Hello, Ive got a real jackass question the answer is probably pretty obvious but i just dont see it. I have found a cj that I would like to buy but the guy says it has 2 different sets of gears in it so the front axle is not hooked up. Now the question is how can I make sure the 4wd works good if at all. It is an82 cj5-I6-T176-and dana300. Thanks in advance

Change one of the sets of gears or compensate the mismatched gear ratio with a mismatched set of tires front and rear.

To see only if the t-case front drive is working, put the rear end on jackstands , put it in 4x4 and see if the front output is turning.

If you want to be sure the whole setup works, install the front shaft, pull the rear shaft and run it in 4x4.

If you want to be sure the whole setup works, install the front shaft, pull the rear shaft and run it in 4x4.[/QUOTE]

Ditto, try it with only the rear shaft and with only the front shaft. This way you can put it under load and make sure it stays in gear etc. You can have some ugly gears that will turn on stands and come apart under load.

if it doesnt have a front driveshaft put the transfer case in 4wd (test both low and high) and crawl under the jeep and try and turn the front output, it shouldnt turn. Obviously you can still test if its going in to low range by just shifting and driving. Also you might want to lock the front hubs and make sure both front axle shafts turn when the jeep is rolling.

OR jack the whole vehicle up on all 4's an install the front DS.. as long as there isnt any load on the axles it wont it wont matter if one is spinning faster or slower...

I'd go with using just the front drive shaft and actually driving it.