T90 - Stay Cable??

[oldjeeplady]

We have our '54 CJ3b in our shop right now and my husband asked me about a cable that runs from the F134 Hurricane bellhousing to the Transmission (T-90 ) cross member. He wanted to know what it was and what it's function was. I had no good answer for him..., not even something made up.

After some digging around I have found some pictures of this and believe it to be called a "stay cable" part number 804488, in Group 10-23, page 10, 16 of the CJ3/5 parts book and also on page 21 under Group 10-23 - engine mountings in my early CJ3b parts book, same part number.

So did I identify this correctly and what exactly is the function??
(Parts book states it's for the 3-speed only)

Here are some pics:

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image in gallery

View image in gallery​

If this is really important, then I must also install on on the '59 CJ5 when we put it back together (rat jeep had a 74 Dauntless Buick 225 V6 /T86AA/Dana 20 - all removed)

 

[Posi]

Yes, it’s called a stay cable and it needs to be installed or you will have some chatter in reverse.

Without the cable the engine/Transmission can move forward when your trying to back up, it will let the throwout arm relax pressure on the throwout bearing making the clutch go closer to lockup causing the Jeep to lunge backward, this may cause chatter.

 

[oldjeeplady]

OK I did some more research and here is what I found:

I searched The CJ3b Page and came up with a reference to the CJ3a Page.

Quote from the following thread:

"It attaches to the bellhousing via the threaded end and nut and the other end with the ball fits into the raised "forked" bracket sticking up on the rear engine crossmember."

See this thread for more pictures:CJ3B Bulletin Board -> engine stay cable

I quote from the link on the CJ3a site: Engine Stay Cable

"On page 34 of the Maintenance Manual for Willys Model MC-38 (a military sibling of the CJ3a ) it is explained. Here is what the manual has to say...
"The engine is prevented from moving forward on the rubber mounting, when a sudden stop is made, by the engine stay cable which is attached to the left side of the flywheel bellhousing in the front and to the frame cross member at the rear. The length of the cable is adjustable to provide correct tension through a threaded end mounting. Do not overtighten the cable. It should be adjusted to provide 1/2" up and down movement by thumb pressure.""

Does anyone else have anything of use to add?

Otherwise I just keep talking to myself.

 

[0822]

It sounds good to me thanks for the info.

 

[Bowbender]

I just learned something new

 

[tinhorn]

I saw this cable hanging loose just today on my Jeep. I presumed it was some former owner's exhaust hanger.

 

[Posi]

I saw this cable hanging loose just today on my Jeep. I presumed it was some former owner's exhaust hanger.

The stay cable wasn't available on your Jeep (72). Maybe it was the PO's makeshift exhaust hanger.

 

[tinhorn]

The stay cable wasn't available on your Jeep (72). Maybe it was the PO's makeshift exhaust hanger.

Haha! Sounds like I need to spend a little time looking at pictures in the Chilton manual.