AMC 258, T-176/Dana 300 or T-14/Dana 20

[Tracks]

I've got a perfectly good AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l pulled out of a 74 CJ that was paired up with a T-14 /Dana 20 combo. The 74 itself is mostly rusted beyond repair. I also have a 1980 CJ5 that had a locked up AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l in it. I am attempting to transfer engine into the the 1980.

I am looking for some advice in regards to which Transmission and Transfer Case combination would be the better choice. From what I can see swapping the T-176 for the T-14 is a pretty easy swap, short of getting the right pilot bushing and a little bit of modification to the Transmission cross member.

As best I can tell the Dana 300 is an excellent Transfer Case , but I can't seem to find much info in regards to weather or not the T-176 is worth it's salt. Also a smallblock V8 may be in the semi distand future for the jeep. Planning to get rust and other details hammered out first though.

I am assuming since I have found tons of info on how "light duty" the T-14 is, that the T-176 would be a better option.

Any advice or helpful info would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[LongHorn]

The T-176 is one of better transmissions offered in the later model CJ's.
It's comparable to a T-10, but with a tower style shift mechanism.
I would definitely go with the T-176 over a T-14 .

 

[Buuushman]

On my 77' the Transmission mount is bolted directly to the skidplate and the T-176 has two sets of mounting holes so even though the tranny lengths are different, the skid bolted up in it's original location. Pretty sure my old 79' had the same setup, so your 80' should not be much different.

 

[BusaDave9]

My vote goes to the T-176 and Dana 300 .
You can't swap out the TCases. The mounting is different. Actually I wouldn't want to. The T-176 is the better tranny and the Dana 300 is a better TCase.

 

[CJim7]

My vote goes to the T-176 and Dana 300 .
You can't swap out the TCases. The mounting is different. Actually I wouldn't want to. The T-176 is the better tranny and the Dana 300 is a better TCase.

Agreed