, including this highly scientific rust removal :

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14215&highlight=electrolysis

 

That's awesome! I've used acid (muriatic) to remove rust on non-critical parts in the past. Worked great, but this looks even better (no acid to neutralize and dispose of). I also built my own hot tank for removing grease (holy crap did that thing work!) but the problem of what to do with great big bucket of highly caustic grease water will probably keep me from building another one. Glad I saw this post on the electrolysis though!

 

It worked very good. Only a few bucks required

 

Any idea if this is OK for use with all cast iron? If I remember when I tried putting cast iron parts (like brake drums) in acid they started to dissolve...
I suppose if it's safe for a tranny case, should be fine for other cast parts?

 

Here is another site or two, looks like it works for cast:

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/rust/electrolytic_derusting.htm

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Information/HotFire.htm

 

Thanks! I think when I go to do this I'm going to make my bucket fancy...I was thinking I could epoxy some little 1" pvc pipe stubs in the bottome of the bucket to hold the bottom of the rebar electrodes. Then weld some bolts to the rebar and poke holes in the lip of the bucket for the bolts to go through. Put a nut on the bolt, and the electrodes are secured to the bucket . To get really fancy I might make up some electrical connectors out of 4 or 2 gauge wire to attach to the bolts and connect the electrodes. Then I'd only have 2 electrical connections, and no giant spagetti mess . I think I might build one a little bigger than a 5 gallon bucket too...somthing to do slightly bigger parts.

 

That pic looks like the wiring harness my p/o installed in one of my Jeeps. I have never been able to figure out who makes it though.

 

What powder did you use for your electrolyte? I've been wanting to try this but I'm having a hard time finding anyone who sells washing soda.

tommy b