53 CJ questions

[oldtanker]

I've got a line on a 53 CJ. It has no engine or tranny. I can get it for hauling it off. Now for the questions. I want to use this as a farm vehicle. So I'm kinda wondering what newer engine/tranny/Transfer Case would be a good fit. I would be pulling small trailers, and be using it for fencing. I need something small and agile. I also want something street legal.

Thanks

Rick

 

[thiswontbetooexpensive]

Since you have nothing for a drivetrain, I would recommend trying to decipher the VIN and see what it should have had/came with.

Don't know if this is an option with this year model, but try to get it back stock and gear it for your intended uses.

Welcome to the forum if I haven't said so already!

 

[Saddle Tramp]

I’d go with a later but pre 1972 stock Jeep-Dauntless Buick 225 V6 . If you get lucky you might be able to get the whole enchilada, motor, Transmission , and Transfer Case (Spicer 18 ) from a donor vehicle but with the combo being a once stock option, it should reduce the fuss and muss to get the job done.

Any free jeep is a good jeep!

 

[oldtanker]

OK thanks. I'm thinking that I'd like it a bit more modern engine under the hood plus I have knee problems and sometimes a clutch isn't a good idea for me. I was thinking that a GM 151 Chevy I4 would be a fun project and I can find those in old S10 picks real cheap. Coupled to a TH350 with Transfer Case and even my wife could use it. I don't trust her with a stick sense she down shifted at 55 from 4th to 2nd and spun a bearing.

I'd like to get it looking good but it will be used checking cows in the pasture, checking fence lines, maybe if I get caught up pulling the boat to the lake. May pull a hay wagon from time to time. So it would be a work vehicle.

So any input or suggestions would be great.

Rick

 

[tarry99]

OK thanks. I'm thinking that I'd like it a bit more modern engine under the hood plus I have knee problems and sometimes a clutch isn't a good idea for me. I was thinking that a GM 151 Chevy I4 would be a fun project and I can find those in old S10 picks real cheap. Coupled to a TH350 with Transfer Case and even my wife could use it. I don't trust her with a stick sense she down shifted at 55 from 4th to 2nd and spun a bearing.

I'd like to get it looking good but it will be used checking cows in the pasture, checking fence lines, maybe if I get caught up pulling the boat to the lake. May pull a hay wagon from time to time. So it would be a work vehicle.

So any input or suggestions would be great.

Rick

Early short wheelbase CJ's and automatics transmissions in regards to a short rear driveshaft don't seem to fit well...........of course if you kept it stock height and did not 4-wheel it much a short driveline perhaps could be liveable......A flathead 4 cylinder motor is what came with that stock and a Dana 18 Transfer Case ........the Chevy I-4 was an option in the Jeeps at one time in the early 80's but were underpowered.
Good Luck!

 

[oldtanker]

Early short wheelbase CJ's and automatics transmissions in regards to a short rear driveshaft don't seem to fit well...........of course if you kept it stock height and did not 4-wheel it much a short driveline perhaps could be liveable......A flathead 4 cylinder motor is what came with that stock and a Dana 18 Transfer Case ........the Chevy I-4 was an option in the Jeeps at one time in the early 80's but were underpowered.
Good Luck!

Well is there another option that would work better?

Thanks

Rick

 

[Saddle Tramp]

I understand your mission. The only concern I have is the length of the rear drive line. I know Novak and others say the TH350 will work in shorter Jeeps but I question it even though I have seen the swap done; however I have never wheeled one. The net length of the TH350 Transmission if you discount for the bell housing on the manual set up is about 15” coupled with the Transfer Case adaptor the total overall length grows to about 18”. (The overall length of a TH350 without deducting the bell housing equivalent is 21-3/4”.) By comparison the T-18 , which is one of the most popular Transmission swaps into a CJ, is only 12” long and is generally considered about as long as one dare go and still have a workable rear driveline length in a CJ other than the CJ7 . The TH350 pushes the Transfer Case back about 6” over the T-18 . (Read: 6” shorter rear drive line.) As you plan to use the Iron Duke 4 cylinder maybe you can push to motor forward a little and pick up a few inches on the driveline. Of course keeping the lift down (if any) will help too.

Maybe someone who has this swap can weigh in here.

 

[tarry99]

Well is there another option that would work better?

Thanks

Rick

Rick , not saying the Turbo 350 is a bad choice it really is a good choice, but it will shorten your rear driveshaft on average by about 3 inches as compared to a HD 4-speed like a Ford T-18 and about 6+ inches as compared to the 3-speed T-90 that probably came with that vehicle. Again not saying you cannot have a short drive shaft.........but when picking combinations you want that information front and center while picking..............room goes away real quick in one of those old CJ's starting at the radiator on back................go to Novaks adapters web page and look around.

 

[oldtanker]

I understand your mission. The only concern I have is the length of the rear drive line. I know Novak and others say the TH350 will work in shorter Jeeps but I question it even though I have seen the swap done; however I have never wheeled one. The net length of the TH350 Transmission if you discount for the bell housing on the manual set up is about 15” coupled with the Transfer Case adaptor the total overall length grows to about 18”. (The overall length of a TH350 without deducting the bell housing equivalent is 21-3/4”.) By comparison the T-18 , which is one of the most popular Transmission swaps into a CJ, is only 12” long and is generally considered about as long as one dare go and still have a workable rear driveline length in a CJ other than the CJ7 . The TH350 pushes the Transfer Case back about 6” over the T-18 . (Read: 6” shorter rear drive line.) As you plan to use the Iron Duke 4 cylinder maybe you can push to motor forward a little and pick up a few inches on the driveline. Of course keeping the lift down (if any) will help too.

Maybe someone who has this swap can weigh in here.

OK thanks. No plans on a lift as for my terrain an what I want it for it isn't needed. Plus I'd like to put in US Army dress, something to do with being a old tnaker, m60's and M1s, 74-96.....LOL..

Thanks

Rick