71 CJ5 drivetrain blew up... what now?

I was reading and no one has commented on what caused the problem. If one or more of shifting rails, poppet balls, or tension springs are wore out, it won't stay in gear. I don't know why these rebuild kits don't at least have replacement springs. When you get back to re-doing the transfer case, look at the shifting rails. If there are grooves cut inbetween the cut "valleys" on the rails, I'd look for a donor case and get new rails. As far as I know, there aren't repo's available. Note also that the sifting rails on a single stick D18 is a different animal than a dual stick. I'd check for one out of a Commando; they don't tend to have been in the mud as much

 

Over 1 year later....

Everything is back together, the transfer case has been rebuilt and the Jeep reassembled... only to find out the fuel pump I replaced just over a year ago has failed. Sorry to say, but I'm done with Jeeps & old cars. I find no joy in spending 50% of my spare time working on my vehicles (not just the Jeep). Trying to start a company while fixing one thing after another has just put me over the edge... thus, the Jeep is now for sale ($6k) and will be getting its own posting soon. One day I will end up with my Willys, just won't be for a few more years. Glad I had the experience of rebuilding this thing (TWICE), but enough is enough.

Final diagnosis is that the bellhousing & transfer case rear output shaft took most of the drivetrain shock. After replacing the bellhousing (God Bless you Lynn), transfer case seals/bearings/output shaft/yoke, emergency brake, & ujoints, everything fit back together just fine. Thanks everyone for your help with fixing her & I hope everyone learns from my mistake.

REMOVE YOUR REAR DRIVESHAFT UJOINT WHEN TOWING. And don't forget the caps fall off the ujoints when the retainers are not installed... dammit


The carburetor bolts were not sheared, rather, the 3 bolts that are installed upside down to attach the base & top together had vibrated out completely... loctite to the rescue.

Check out this link for pics of the reassembly. Using the online assembly manuals & guides made everything go together smoothly.
http://public.fotki.com/jhnbrackett/jeep-cj5-damage-***/

 

sorry to hear that, don't sound like an easy fix. reminds me of the time my buds brother came home from nam. instead of buying a hot rod car like everyone else he bought a big block ford 3/4t 4wd pickup. we were going hog hunting in arkansas & was he was towing an m38 behind it. my bud asked his brother "how fast you driving?" he said "eighty". bud asked "what if you lose that jeep?" he replied "what if i lose it at 50? it's still lost". we stopped in greenville ms to get gas (a regular thing to do with that truck) and WOW! that jeep was gone! ball was gone from hitch! we still went & killed hogs, just walked more than we would have. never did find that jeep.
this could be an idea for a new thread if not one already- what's your worst jeep story- jeeps for me always ran fine untill you turned the steering wheel to start back home, then one of two things would happen. they either stopped running or a really important part would fall off.
andy

 

LOL, wow. Goes to show there is always something worse that could have happened! How you could have the M38 'disappear' and not notice, not positive on that one. Must have just been that torquey of a truck.

 

I can relate as I blew a transfer case years ago in the desert in my M-38. Something about going too fast in the wrong gear [:^(


The SM420 is a great match behind the 225. I've got one that I had completely rebuilt with the T-18 adapter that never made it into my '68 CJ-5
due to health issues. I'll take 1000.00 for the whole set-up if you're not into piecing your own together.

If interested you can email me at k27siderod@yahoo.com