I'm going to be getting a Chev Blazer to donate a 400ci, TH350, NP205 and 1/2 ton axles into my 77' CJ-5. So the research started. I found by searching on this board the difference in length between the SM465 and the TH350. If you adjust the bellhousing thing, the TH350 is 15.2", and the SM465 is 12".
Question one: I'm sure someone on this board has a small block, th350, np205, chev axle set up. How is the drive line angles? And are you running CV's, double CV,s or none at all?
Question two: Is there some gears to put in, besides axle gears to make up for that awefull crawl ratio.
Question three: If you were in my shoes would you just find a SM465 and bell housing and skip the TH350 due to the lenght and crappy ratio's?
Thanks,
Shaggy

1. im running a cv shaft with my set up. keep in mind that Im running a YJ too.

2. there are no gear sets currently availabe.

3. personal prefernce. i like an auto you may not. for gear ratio the 465 is the best.
hope this helps:)

Inorder to put any auto in a CJ-5 you will need to locate the motor really close to the radiator..

The drive shafts are going to be short no matter what you do, Personally I am not a big fan of the GM12bolt, depending on the year of the blazer it either has a 44 or 10 bolt if it has a 44 thats good if it has a 10bolt thats bad..


I would go with the stick over the auto but thats me.. IT is doable, no question there but theres some big obsticals to get around.

Originally posted by SCRAPER
1. im running a cv shaft with my set up. keep in mind that Im running a YJ too.
2. there are no gear sets currently availabe.
3. personal prefernce. i like an auto you may not. for gear ratio the 465 is the best.
hope this helps:)

No gear sets for the NP205, that answers a couple questions. I am definately going with a SM465 then so I can at least have a 6.55:1 instead of the TH350's 2.52:1 1st gear. I will probably go with a CV at TC end and axle end both, since my wheelbase is shorter then yours. Then again the SM465 is shorter by 3" than your auto too, so I'll have to see when I put it together and measure.

The drive shafts are going to be short no matter what you do, Personally I am not a big fan of the GM12bolt, depending on the year of the blazer it either has a 44 or 10 bolt if it has a 44 thats good if it has a 10bolt thats bad.. Wheelingpiazza

If it has a 10 bolt, I will just get a 44 from my cousin. The rear 12 bolt is fine for me, and can be swapped out for a 14 bolt later if I need too. The Blazer is a 76' and came stock with a 400ci. Not sure if it is small block or big yet, but at any rate, if they put a 400ci in, you would think they would not bother with a 10 bolt from the factory.
Thanks for you replies,
Shaggy

I have a 53 flatfender/cj-5 whatever..

it has a SBC 350, t-400, d-18 and the stock 44 rear (offset)

the rear drive line is:




















are you ready?




















it's only























10.5" long..........

woohoo...















and the angle aren't very favorable either.....




--Sherpa

Originally posted by SHERPA RIG
I have a 53 flatfender/cj-5 whatever..

it has a SBC 350, t-400, d-18 and the stock 44 rear (offset)
the rear drive line is:
are you ready?
it's only
10.5" long..........
woohoo...
and the angle aren't very favorable either.....
--Sherpa
When I was poking around at Novac, they said to not even bother puting a TH400 in a 81" wb or less Jeep. The thing is almost 6" longer than a T-18 or SM465, and almost 3" longer than a TH350.
Dosn't a 53 have a shorter (in length) hood than a 77' CJ-5. You have a CJ3B highhood or CJ3A?
Shaggy

Mine's got the old rev/shorty front cj5 hood.......

I'm looking around for a cj7/newer cj5 hood now. the fenders
will be easy to extend, the hood would be a bit more work.
If I can find a decent hood for around 50 bucks, that's alot
less investment of my time than trying to extend the hood I
already have.

PS: I bought this rig like this. I haven't driven it yet.

--Sherpa

_I also bought a very nice sm465/205 pair from a early 80's
blazer with only 80k on it for a potential swap, but I think
I'll just sell those and try to run the t-400...


--Sherpa

If you lived closer, I'd offer to buy your 465, but if your selling it cheap enough I could swing shipping.
There is a hood in my local truck trader right now for $100. I think it is a 76-83 style CJ-5 hood though.
Shaggy

And yes they put 10 bolts in with a sbc 400 trucks

They used a 12 bolt in them didnt they?

The 400 in a blazer or truck was a Small block..

Originally posted by WheelingPiazza
And yes they put 10 bolts in with a sbc 400 trucks
They used a 12 bolt in them didnt they?
The 400 in a blazer or truck was a Small block..
"As a general rule, transmissions found behind larger engines will have stronger specs." quote from Novak

I figured the same rule of thumb would apply to axles. Oh well, leave it to vehicle companies to upgrade 60% of what needs to be upgraded when you add options.
Shaggy

Originally posted by CJ-5shaggy

"As a general rule, transmissions found behind larger engines will have stronger specs." quote from Novak

I figured the same rule of thumb would apply to axles. Oh well, leave it to vehicle companies to upgrade 60% of what needs to be upgraded when you add options.
Shaggy

My old 76 GMC k15 came with a 400, and a D44 and a 12 bolt. They just changed the front to a 10 bolt once they stopped using the 44. Besides, the vehicles are designed to run stock tires and stock gearing (oh my lord the horror! Imagine that!) NOT 35" plus tires and 5.x gearing. Go figure... then again.. they were never designed to do what we do to them.. if they were they'd come with 60's or rocks and granny trannies outa the box

I've got a 74 cj5 chevy 350/th350/dana20 spring over 36"swampers cv at the transfer 13" shaft no vibes no problems and wheeling with an auto with 2.52 first gear work's fine.

Originally posted by GREEN WAGON
I've got a 74 cj5 chevy 350/th350/dana20 spring over 36"swampers cv at the transfer 13" shaft no vibes no problems and wheeling with an auto with 2.52 first gear work's fine.

So your TH350 has a 2.52:1 first, the Dana20 has a 2.0:1 low range, and what axle gears do you have? I am planning on 36" tires too, so this is good info for me. Also, you are running the CV at just the transfer end, and no vibes...thats good to hear. A dual CV, just means mo money. My T-150 1st gear is 2.99:1. So I have 2.99, 2.0, and 3.54 at the axles, c/r (21.17:1). I am very unhappy with that. It goes way too fast down hills while trying to use compression to maintain slow speeds. Now with the TH350, NP205, and chev axles, it will be. 2.52, 1.98, and 4.11, c/r (20.51:1). Even with 4:56's in the axles the crawl ratio would be (22.75:1). Which is only 1 over what the stock Jeep set up is. I would really not mind the TH350, but those nuimbers are not adding up, to make it sound like its going to be fine. Am I missing something.
Thanks for your input.
Shaggy

Originally posted by WheelingPiazza
Inorder to put any auto in a CJ-5 you will need to locate the motor really close to the radiator..

The drive shafts are going to be short no matter what you do, Personally I am not a big fan of the GM12bolt, depending on the year of the blazer it either has a 44 or 10 bolt if it has a 44 thats good if it has a 10bolt thats bad..


I would go with the stick over the auto but thats me.. IT is doable, no question there but theres some big obsticals to get around.

a buddy of mine has a cj5 with a SBC 350/TH350/dana300 combo. the motor is not moved forward at all. also i would think that this combo would be longer then the TH350/np205 combo cause an adapter is needed for the 300 where the 205 would bolt up(right?). he had a CV rear shaft and the stock front shaft. the jeep was built by tom ellison of sunray engineering.

heres my set up

58 willys
231 buick v6
350th tranny
dana 20 transfer with tera low gears
cv drive shaft 10 3/4''
4.88 rear ring & pin
35'' mtr tires

I have a cv just at the transfer and am running a novak adapter. And that whole numbers not adding up thing ? it's just different with an auto i have 3.73 axle gears and like it.

Well, maybe if all else fails, and I just cannot find a SM465, then I could try a TH350. Sounds like no one is having any problems, with the gearing like not being able to use the engines compression to keep you going nice and slow down a steep muddy hill. The lead I had on the Blazer is now gone. My uncle sold the thing a while ago. But I'm still looking for one like it and maybe I'll get lucky and get a 465. Otherwise, I'll try the auto. If I set it up with the auto, don't like it and change to the Manual, my drive line is going to be 3" short and I'd have to get another made right? THat would be a waste $200 I'd say. I think I'd live with it.
SHaggy