Dana 300 upgrade questions.

[mattgunguy]

So my little Dana 300 Transfer Case is still a bit of a mystery to me. I've never been inside one or really know that much about it. I'm far far more familiar with the NP205 / NP 203 & some Rockwell military monsters.

I'm building up the 83 CJ5 into a bit of a do everything buggy. Not super great at any one thing, but competent at every thing. I realize this means compromise, & I'm good with that.

What's going on so far. Gots a 4" lift. Still on cj springs but will be yj or tj springs eventually (I get them confused). Putting in a Dana 44 from a 72 cj this weekend. Wide track Dana 30 up front (wheel spacers for the back axle). Regearing to 4:88 & a Grizzly locker in the rear. Running 33x12.50x15 for rubber. Thinking 35's next time around. Rebuilt the T-176 a few months ago. Will be swapping out the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l l6 to a Dauntless Buick 225 V6 225 v6 in the next few months.

With that stuff in mind. What should be done to the Dana 300 ? I've been searching here & elsewhere for answers. But that is a truly huge set of opinions right there.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Basod]

I was in the same boat been through several NP cases over the years.
The Dana 300 isn't terribly daunting to rebuild with new bearings and seals. You'll need a press, seal driver set, feeler gauges and some shim stock if needed.

Pop the cover off and check your gears before just rebuilding, seems like a lot of guys go with the Terra low kit and twin stick.

Check out gearbox videos on youtube - really good how to on the Dana 300 .

 

[hagar]

The weakest link will be the T-14 . Not the strongest Transmission , and weaker then the T-176 you are removing.
The T-14 is harder and more expensive to source parts for and they will be made offshore.
I'd keep the T-176 and make it work behind the 225.
And that is my opinion.

 

[mattgunguy]

Huh.

Wasnt going to use a T-14 . Not with a Dana 300 Transfer Case & a centered rear axle. Not worth the hassle & then I'd need an Overdrive as well. I'm just wanting to know what I should upgrade in the Transfer Case . Stuff like maybe a tera flex low range kit or something similar. Not worried about rebuilding it. Gear driven cases are fairly straightforward.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Never regretted putting a 4:1 kit in mine.
Gary

 

[mattgunguy]

Never regretted putting a 4:1 kit in mine.
Gary

Thank you.

Only other person I've seen on here from Springfield.

 

[Belizean]

Thank you.

Only other person I've seen on here from Springfield.

I think the only thing Gary knows about Springfield is his trusty 1903 !

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Thank you.

Only other person I've seen on here from Springfield.

Moved here last October after 28+yrs in the Mojave Desert.
Love liv'n in America again.
1903??
Gary

 

[Belizean]

Moved here last October after 28+yrs in the Mojave Desert.
Love liv'n in America again.
1903??
Gary

Springfield 1903 bolt action .30-06 caliber rifle. A well made lead slinger for its day

 

[mattgunguy]

Lived out far west Texas for many years. While it ain't the Mojave, it isn't to different

Almost 30 years I've been up here, & i still miss west Texas weather though.

 

[hole]

As mentioned, the 300 isnt too bad to go through. Terralow or LoMax are your 4-1 gear set options. After months of researching the two I decided LoMax was the better unit, and combined with a JB Fab twinstick, has been one of the best upgrades I've done to date.

 

[Belizean]

Lived out far west Texas for many years. While it ain't the Mojave, it isn't to different

Almost 30 years I've been up here, & i still miss west Texas weather though.

I love the Big Bend area. Beautiful !

 

[007]

Lived out far west Texas for many years. While it ain't the Mojave, it isn't to different

Almost 30 years I've been up here, & i still miss west Texas weather though.

I just spent 11mos in West Texas...less humid than where you are, but uh where in the heck were you to miss it at all? Must have been like El Paso region...?

Oil rigs, gas plants and 90mph welder trucks about all I remember. I used to say that if Texas were to get an enema, Pecos is where they'd stick the tube.

 

[Belizean]

I just spent 11mos in West Texas...less humid than where you are, but uh where in the heck were you to miss it at all? Must have been like El Paso region...?

Oil rigs, gas plants and 90mph welder trucks about all I remember. I used to say that if Texas were to get an enema, Pecos is where they'd stick the tube.

I really like the west Texas area, but I guess that was before fracking. Been 15-20 years so I guess things have changed. Only in the late fall through early spring also, to hot in the summer

 

[007]

I really like the west Texas area, but I guess that was before fracking. Been 15-20 years so I guess things have changed. Only in the late fall through early spring also, to hot in the summer

In my opinion, anything west of Midland is horrible. I can’t speak for much south of the interstate but the area around El Paso is pretty nice.


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[Ultrunner]

I rebuild my Dana 300 last year. I am planning to mate it with an AX15. The build was pretty straight forward. There's lot of videos out there. I used the Novak Conversions rebuild kit. I really liked their intermediate shaft included on the kit. It was a pain to get the springs and ball bearings in the voids where the shift rails go.

Make sure you do this before you put the front bearing cover on so the you can work both sides of the opening. I made the mistake of putting the cap on and trying to feed the rails in whilst trying to jerry rig some way to hold the ball and springs down. I ended up removing it (after the gasket and seal had set), but it was much easier after that. Everything else isn't to bad. I will add, I'd never done anything like this prior.

Let me know if you have questions, I took lots of photos and its still pretty fresh in my mind.

 

[Ren]

Hey, Matt. You might want to look into replacing the rear output shaft. I recall them being weak, at times- I.E. heavy loads/ high torque leading to breakage.