Right 4spd For My Cj ?

I agree Ryan but I beat my junk up a lot less with the low 1st gear. I can idle over things now and it really helps going down drop offs. Personal preference and need to weigh the costs.

 

I agree with both of these statements and would like to add that if someone is only going to do the Rubicon once or twice, not having a 4 speed probably isn't that big of a deal.

 

Good point. My worry is with 3.73 gears and 33” tires there is no crawl. For a little more than changing gearing I can have it all with a 4 speed.

Another concern is I thought I read that bigger gears would not fit in axles originally set up with 3.73?

 

if you wanted to go to numerically higher gears and you have 3.73, you need another case. That one is 3.92 and up.
Dana 44 Open Carrier Case, 4 Series, NEW - Toms Bronco Parts
This one is an open case. you could install a lunchbox locker or PowrLok or go big with an Elocker/ARB/Ox locker and new gears of your choice. Gotta change the ratio up front too.

I run a 30 spline PowrLok and 5.38 with 35"tires. The 30 spline cases run different bearings than the other ones, but fit in the axle housing just fine.

 

Oh yeah, that's my logic too. I've done it with 33's and 3.73's as well, just saying it's not impossible.

 

Well that’s not too bad. Only another $100.

 

I wasn’t trying to discourage you from doing the swap. Just saying that if you were going to do this swap just for one trip to the rubicon you could get by with what you have, but if your planning other trips like Moab etc. then you’d be very happy with the swap.

“Good point. My worry is with 3.73 gears and 33” tires there is no crawl. For a little more than changing gearing I can have it all with a 4 speed.”

Your reasoning is sound.

 

Found a T18 locally. Fingers crossed I can work it out.

 

IMO the t18 is the best choice, it gives you the shortest length overall and I believe herm has the short trans/transfercase adapter.

 

I know this was from last summer, but in the discussion of best swaps into a Dauntless-powered CJ used in crawling, my answer to that 'favorite swap' question was, in order: 1) Power Steering, THEN 2) the granny 4 speed. Freeing up the second hand from having to wrestle with the 6:1 ross steering box was amazing. But then, the control of the granny low 1st gear was the next best thing; specifically not crashing in to rocks/ledges at relatively high crawl speeds. I swapped out the T-14 for the SM420 using the AA pieces for all of it. Converted to a hydraulic pedal setup at the same time which I think was required. As others have noted, 1st gear was too low for almost all street driving but if you crawl a lot, it's pretty magical to creep along AND to not need a third foot to hit the gas when stuck on a ledge and needing to jump from brake to gas while releasing the clutch.