I've got a 90 Bronco right now and looking for something a little smaller (and a little better) to wheel in. I've pretty much settled on a '79 CJ7. I'm thinkg probably: 258-I6, T-18A (w/granny low), either a Dana 300, or Jeep Dana 20 (and would swap in Ford Dana 20 insides later on)... I'm expecting to find probably the stock AMC20 rear-end and Dana 30 front. Down the road will probly go with Dana 44's for both. No idea on tires/gears/lockers/etc... that I'll want. I'm a 21 year old college student so not looking to spend a fortune... right now I'm just looking for something that I can take up the Rubicon w/out too many problems (and make it farther than my Bronco did =) I live up in Northern California and most of the trails I've run so far are up in this area (3-4 hours from Sacramento). With that being said, I'm just starting to look so I'd appreciate any comments/suggestions anybody might have.. (ie: what to look/watch out for ). Thanks much

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- Erik -

Not certain of this, but I don't think the d300 TC was available until the 80s.... Someone can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

If you can get one with the Dana 44, it's a waaay better rear end than the AMC corporate 20 that came in a CJ.

Oh, and you should probably also go read the Jeep mission statement before you go asking too many more questions around here.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1456

HTH,
Jake

P.S.
:flipoff2: Welcome Newbie! :flipoff2:

yeah, you're right... the d300 became a stock option in '80. but i've looked at one or two already that had swapped it in. so i'm hoping to already have it there in whatever i end up getting. and yes... i've also read the jeep mission statement.. and if it's my decision "not to go all the way hard core at the moment" that you question... the key words are... "at the moment"!

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- Erik -

Deffinately go for one with the 300 case, also I think 80 and up have the wider axles... also worth looking for. Look around for one somebody has already spent some money on (there's lots out there) preferably someone who swaped out axles for a 44 rear. If you can find one with a V8 already that will help you in the future if you ever plan to run large tires and big axles.

Or buy one that's bone stock so no one has screwed it up and start on it yourself, you'll know exactly what's in it.

Get a hold of Steve N or Brad on this board. Seems like they've always got a CJ for sale at the shop

For what your planning a AMC 20 with 1 peice axle shafts will be plenty strong. I would not even bother looking for a jeep with t-18A they are pretty rare, all the jeeps I've ever looked at (I have a lot of jeeping freinds) I've only seen one with a t-18a. Maybe consider one with an automatic or plan on swapping transmissions and/or adding lower transfercase gears. 33's or 35's should be plenty of tire and what ever suspesnsion you are comfortable installing. then gears and a rear locker and body protection.

I think 79 was the last year for the T-18 from the factory and they came with D20. So if your planning to get a D300 you'll have to use an adapter.

Hard to find would be a T-19, 4 Speed from a 1980 Scout II because they had the D300. The T-19 Wide Ratio, Synchro Low is 1=6.32, 2=3.09, 3=1.68, 4=1.00, Rev=6.96. You will have to use a bellhousing adapter though. This transmission will be very hard to find. It might be worth looking for due to the 1st gear synchro. Although I just double clutched my T-18 and had no problems going to first. I sold my T-18 with D-20 x-fer case in 2000 for $1050. Don't know if that is high or low but I suspect its on the high sied.

Don't confuse the T-19 with the T-19A, 4 Speed Close Ratio Synchro Low, 1=4.02, 2=2.41, 3=1.41, 4=1.00, Rev=4.42 as they were both available in the 80 Scout II. The close ratio is the most common I am told.

The wide track axles started in 1982 when they were 86 inches. Previous to that the 76-81 CJ-7's had 82 inches.

As I recall the Dana 44 rear axle was available in the 1986 CJ-7.

I would search for something that is 82 -86 if you are going to run a CJ. They came with the 300 stock and many of them already have an 18 swapped in. Also if you are going to run up to 35" tires then a AMC 20 rear will work fine as long as it has one piece axles. I would stay away from an automatic because they are usually quadratrac meaning full time four wheel drive and they have a chain driven transfer case. Also, widetrack is definately better than the narrow. The four inches makes a big difference.

JOe

Quadratrac ended in `79. The `80 to `86 Jeeps have the TF999 auto and the Dana 300 transfercase where the `76 to `79 CJ7's had a TH400 and the Quadratrac...

-Stumbaugh

'80 to '86 had TF 999

The '80 to '83 with the Iron Duke 4 Cyl used the TF 904 according to my research.

Well, first best of luck finding one. I'm a 21 year old college student also and about a year ago picked up a 1986 CJ7 for $1200. I'd recommend looking for:

1. A widetrack CJ7 (82-86)

2. If you can find an 86 with a Dana 44 (they're hard to find now, mine came with one), buy it. However, once you put in one piece AMC 20 axles, the strength difference in axles is minimal. There is a good page on comparing the two somehwere on the net. If I remember correctly, the axle tubes of the AMC 20 are thicker than the tubes of the Dana 44. Basically, weigh the cost of one piece axles verus an 86 with a dana 44. It'll probaby be cheaper to go with the one piece in an 82-84.

3. Tranny... I was lucky in that mine came with a T176 which can actually be used behind V8s (AMC used it behind their V8s) but try to avoid the T4 and T5 trannies. You can tell the difference between the T4 and T176 trannies by the shape of the shifter. Check out jeeptech.com for the pics of both.

4. If you're considering an engine swap right away, consider looking for a iron duke since you'll automatically have higher gear ratios within the axles as compared to the stock 2.73 with a V6 (ugh.. gotta swap mine out sometime.)

Good luck.

-josh

ok....I suppose my next point would be... knowing what to look for and how to look for it are two different things. Is there any telltale or easy ways to identify what components are on the Jeep as I'm looking at it? (i.e: i found measurements and such for the different transmissions possible, but are there any easier ways, short of bringin a measuring tape, to identify a tranny)... another one... is it possible to identify whether it's a one or two piece axle w/out pulling the tires off to see back up in there?

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- Erik -

Originally posted by junger

4. If you're considering an engine swap right away, consider looking for a iron duke since you'll automatically have higher gear ratios within the axles as compared to the stock 2.73 with a V6 (ugh.. gotta swap mine out sometime.)

Good luck.

-josh

It's a straight 6, unless you're talking about a much older CJ5

If you get a late 70's CJ, it will be much cheaper to swap in a Scout D44 with matching gearing than to upgrade the AMC20 to one piece shafts.

Originally posted by Mo


It's a straight 6, unless you're talking about a much older CJ5

yeah, i mean the 258... jeeeshh

Get a 86' Cj7, Dana 44 Rear, with a dana 300, and had wide trac axles...