CJ5 tranny - what to do?

[jharfst]

The T150 in my CJ has seen better days. I was planning on tearing it down this winter and rebuilding it, but, it looks like in addition to all the small parts, bearings and stuff, I'm probably gonna need to replace all the synchro's too. When you add all that up, I'll end up putting a few hundred in parts in a strong but so-so transmission ratio-wise. So I'm wondering, hmmmm, is it time for an upgrade? Being that it's a 5, I don't have much wheelbase to play with, but I have always wanted to improve my crawl ratio while keeping it street friendly. Since I'll keep under 35's, I thought about going down the T18/TeraLow Dana20 route. Even if I can only get hold of a close ratio T18, the 4.01 first is significantly better than the 2.99 first of the T150 and it will just about bolt up and is about the same length. Any other options worth considering that won't break the bank in adapters and still fit a cj5? Planning on keeping the 304(maybe build a 360 but sticking with AMC).

Opinions?

-jim

[broncocraigellis]

An NP435 would be a great swap. You keep your AMC bellhousing and get a 6.69:1 first gear with nearly indestructable gears. They're easy to find too. I had one but I got rid of it not too long ago. Here's some info. from Novak's site:

basic info. novak-adapt.com/knowledge/np435.htm
adapting Ford transmissions to AMC bellhousings: novak-adapt.com/knowledge/ford_to_amc.htm

of course, you'd have to buy a t-case adapter, but you could probably search around and get one used from the pirate4x4.com or tennesseeoffroad.com forums or ebay.

"Conveniently, no adapter is required to adapt Ford truck transmissions to some AMC bellhousings.
The bellhousing bolt pattern for the Ford NP435 and Ford T18 & T19 is the same as the T150 and the T176 transmissions."

"The Ford NP435 is also an excellent candidate for AMC Jeep bellhousings made from 1976 to 1986 that were married to the T150, T18 and T176 transmissions, or otherwise have an available bellhousing bolt pattern of 8-1/2" wide by 6-5/16" tall. They are readily compatible with these engines and bellhousings, and need only a custom pilot bushing. For more details, see Adapting Ford Transmissions to AMC Bellhousings for details."

[broncocraigellis]

jharfst said:

... it (T150) will just about bolt up and is about the same length. Any other options worth considering that won't break the bank in adapters and still fit a cj5?

-jim

I'm just thinking aloud here: a good NP435 should be under $100 from a junkyard. Reuse your clutch if it's in good shape, new pilot bushing/bearing - mabye $40 IIRC. T-case adapter $516.50 (Novak). Maybe shortening or lengthening driveshafts, but this can be done at home or in a buddy's shop - $50 for tubing.

Looks like you could figure about $750 for the swap. Seems like it would be money well spent to get a rock solid transmission.

[jharfst]

Sweet! It had been a while since I had gone to Novak's site, and I didn't find a whole lot of info on 435 swaps elsewhere. What I did find seemed to suggest 435's weren't cheap and required an adapter and I was trying to stay away from adapters, but you do have a point. If I can find a 435 for about $100, then with an adapter, I can probably do it cheaper than a T18 and end up with a lower crawl to boot. Only problem is that it now makes me want to find a Dana 300 and get the adapter for it, since it's the same price, especially since there are more upgrade options for the D300 than the Dana 20.

Thanks

[broncocraigellis]

I know where a D300 is sitting in a junkyard; you could get it for $100 or less I imagine.

[jharfst]

Oh? Do tell.

[broncocraigellis]

It's up at Brown's junkyard in Corinth. I haven't been up there in about a year, but it was still there at that time.