Driveline setup

[Megamus]

So i think im having a bit of a change in heart about what i want to do with the cj as far as motor and tranny setup...

Currently i have the 304/T-15/Dana 20 setup which I honestly don't think is a bad set up. I will prolly keep this set up while im working on the new one.

However I think i am leaning towards the 305/350 chevy motor with the sm465 tranny with a dana 20 tcase. This combo will give me good performance, mostly lots of parts and nice low gearing since its first gear is close to that of the T-18, and i would still be able to keep my driveline fairly short which is really important

I have the opportunity to get a good sm465 for 100 bucks, which i think is worth it, if anyone can get me one chaper let me know. To be honest, id like a junk one that i could rebuild!

The only thing i dont think i like about this combo is the weight of the sm465. it weighs ALOT. The other thing is that there is no OD, which honestly isn't a major problem, considering it would never get driven very far or very fast, and i believe they sell after market overdrives but i dont know much about these or how much work they are to install



Any opinions, other options ppl would like to throw at me?

[DodgeMudder]

keep it AMC there is already too many chebby powered CJ's out there.

[chopperfreak2k1]

an overdrive from GV will run you about $2500-$2700 new. good luck finding a used unit. you can find an nv4500 for less.

[Megamus]

i didnt realize the ran that much, but i also dont need an OD

I need a stubby little tranny. NV4500s are prtty long

[Krod]

SM420 Might be another alternative to the 465, and should have that nice 7:1 first

[Megamus]

Whats the difference b\t the 2? Just age? Will it give me any advantage over the sm465?

[chopperfreak2k1]

i'm not sure but i think the sm420 has a higher first gear not lower. also the sm420 is rated at 420ft/lb torque input while the sm465 is rated at 465 thus their names.

[chopperfreak2k1]

i have this info somewhere, i'll find it and post it for you

[Megamus]

Thanks.

Im just tryin to figure out what setup i would like to use, any input/info is awesome

[Krod]

420 is 7.05:1 first.
465 is 6.55:1 first

Pretty close. Probably not worth worrying about if you're concerned about it. They're both heavy-duty transmissions. The 465 should be a closer ratio trans than the 420 due to its low first gear. Might be a better choice for the road if you plan to use first.

[gonecheenin]

465 is alot more common & easier to adapt to t-cases

the Sm420 is alittle shorter, harder to find, and takes more to adapt to t-cases


If you have a 5 go with the 420, if you have a 7 the 465 is the ticket

Novak sells complete rebuild kits & a pile of info on that popular jeep swap SM420

http://www.novak-adapt.com/

[Megamus]

If you have a 5 go with the 420,

Why? just because it is a little big shorter? You said 465s were easier to adapt though, why wouldn't that be the way to go?

[gonecheenin]

Why? just because it is a little big shorter?

Yep, every inch counts in a 5

Sure the 465 will work, but it just makes things that much snugger

I personally would use the 465 because it can be adapted to a 231 with junkyard parts (this is what I have in mind for my 88' YJ's driveline)

But then again I wouldn't build a 5 so I wouldn't be worried as much about length

[Megamus]

The reason i picked the 465 was it is easier to adapt to a dana 20. The 231 would make things even more cramped.

[gonecheenin]

The reason i picked the 465 was it is easier to adapt to a dana 20. The 231 would make things even more cramped.

I never said it was a good case for you, I said it was what I would do because of junkyard part availabilty (and I wouldn't build a 5)


BTW:, why the hell a D20 instead of a D300?

[PatF10]

yea go amc keep it unique. actually i dont think it matters, amc just goes in there nice. I just got a t18 setup in mine, granny low gear are awesome!

[Megamus]

I never said it was a good case for you, I said it was what I would do because of junkyard part availabilty (and I wouldn't build a 5)


BTW:, why the hell a D20 instead of a D300?

I wasn't harrasing you. but I dont need help building a Yj. It is a Cj-5 driveline that i need opinions about


the dana 300 would work, and im going to look into one. Its just right now, i have a dana 20, so thats what im gonna use till i find a dana 300, and it will be easy to swap the dana 300 in later

[Megamus]

yea go amc keep it unique. actually i dont think it matters, amc just goes in there nice. I just got a t18 setup in mine, granny low gear are awesome!

I would really like a t-18 setup. But the price on those goofy things is rough. I was hoping to get a set up with the low 1st gearing, that was another reason i was leaning towards the sm465

[PatF10]

i got lucky found an entire Jeep Cj t18 bell housing trans, transfercase and drive shafts for 500, just need to shop around, the deals are out there

[gearhead313]

... i have an LT1 forsale!

[gonecheenin]

So i think im having a bit of a change in heart about what i want to do with the cj as far as motor and tranny setup...

Currently i have the 304/T-15/Dana 20 setup which I honestly don't think is a bad set up. I will prolly keep this set up while im working on the new one.

However I think i am leaning towards the 305/350 chevy motor with the sm465 tranny with a dana 20 tcase. This combo will give me good performance, mostly lots of parts and nice low gearing since its first gear is close to that of the T-18, and i would still be able to keep my driveline fairly short which is really important

I have the opportunity to get a good sm465 for 100 bucks, which i think is worth it, if anyone can get me one chaper let me know. To be honest, id like a junk one that i could rebuild!

The only thing i dont think i like about this combo is the weight of the sm465. it weighs ALOT. The other thing is that there is no OD, which honestly isn't a major problem, considering it would never get driven very far or very fast, and i believe they sell after market overdrives but i dont know much about these or how much work they are to install



Any opinions, other options ppl would like to throw at me?

I wasn't harrasing you. but I dont need help building a Yj. It is a Cj-5 driveline that i need opinions about

Well first off, you never said which one you were building (as I quoted above), therefore I offered advice based on that lack of information

Secondly (since you seem to be ignorant of it) building a YJ is an awfull frickin' lot similar to building a CJ (even the 5 to 7's basic differences are mainly in length)

the dana 300 would work, and im going to look into one. Its just right now, i have a dana 20, so thats what im gonna use till i find a dana 300, and it will be easy to swap the dana 300 in later

I was thinking of the Bronco style D20 or something then cause I remember one t-case using the entire output gear from the tranny top drive the t-case gears, where the D300 uses a simple input shaft design like all the newer stuff
Which obviously would take a pile of work to swap out later

[Megamus]

I said having a change in heart on the CJ.

ignorant? dont be a dick. I know they are similar, and i respect you info and you help. But in order to not to cause future problems, i need to keep my drive line as short as possible, i.e. the reason im think i want to use the sm465 or 420


And i wasnt aware of the output gear or w/e but if it comes to swaping that stuff over when i get the 300 thats fine. I dont mine working on that shit

[chopperfreak2k1]

yeah krod is right- sm420/7.05:1 sm465/6.58:1 np435/6.69:1 t18/6.32:1 and all are unsynchronized the t19/5.11:1 and is synchronized

[Megamus]

Any one happen to know the difference b/t a Ford t-18 and a jeep? What would it take to get set up in the CJ?

[gonecheenin]

I said having a change in heart on the CJ.

Right, which never specified 5 or 7

And I'm not being a dick, I'm pointing out why I offered info you thought was useless












Now that we know you have a 5, the SM420 is the best bet to keep as much driveline length as possible (which is not only important for a lifted rig (if it is lifted) but also important for a strong V-8 powered rig (I'm assuming your not going do all this work to install a turd engine )since a sharper driveline angle will make things easier to break with that horsepower