cherokee tranny

[Out of my mind CJ5]

i was in a junkyard today and saw a 79 full size cherokee with a 360 and a 4-speed. im not positive what type it is. anybody know what came in them and if it would go good in a cj with a 360? any thoughts are appreciated

 

[Saddle Tramp]

A 1979 FSJ if stock and manual will have a T18. The FSJ T18s have a spacer/adaptor that pushes the tranny back about 5” from the V8 bell housing (less for the I6) and as such comes with a longer front shaft than the CJ T18. (Pilot bushing sizes vary too.) The problem with pushing the tranny back that far in a CJ5 is it shortens the rear drive line to the point you will have problems. However you can tear the FSJ T18 down and change out the front shaft to work in a CJ, it only takes money. The 1979 FSJ bell housing was tapped for a T15, and a 1979 FSJ T18 is set up to bolt to a Dana20 transfer case. Best to make sure this is what the junk yard has as in 1980 & 1981 the J20 trucks came with a NP 208 transfer case which is a round pattern, not the Texas pattern of the Dana 20.

 

[BrockGrimes]

If it is a T-18 and you can pick it up cheap you can build it up at your leasure or sell it to buy parts.

More info can be found here:
http://www.offroaders.com/info/tech-corner/project-cj7/project-cj7-t-18-rebuild.htm
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/t18_t19.htm

Once you know what it is give them an email or call to see what it'll take to make it work,
then you can decide if it's worth the effort.