Advice Needed

[Vick68]

Ok a good friend of mine that has 24 years of working on different autos, decided he was tired of hearing me complain about what I didn't know was wrong with my jeep. He came by and picked it up and took it to his shop. My first ? for him is did he think the tranny was factory he believes it is. The VIN says my jeep was a AMC 304 and 3spd. The PO said it had a AMC 304 when he got it and it was a factory 4 spd, is this possible, if it is which 4spd would it be. I know it wasn't offered but could it been special ordered? Also the jeep is shifting into 2 3 4 and reverse good but grinds going into 1st is there a way to adjust it out, if I pump the clutch before shifting 7 or 8 times it won't grind. I know the PO liked part swaping but he swears the tranny is factory and my buddy seems to agree. Now my next issue is it is backfiring and idling rough as HE!!. We checked the firing orde on the 360 and its good and he says the timing is correct, what else could it be? I've had by CJ5 for 6 months now and I'm really grasping the understanding of what jeep means. Just Empty Every Pocket. My wife might divorce me but she aint getting the jeep.

 

[Incommando]

Sounds like you have the T-18 4spd. It is driven like a 3 speed by starting off in 2nd and first gear is unsynchronized and should only be engaged when sitting still. It is generally only used when off road. The T-18 was available in '73 but was also common in FSJ's if that was the source for your 360.

Is the ignition still the '71 factory points ignition? If so have they been checked/replaced with the condensor?

Please post the info that the mechanic used to determine it was a factory 3spd instead of the optional T-18 . A good mechanic could figure out that first gear was unsynchronized and tell ya how to drive it.

 

[kadar]

I'm lookind for a bellhousing clutch boot dust cover. V6 225 buick with T-86 Transmission the opening is 3" wide by 21/2" high. All of the jeep is original from the factory. Just having a time locating one Thanks Kadar

 

[Vick68]

When i Do put it in 1st it feels as it is geared really low. I usually start in 2nd just b/c it grinds going into first and i don't really pick up any speed in it. Reverse is all the way over and up if that helps pin that it is a t 18. The PO swore the engine was the only thing that he switched and that wasn't original. I will find out what the mechanic used to agree that it was factory, b/c it just what he said. What Transfer Case would be mated with it if it was factory? I'm about to do some work with the ignition, b/c right now the PO has it straight wired to crank.

 

[CJ]

On a T-18 , always shift to reverse before shifting to 1st, this will align the 1st gear and limit grinding.

73 has a Dana 20 Transfer Case .

Post the VIN so we can decipher it.

 

[CJ]

I'm lookind for a bellhousing clutch boot dust cover. V6 225 buick with T-86 Transmission the opening is 3" wide by 21/2" high. All of the jeep is original from the factory. Just having a time locating one Thanks Kadar

Please start a new thread with this question.

 

[Vick68]

I used the dicepher I found on someones post on here and the vin says that it came factory with AMC 304 3spd out of toledo ohio. But guys that I have talked to around here said someone could have special ordered it and they changed it out before it left the plant. I guess only real way to know is get numbers off the tranny

 

[CJ]

Doesn't really matter, the CJ was built with a 3 spd (T-15 ). It now has a T-18 4 spd. The 4 spd is a better Transmission .
It doesn't matter if it was swapped at the dealer or after it was purchased, the T-18 is a better Transmission . Most CJ owners would kill for a T-18 / Dana 20 combo!

Use 1st gear off-road only. Shift to reverse and then 1st when you need to use 1st gear. The T-18 is a great Transmission ...

 

[Vick68]

I'm glad to know it, is there anything I can do about the grinding in first gear when I do want to use it. Also once I lock the hubs on the front do I just shift the shifter down for the 4 wd i've owned yjs but this my first cj.

 

[CJ]

As I have said multiple times, shift to reverse before shifting to 1st, this alignes the gears. If it still grinds your clutch is most likely not disengaging completely.

To get into 4wd, some times you need to slip the clutch a little and move forward while pushing or pulling on the Transfer Case lever. Many times you just need to experiment and develop "a feel"...

 

[Vick68]

That would explain why it went into 4x4 rolling. I'm still trying to get a feel for her but loving it lol. I've driven alot of 4x4 things but there aint nothing like the cj. I've been back and forth whether i should replace the pressure plate and throw out bearing i guess I leave it up to my buddy if he thinks its needed.

 

[jasonmark1993]

Well, no offense but like someone else said, it raises questions that your mechanic couldn't explain to you that you have a 4spd and 1st is SUPPOSED to grind like that.

Well not supposed to but its going to. Its unsynchronized. Thats why you need to slip it into reverse to stop the gear from spinning.

Maybe your friend is young and didn't grow up around trucks with a granny gear. They all grind if you don't hit reverse first. Sometimes going into fourth will work too.

Backfiring is usually an ignition problem. You can get a lean backfire though.

 

[CJ]

Look at it this way, that 73 CJ is 39 years old! It's a CJ, so be assured it wasn't babied all those four decades...
They also were built in the days when creature comforts and ease of use was not the primary goal, longevity and strength were...

The best thing I can say is drive it, learn it's nuances, in no time you will be going places you never dreamed of.

 

[tarry99]

Look at it this way, that 73 CJ is 39 years old! It's a CJ, so be assured it wasn't babied all those four decades...
They also were built in the days when creature comforts and ease of use was not the primary goal, longevity and strength were...

The best thing I can say is drive it, learn it's nuances, in no time you will be going places you never dreamed of.

Thanks for your patience!

 

[CJ]

Thanks for your patience!

Need it with old Jeeps!