Hi All...
First time posting on this portion of the site...
Need help... Resurecting an 85 CJ with the 258 and Automatic..
I'm getting the CJ for free with 18555 miles original but the Auto is slipping badley. It really only has reverse. Auto Fluid level is good and everything else seems to be in working order... What kind of Headach am i in for? Is it band style or clutch packs? and where is a good place to get parts or a rebuilt. I also need to find a good book or manual that shows that Auto tranny...
Last question is should i just throw this one away and try and make it a manual?..
Thanks in advance for any help..
Jarett

Your tranny is a Chrysler Torqueflite 999 rebuilds are cheap if you pull it and bring it in. Before doing that take a look at the filter, and maybe think about looking at the valve body. With 18K miles it's sat for a very long time. Most likely you have a valve stuck in the valve body.

And so you don't get flamed you want to check out the forum I moved this to. It's a good place for non hardcore questions.

I'm guessing this is a QuadraTrac unit? If so, the easiest manual swap would probably involve a different T-case and maybe driveshaft mods. It may be best to spend a little coin to get the auto fixed since the Jeep itself was free.

If the tranny only has reverse it's either the valve body, which is an easy fix, or it's the forward clutch- not an easy fix. If it's been sitting for a really long time, the seals have probable dried up, preventing the clutches from engaging.

Might try pulling the valve body and have it cleaned in solvent first. If that doesn't fix it, then yank the tranny and have it freshened up.

The TF trannies use clutch packs for the forward clutch and high clutch, and they use a single bank for the low/reverse. There is a one way roller clutch that is used when starting off from a stop when the selector is in Drive. Get one of the ATSG manuals off ebay and study it. They describe ways of diagnosing slipping clutches using air pressure with the tranny still in the vehicle. That might save you some time.

Sorry forgot to add that there is a second band that engages for second gear. whoops!

Thanks for the Help...
The one thing i forgot to mention was that the vehicle was used as an Avocado Picking truck.. This means that there is a hydraulic lifting ram on the back of it and it picks up 1000 lbs avocado bins... Before that it was a Long Beach Patrol Jeep.. This is why it has almost no miles on it... As for the tranny, Was it ever strong enough to do the labor it was given????? I hope its as easy as you all say it is and i can drive it away from the grave...
Jarett