T-176 skid plate help

[Jimbos76cj]

My eyes are bleeding from google searching...

Im putting together a 85 CJ for a friend and heres what I can confirm for fact.

It has a 360, T-176 Transmission and Dana 300 . The motor is bolted in used More bomb proof mounts.

Today after getting the Transmission and Transfer Case bolted up I noted that the skid plate does not line up to the T-176 mounting holes. Bolt holes for the Transmission mount pretty much line up with the front edge of the of the skid plate. In my searching I've found several pics of "T-176 " plates all of which look just like mine. Any idea of what the issue might be?

 

[CJim7]

The problem is that combo never came in that era CJ. The 360 sits further forward than the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l and that might be where you're running into the issue you are having.

However....there should be mounting holes on the frame to move the crossmember forward. Or, you can move the engine back slightly from the frame mounts (check to see they aren't already there). I don't necessarily recommend this though unless you are running an electric fan....it puts the mechanical fan quite a ways from the radiator/shroud.

The bottom line is check for extra mounting points on the frame whether its for the engine or for the crossmember.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Can you post some pictures so that we all can see?
The OEM 'skid' was 'punched' for different mount'n and tranny combos.
Is this a OEM skid plate to that '85?
LG

 

[Torxhead]

If you can drill and tap a few holes in a block of metal you can make your own. I would suggest contacting Advance Adapters in Paso Robles, Ca. and tell them what you want to adapt.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

The problem is that combo never came in that era CJ. The 360 sits further forward than the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l and that might be where you're running into the issue you are having.

However....there should be mounting holes on the frame to move the crossmember forward. Or, you can move the engine back slightly from the frame mounts (check to see they aren't already there). I don't necessarily recommend this though unless you are running an electric fan....it puts the mechanical fan quite a ways from the radiator/shroud.

The bottom line is check for extra mounting points on the frame whether its for the engine or for the crossmember.

There looks to be another hole further up the frame but it narrows pretty good and I don't think the skid will fit right. But I'll double check next week when I make it back out there. I'm pretty sure the motor is in the right spot. There's not a whole lot of room between the block and fire wall. It can't go back much further.

Can you post some pictures so that we all can see?
The OEM 'skid' was 'punched' for different mount'n and tranny combos.
Is this a OEM skid plate to that '85?
LG

Sure thing lumpy. I tried taking some today but the way the sun was blazing through the window it kinda washed it out.

If you can drill and tap a few holes in a block of metal you can make your own. I would suggest contacting Advance Adapters in Paso Robles, Ca. and tell them what you want to adapt.

That's my next step.. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing any thing else silly.

 

[Neuner]

I was frustrated with it as well when I did my tranny swap to the T177. More difficult than I thought it should have been as well and like you, I was tired of googling for an answer. Issue is that the T-176 /7/8 also has two rows of holes but unfortunately, I can't remember which one is used and I'm not able to tell when looking because it's blocked from view.

I have a straight six but I believe it should still mount the same. The tranny uses the middle row of holes and the skid plate uses the set of frame holes closest to the engine bay. I also use the elongated/slotted holes on the skid plate closest to the front.

Even then it didn't quite line up right so I had to loosen the engine mounts and force it into place then lock it down. Everytime after that, it has lined up fine.

 

[Hedgehog]

Exactly, approach this one from another direction. Float engine by detaching the engine mounts. Mount the plate, mount the Transmission /Transfer Case on the plate. If the engine mounts line up with different holes in the frame lock it down.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

Thanks.. The motor mounts are loose. The tub is a bit misaligned and the head is hitting the pinch weld on the tub for the Transmission tunnel so I'm pretty confident it's back as far as it can go. I didn't even think of moving the hole forward. Neuner can you post a pic of your skid plate mounted?

 

[Neuner]

I tried to take some last night after posting but they didn't turn out.

The images I have attached I grabbed during my searches which you might have already seen.

The [T-176 mounted] pics that I attached helped me the most and looks just like mine. They show which holes I've used for the frame rails, in the skid plate and for the Transmission mount.

Hope this helps!

 

[duke94]

I tried to take some last night after posting but they didn't turn out.

The images I have attached I grabbed during my searches which you might have already seen.

The [T-176 mounted] pics that I attached helped me the most and looks just like mine. They show which holes I've used for the frame rails, in the skid plate and for the Transmission mount.

Hope this helps!

I did the same install last year into my 83 CJ7 . The pictures posted by Neuner are the same as mine. Tried to post mine but PhotoBucket wasn't working, will try later. I think there were 2 sets of holes in the Transmission as well. Must be a hundred different combinations.

 

[gr8dain]

I just moved my AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l and T-176 to a new frame and cross member this past weekend. And yes, there were two sets of holes on the bottom of the Transmission . I did not remember which of those sets the mount was bolted to. But after setting the motor mounts to the frame and motor and easing it down, it was clear which needed to be used. But it does seem that there are a lot of possible combinations.

 

[duke94]

Here's the photos.

 

[Neuner]

Had mine down today. It's the first row of holes on the T-176 /177 closest to the front.