Thinking about putting an NV3550 in the Jeep

[jrdscj8]

I found a good deal on an NV3550 from an 04 Wrangler with low miles. I am thinking about purchasing it to put in the Scrambler. I have the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l , T-176 , Dana 300 setup, what would be needed to slip the 3550 in? I have read of people just adding a clocking ring, and I have read where people have added adapters, clocking rings, and new output shafts. Has anyone here made this swap? Information and opinions are needed.
Thanks

 

[Jimbos76cj]

I just did a quick check on the novak site and they don't seem to sell any adapters for it. According to their info it has a 6 bolt round pattern for the Transfer Case and a 23 spline output shaft. Your 300 has a 6 bolt round pattern and 23 spline input shaft so on paper it would be good to go. So here's my real world experience with it. I have none but I have bolted a Dana 300 to a 727 Transmission that originally came with a 208 Transfer Case . Ive read that the 208 is a direct swap for a 231/241 which comes on the back of NV3550's so??? If you have the means to buy another Dana 300 I would or have a buddy with one laying around I would try to bolt them together. Thats the only way to really see whats needed.

 

[Purple77CJ7]

I would check with Advance Adapters. Their tech guys are good. They can tell you exactly what you will need.

AdvanceAdapters.com | Engine & Transmission Conversion Adapters - Advance Adapters

 

[csuengr]

I'll start at the front. Yes, the NV3550 will bolt right up to the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l , assuming you are getting the bell housing with it. That is the easy part. Then comes the clutch. Without knowing if you have a hydraulic or mechanical clutch system, be aware that the NV3550 uses a hydraulic with external slave cylinder. If you have a hydraulic system, I believe there is a hose that you can buy that will go between the CJ master and the NV3550 external slave. You will need to have the NV3550 clutch arm also.

Another route is to get an adapter that will bolt the NV3550 to your existing bell housing, that way you can keep whatever clutch system you have. You will need a hole saw to do this as a hole needs to be put the the factory bell housing.

As for the Dana 300 , you need a clocking ring. Think of it more as a spacer. The input retainer on the 300 will bottom out in the NV3550 tail housing without it.

Remember, it's the details that will drain your wallet.

 

[BajaEdition]

Remember, it's the details that will drain your wallet.

and that is just the beginning, you are going need to get new drive shafts as the length of the drive train is now changing
as well as the NV has a shifter that is in a completely different place than yours and will need to have to modify the floorboard to make it work, after that new linkage for tha300 will have to be made.

it looks so simple,
however here is how it goes normally

Cheap tranny oh boy 5 speed lets do it
ok so now I have 700 in adapter parts and it looks good so I tear down jeep
what it is going cost another 500 to get the clutch, pilot bearing, hydraulic system to work?
opps now I need 2 driveshafts ($500) and have to mod or have someone mod new linkage and modify the floor?, oh yea now I need a new cross member, and have to modify t case support and new skid plates.

I do not want to deter you from doing this
but it will end up costing thousands to do right unless you are very good with metal fabbing and welding.

This is the reason there are so many jeep projects for sale, guys start what look like easy mods and end up 2 gs into it and realize they are no where near finished.

a cheap tranny does not mean a cheap install, and cutting corners means things will go wrong sooner or latter.

 

[jrdscj8]

Wow, great information guys!
I guess I should have given more information about the whole project. I do have the bell housing, complete Transmission , and the complete hydraulic clutch system from the 04 tj. Currently I am running a T-176 with mechanical linkage. From what I have read, I can use my clutch, pressure plate with the NV3550, just need to change the pilot bearing.
I already need a front driveshaft, so having one made for the rear isn't going to add that much to the project. The floorboard mods will be easy for me, the shifter for the 300 will be a twin stick mod that I already have most of the stuff to do it already, and the crossmember is something that I won't have any trouble building. I guess that the main question that I have is still whether or not a change to the input shaft to the Transfer Case is needed when running one of the 3/8 clocking rings. Thanks again, you guys really shed light on some of the hidden costs of the Transmission swap.
Thanks

 

[csuengr]

You don't need a new input shaft for the 300.

If you have the master and slave from the TJ, then you can just put them in the CJ. If you look to the left (opposite side from engine) of the brake booster/brake master cylinder, there should be a circle in the firewall. That is where the clutch master cylinder goes. Just have to put a stud on the pedal and make a plug in the floor where your clutch rod goes through.

 

[gert]

this is mine, stock flywheel and clutch(83) hydraulic slave cly (2000) and the clocking ring from JB Conversions, they both have the same bolt pattern but the holes are in the wrong spot, you will have to mod your tranny cover new tranny mount and driveshafts, up to you on what you want and are willing to do, I wanted the 5th gear but didn't want to fork out on the NV4500 kit