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T176 into CJ5 question

T176 into CJ5 question

JeeperChris

Old Time Jeeper
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Location
Michigan
Vehicle(s)
'79 CJ5, 258 I6, T150 w/Dana20, Dana30 front and AMC20 rear. My first Jeep! I'm looking forward to doing some minor upgrades and restoration while enjoying the ride.
Hi gang,

I'm looking at a T-176 and Dana 300 for my '79 CJ5 . They came from an 80-86 CJ7 .

How will I know if they will fit my CJ? I know there were different input shafts on this Transmission . What do I need to know to verify that it will fit my truck?

It was mated to a small block chevy via an Advanced Adapter bell housing.

Thanks for any insight. I might just buy it and take a chance....
 
Last edited:
If it came from a CJ7 originally it should fit yours. You will have to find the right bellhousing.

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That's what I thought from all the reading I've done but it never hurts to ask here first.

Also, I have a T-150 so, again from what I've read, the T-176 should bolt right up to it. ...i hope.

Think I'm just going to buy it and work out any glitches later. At least it's the close ratio version, it's the first one of those I've found and the one I want.

Thanks
 
I think I need to start a build thread for this....
 
A build thread would be good and lots of pictures needed. Most of us require pictures. I may have a bellhousing that will fit the bill but am on an extended trip and am in Alabama for now and won't be back home until late May or early June.

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I'm not sure if there is a significant difference, I think they are close enough, but you may want to measure the over all length of the entire assembly to see if you might need to lengthen/shorten the driveshafts.
 
Didn't the '5' come OEM with a 176?:confused:
I have seen'em in a few over the years....
LG
 
I'm assuming you have the stock T-15 3 speed in it right now with a stock AMC engine? The short answer is yes, the bolt pattern in the front of the tranny should fit your bellhousing. Keep in mind that they made two different versions of the Dana 300 Transfer Case : a long rear shaft model for the CJ7 and a short shaft model for the CJ5 . Those are much rare and hard to find. This should bolt into your CJ bu the rear driveshaft is going to have to be quite short and at a steep angle, since you have the long output shaft Dana 300 .
 
They came in 5's and 7's 80-83 and 80-86
Just a note: if mated with a gm the top 2 ear holes on the T-176 may be elongated.
Depending on what adapter they used the top holes don't line up on some and need to be elongated.
 
Thanks for all the replies gang!

I have the T-150 3-speed now so the 176 should bolt right up just fine from what I've been reading. Really wanted to make sure the input shaft was going to be the right length but like it was stated, if it came from a CJ7 it should go in just fine.

I'm keeping my AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l I6, I like that motor. Currently it's a remanufactured engine so not matching numbers but it's "stock". I will later build that to a Clifford Performance dual Weber engine.

As far as I can tell I should need just a new pilot bushing to bolt everything together. The clutch/pressure plate will be new also.

Also will be doing 4 inch lift spring kit so new driveshafts will be there. Going to use Tom Woods stuff. I've heard his name used with driveshafts so much I can't even imagine that anyone else makes them.

The 5 is still at my mechanics and up in the air right now so I have a bunch of pictures of the body mounts and some spots on the frame but nothing in the engine compartment. It's getting a new Weber 32/36 right now too. So I'll find a place to post my pics and start a build thread on it and show everyone what's happening as it goes.
 
Keep in mind that they made two different versions of the Dana 300 Transfer Case : a long rear shaft model for the CJ7 and a short shaft model for the CJ5 . Those are much rare and hard to find.

Not true.

The short output Dana 300 was used in 1980 only (for both CJ5s and CJ7s & also Scouts). All 81 and later D300s were the long output version.

OP, also, the clutch disc is different for the T-150 and T-176 . OEM skid plates are different. Not sure if you can make your Dana 20 skid work or not. If you can find a T177 with the 3.8 1st gear, that would be a bonus, but I wouldn't pass up a good deal on a 3.5:1 T-176 in hopes of finding the 177.
 
Not true.

The short output Dana 300 was used in 1980 only (for both CJ5s and CJ7s & also Scouts). All 81 and later D300s were the long output version.

OP, also, the clutch disc is different for the T-150 and T-176 . OEM skid plates are different. Not sure if you can make your Dana 20 skid work or not. If you can find a T177 with the 3.8 1st gear, that would be a bonus, but I wouldn't pass up a good deal on a 3.5:1 T-176 in hopes of finding the 177.


I stand corrected. Thanks for setting me straight. I thought the short shaft Dana 300 came in all of the CJ5 's.
 
I have the drive shafts sitting in my garage.
 
I'll be doing the spring lift at the same time, probably over the early summer so I'll pick up some Tom Woods drive shafts, dual cardan on the back and get the axle twisted up to align properly and all that fun stuff.
 
Another question about putting in the T-176 /Dana 300 just came to mind. Will I need to do anything about the shifters? Will they align where the T-150 /Dana 20 holes are?

I'll be doing the twin stick on the Dana 300 too.
 
No help on your Transmission /tcase questions, but I will opine on a 4" lift being a bit much for a CJ5 .

Based on what powertrain you plan on running, and the likelihood of your 79 having 3.54 axle gearing, you probably shouldn't go over a 32" tire. Which will work just fine with a 2.5" lift. And you're not raising the CG as much as 4" of lift will. Going to a 33" tire would mean swapping out gears to something like a 3.73 or 4.10 to maintain overall good performance.

FWIW, I'm running 4.56 gears, 32" tires, a 2.5" BDS lift, and a very healthy Ford 5.0L back with a Ford T-18 and TeraLow'd Dana 20 . I'm geared way low for interstate speeds, but it does fine out there at 60-65 mph, which is about as fast as this old man wants to pilot it.

Where in Michigan?
 

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