late 70's cherokee chief? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

offroadmission · 01-06-2006, 02:47 AM

I am interested in swapping out the 727/am208 tranny/t-case combo from a late 70's cherokee chief into my 87yj. will the steering column from the cherokee fit my jeep? it is tilt steering btw.

offroadmission · 01-07-2006, 07:07 AM

bttt

offroadmission · 01-09-2006, 12:48 AM

ttt

fullygruntled · 01-09-2006, 06:40 AM

yes, perhaps with minor modification.

sammeeks351 · 01-11-2006, 08:16 PM

just some fyi here no flaming intended! if a fsj had a tf727 its 80 or newer...
and most column's in that era were chevy tilt column's

but it should fit,maybe some minor mods as posted before!

offroadmission · 01-14-2006, 07:43 AM

what would it have if it were not a 727? it is a am208 though? i crawled under it and looked at the tag. on the column i can tell that mine has the bright light switch on the turn signal stick. the cherokee has it on the floor. is this a major mod?

1GrandWag · 01-14-2006, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by offroadmission

what would it have if it were not a 727? it is a am208 though? i crawled under it and looked at the tag. on the column i can tell that mine has the bright light switch on the turn signal stick. the cherokee has it on the floor. is this a major mod?

You mentioned that it was a late '70s Chief. That would have a TH400 auto tranny and a Quadra-Trac (QT) transfer case. NP727/NP208 combos did not start until 1980 an any FSJ. Some easy ways to tell: If the rear diff is offset to the passenger side = QT behind an auto transmisson. Are there manual hubs in front? = May be a NP208 BUT some owners put a "part time" kit from Mile Marker on the QT that required locking/manual hubs.
Best way to tell is find the tag in the transfer case and see what it says.
Remember, CJ7s with an auto had the QT case so it'd fit fine.

JimKyser · 01-14-2006, 11:14 AM

If it is a stock, late '70s Cherokee with an automatic, it will have either the TH-400 and a Quadratrac transfer case or the TH-400 and a Dana 20 transfer case. The rear axle for the Quadratrac version will have the pinion offset to the passenger side several inches as the rear output of the t-case is aligned with the front output. The rear axle for the Dana 20 version will have the pinion pretty much centered as the rear output of the t-case is aligned with the mainshaft of the transmission.

offroadmission · 01-14-2006, 11:33 AM

i was told it was a 79 cherokee chief. it is an auto and the t-caase tag says am208.

JimKyser · 01-14-2006, 12:17 PM

What side is the front pumkin on, driver's or passenger's? They switched to the 727/208 combo in 1980 and at the same time moved the front pumkin to the driver's side.

offroadmission · 01-14-2006, 05:10 PM

drivers

v10sport · 01-14-2006, 11:38 PM

The 400 was never offered with the dana 20, only the QT case.
If the Cherokee is driver side drop its a 80 or newer. 79 and older were passenger drop.

carnuck · 01-15-2006, 09:22 AM

The TH400 was offered with D20 from '63 up till '72 (Starting with the J100 and J300 which became Wagoneer and Jtruck respectively and evolved into their own nameplates @ '65). In '73 it became an extra option along with the Quadratrac till '75 and then it only became available with std trans till '79.
The body may be pre '79, but someone could have changed the drivetrain from a newer one (with the rotted frame problem that '80 up had in salty areas) along with the axles. I almost put a '84 GW body on a '76 frame so I know how "easy" it is. (3 days work, then I found a J truck instead and scrapped the other project)

1GrandWag · 01-17-2006, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by offroadmission

i was told it was a 79 cherokee chief. it is an auto and the t-caase tag says am208.

This wouldn't happen to be a yellow Chief, would it? I was lookin' at a yellow "'79 Chief" in Tennessee...
Anyways, if its a driver's-side drop front axle, lockout hubs and a AM208 t-case IT IS NOT A 79. The 727/208 combo = what you have - is fairly long. Take a measuring tape and make sure it'll fit. Might make your driveshafts VERRRY short. Next ya gotta adapt it to your motor. Or were you going to use the motor from the Chief? What motor is in the YJ?

rustywagoneersdotcom · 01-17-2006, 10:24 AM

i have used wag tilt column in CJ tub, you have to change the tin collar at the lower end of the column.

wiring is just wiring, you can move the hi - lo switch..
i have owned fsj's with th400 QT and 400 / d20

and yes, the 727 208 would be waaaaay long in a yj...

carnuck · 01-17-2006, 07:50 PM

You could go with an IH 6 cyl 727 and D20 setup. It's an AMC 6 in the IH (The V8 ones are different)

01-06-2006, 02:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
offroadmission Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Member # 29415 Location: north carolina Posts: 190	late 70's cherokee chief? I am interested in swapping out the 727/am208 tranny/t-case combo from a late 70's cherokee chief into my 87yj. will the steering column from the cherokee fit my jeep? it is tilt steering btw. __________________ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ROMANS 10:13 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. JOHN 3:16

01-07-2006, 07:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
offroadmission Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Member # 29415 Location: north carolina Posts: 190	bttt __________________ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ROMANS 10:13 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. JOHN 3:16

01-09-2006, 12:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
offroadmission Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Member # 29415 Location: north carolina Posts: 190	ttt __________________ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ROMANS 10:13 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. JOHN 3:16

01-09-2006, 06:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
fullygruntled Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Member # 9614 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 1,008	yes, perhaps with minor modification. __________________ Choose Life. Preferably Cinnamon. [url]http://McBob.TV[/url]

01-11-2006, 08:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
sammeeks351 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Member # 3845 Location: carlsbad,nm Posts: 275	just some fyi here no flaming intended! if a fsj had a tf727 its 80 or newer... and most column's in that era were chevy tilt column's but it should fit,maybe some minor mods as posted before! __________________ 77 cherokee,360/t400/d300,d60/14 bolt disc's,5.13's,42" \../. rockers .\../ #326..79 jtruck

01-14-2006, 07:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
offroadmission Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Member # 29415 Location: north carolina Posts: 190	what would it have if it were not a 727? it is a am208 though? i crawled under it and looked at the tag. on the column i can tell that mine has the bright light switch on the turn signal stick. the cherokee has it on the floor. is this a major mod? __________________ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ROMANS 10:13 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. JOHN 3:16

01-14-2006, 11:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
JimKyser Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 360 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 246	If it is a stock, late '70s Cherokee with an automatic, it will have either the TH-400 and a Quadratrac transfer case or the TH-400 and a Dana 20 transfer case. The rear axle for the Quadratrac version will have the pinion offset to the passenger side several inches as the rear output of the t-case is aligned with the front output. The rear axle for the Dana 20 version will have the pinion pretty much centered as the rear output of the t-case is aligned with the mainshaft of the transmission. __________________ Jim Kyser 1946 Willys CJ-2A

01-14-2006, 11:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
offroadmission Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Member # 29415 Location: north carolina Posts: 190	i was told it was a 79 cherokee chief. it is an auto and the t-caase tag says am208. __________________ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ROMANS 10:13 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. JOHN 3:16

01-14-2006, 12:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
JimKyser Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 360 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 246	What side is the front pumkin on, driver's or passenger's? They switched to the 727/208 combo in 1980 and at the same time moved the front pumkin to the driver's side. __________________ Jim Kyser 1946 Willys CJ-2A

01-14-2006, 05:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
offroadmission Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Member # 29415 Location: north carolina Posts: 190	drivers __________________ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ROMANS 10:13 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. JOHN 3:16

01-14-2006, 11:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
v10sport Granite Guru Join Date: Sep 2003 Member # 23066 Posts: 563	The 400 was never offered with the dana 20, only the QT case. If the Cherokee is driver side drop its a 80 or newer. 79 and older were passenger drop. __________________ 09 JK unlimited Rubicon 07 2500 CTD Ram 02 Grand Cherokee 79 Cherokee WT 360/T18/Dana 20 ]

01-15-2006, 09:22 AM	#13 (permalink)
carnuck Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Member # 15386 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,129	The TH400 was offered with D20 from '63 up till '72 (Starting with the J100 and J300 which became Wagoneer and Jtruck respectively and evolved into their own nameplates @ '65). In '73 it became an extra option along with the Quadratrac till '75 and then it only became available with std trans till '79. The body may be pre '79, but someone could have changed the drivetrain from a newer one (with the rotted frame problem that '80 up had in salty areas) along with the axles. I almost put a '84 GW body on a '76 frame so I know how "easy" it is. (3 days work, then I found a J truck instead and scrapped the other project) __________________ Jim Blair, Seattle, WA Build that Jeep boys, cuz it ain't gonna build itself!

01-17-2006, 10:24 AM	#15 (permalink)
rustywagoneersdotcom Archimedean Join Date: Jan 2006 Member # 65100 Location: Dodge, NE Posts: 4,934	i have used wag tilt column in CJ tub, you have to change the tin collar at the lower end of the column. wiring is just wiring, you can move the hi - lo switch.. i have owned fsj's with th400 QT and 400 / d20 and yes, the 727 208 would be waaaaay long in a yj...

01-17-2006, 07:50 PM	#16 (permalink)
carnuck Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Member # 15386 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,129	You could go with an IH 6 cyl 727 and D20 setup. It's an AMC 6 in the IH (The V8 ones are different) __________________ Jim Blair, Seattle, WA Build that Jeep boys, cuz it ain't gonna build itself! Last edited by carnuck; 01-17-2006 at 07:51 PM.

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