Using a Quadratrac transfer case? Pros or cons?

A guy gave me two Quadratrac transfer cases, one good, one for parts. They are about twice as big as the D20 that was in my CJ. Of course, the PO stripped the D20 down to the case and I got NO bolts to put the thing back together to use if I wanted. Since it would cost way too much to rebuild the D20 at this point, should I try and use the Quadratrac? Or should I continue my search for another D18/D20 to drop in?

Pro's or con's to the Quadratrac?? TIA.

 

Has to be used with a TH400 automatic. I suppose if you had deep enough pockets and knew a good machinist, it could be adapted to other automatics. Won't withstand the impact stress of a manual transmission (that's the conventional wisdom).

Doesn't suffer neglect well. Very sturdy if you use the right fluid and change the chain every 50K miles or so. Otherwise, it will self destruct.

Worth 2-3 hundred bucks if it's in prime shape, maybe more.

The first widely available torque-proportioning full-time transfer case. Great for an all-weather daily driver. Awesome on snow and ice. All full-size Jeeps and CJ-7s with an automatic had it from '74-79, optional in 1973 for FSJ.

More if you like...

 

Go back to the guy and see if he'll throw in the rear axle from the quadratrac jeep.

I think you'll find that in the quadratrac jeeps they used a dana 44 with the offset differential that had flanged axles 30 spline.

It would be similar to the late '70 and '71 cj5/6 rear axle, only it would have factory 11 inch brakes. That would accept an ARB air locker. I'm sure someone would love to have that dana 44.

Since the quadratrac xfer case was used in automatic jeeps, is it possible to connect to your transmission??

If you are replacing a dana 20, then you don't have the offset rear differential, so installing it would make you change out your rear axle.

If I recall correctly, the quadratrac case operated as a sort of differential in itself so it wasn't the standard transfer case.

 

Actually there were two transfer cases that were called "QuadraTrac" by Jeep. The "real" QT is the Borg-Warner 1339, which I described above. The New Process 229 was also called QT, and was used 1980 and later. It's a drivers-side-drop case though.

 

Yes, the front and rear driveshafts are connected by a torque-proportioning differential, allowing full-time operation.

Not Dana 44; AMC 20 if it's a CJ-7 with Quadratrac.

 

Well, my CJ frame came with a V6, a T15 3 speed & a dismantled D20. From what I understand, a TH400 would mate without any problems. And since I can't use the D20 transfer case, it probably wouldn't be too much trouble to stuff the QT in line would it? Since I am using all this under a 2A tub, do you think that I'll run into length problems using the QT/TH400 set-up over a T15/D20 set-up?

Yes please. The guy said one of them was recently rebuilt and he gave me an adapter of some sort. I will email him for more info. He did say they both were out of old Waggy's. So, since the Dana 20 axle I got is missing all of the brake stuff, I will need another rear axle anyway. But if I understand you right, I will need the driveshafts from a waggy to make the QT work right so I might as well search for a Waggy D44 while I'm at it, right? The guy who gave it to me got it from another guy who was going to throw them away after going with a different set-up. I told him I needed a rear axle BEFORE another transfer case but that was all the other guy had.

Thanks for the help!

 

Do these units have the low range reduction case attached to them or are they the single speed units?

 

I'm unsure. They don't appear to have anything attached to them.

 

If they don't have the low range reduction unit hooked to them then they are single speed transfercase.
Check out this page to see if yours looks like his with the low range unit attached.
http://www.off-road.com/jeep/tech/xfer/qtrac.html

 

Well, they look the same as the ones on that site. It appears they have a low range reduction unit on them. Here is a pic of them and a couple of the "adapter" I got. They look like the 13-39 in the pics at the bottom of that page.

 

You will definately run into length problems in a short fendered cj 5 frame. Throw them away and buy some bolts for the model 20 or better yet find a model 18 and offset rear axle and do it right. Don't mess with that QT crap. I promise you that you'll spend more money messing with that QT than fixing the d20.

JB

 

You should be able to rebuild the dana 20 for about $100 if it is in decent shape, bolts shouldn't cost more than $20. I think what you are trying to do is gonna be more of a headache than fixing it back the right way along with costing more.
Just my .02!!!

 

What's the opposite of crap? They are heavy duty, just not appropriate for a short wheelbase Jeep. Nothing wrong with an automatic, except that the TH400 is long (too long?) for a CJ5, and there are no other transmissions you can use them with inexpensively.

Don't throw them away - someone from the IFSJA board will surely buy them. Or trade for somethng that you want.

The adapter is for something else - no shift levers with a QuadraTrac. Maybe a 6-cylinder FSJ bellhousing spacer, but the shifter is wrong. IH?

 

Here's some good info: http://www.frontier.net/~mystkblu/quadratrac/

If you want to use the QT with a TH400, you'll need the TH400 that mates to your engine, the proper output shaft, and the adapter. Looks like you don't have either the shaft or the adapter.

 

FWIW, Herm offers rebuilt D18s/D20s for a low price.

 

Links?

 

Ok, a few points I'd like to make;
1) So far, I've gotten everything for free.
2) I am putting a '46 tub on a '65 frame.
3) A PO put mid 70's stuff in the '65 frame. I know the '65 didn't come with D27/AMC20 axles, a T15 tranny, Dana 20 transfer case, or the Chevy(?) V6. So I am not understanding the "fix it back right" comments. Since it isn't a resto but rather a low budget build up, I don't care what it takes to get it running. I just want it to be driveable without costing a lot.
4) I plan on it being something my son can learn in offroad BEFORE he gets his learners permit and ONROAD (ie to school) once he does. Again, being able to crawl isn't the primary objective. Four wheel drive is a bonus at this point.
5) In my research, I've learned that a TH350 is a lot smaller and doable in a CJ frame. Since the TH350 and TH400 are the same patterns, wouldn't a TH350 mate up to the QT without a lot of hassle?
6) The only rear axle I have is an AMC20 with missing brakes. And I don't have ANY driveshafts. Therefore, if I did go totally crazy and stuff the QT in, I'd still be in the same bind in looking for a driveshaft/rear axle. If I can find the brakes for the AMC20 for free, that puppy is going in two piece unlocked shafts and all. Unless I go with the QT, then I'll be in search of one that will work with the QT.

So, with all that in mind, If I rebuild the V6, find a TH350, mate it up to the QT, and find the right rear axle/driveshaft set-up, do you guys think it will work for what I am wanting?

Or, in your expert opinions, is it too much of a headache to deal with and I should sell the QT's and stick to rebuilding the D20 and use the T15?

Thanks for all the input/opinions/advise!! I am just trying to learn from others mistakes and avoid major $$$$ pitfalls.