An honest question,just an honest answer needed

I've tried several searches but unable to find any previous discussion,
would a 70's Cherokee or so drive train fit under a cj5 frame? Front end ,rear end trans, and transfer case. If not what's a good choice?

Without upsetting anyone I'm trying to gather info on a total powertrain upgrade. using a 79 Dodge 318v8 to handle modern highway speeds but still have 4x4 ability.

(as a side note not to sound wrong or like an advertisement I'll have a complete 65 cj5 drivetrain to get rid of afterwards)
I made a previous post indicating my intentions, but the way I asked the question I was informed that This has been discussed and debated many times, I realize that buying a newer jeep is a better option.
Without making a long winded explanation...My Diplomat was the last car my dad and I worked on before he died, I want to re use the engine in the jeep just because it's a very strong and dependable engine and with the 65 jeep I have no emmision constrains for inspection and really enjoy the ride in the jeep.....yes the springs are shot as well as the shocks.
My dad loved to take on car projects that were impractical but possible. It rubbed off, I always enjoyed stompin the gas and hearing the roar of the v8 and surprising the knuckle head next to me in a plastic car.
This jeep will never be a 1/4 mile vehicle I realize that but when retrofitting and modifying a vehicle to this extreem I have no experience.

You guys love to restore theses jeeps to factory and I respect that.
But I don't have the $$$ to buy another jeep, I need this vehicle as MY daily driver and as backup for my wifes minivan, I fully enjoy scrounging junkyards.
I mean no disrespect to Sparky or anyone on this site, I really enjoy coming home and talkin to you guys, The reason I persisted with this topic is that the car the 318 is in I'm giving to my son and he will blow that engine the first time out, I know I'm selfish but that engine was the last project I worked on with my dad and I would like to use it in the jeep cause I know he would love the jeep and it's about the only thing I can sentimentally attach to.
This site is the only one I've found wheare the members are as knowledged and willing to help with anything regarding jeeps. I'm not strokin anyones ego for help with what I'd like to do. I just get determined to do something and one way or another I make it happen.

I'd love to to stay here and share the progress and learn from you guys but thats up to you. The jeep will stay stock for atleast a year or so till I get a new house and a garage.
If after reading this you guys want no part in this I won't mention it again and just fugure it out my self or from another source.
Thanks for your time and I normally do run against the grain of things.

 

Ok, '70s Cherokee. No editorializing.

There are 2 styles, wide track and narrow. The axles in a narrow track are ok for a CJ, but you'll have to outboard the front hangers. The wide track axles will be too wide IMO. This has been discussed before here - the narrow Cherk axles are the same width as Wagoneer axles. See below about offset.

The rest of the drivetrain - probably too long. If it's an automatic, it's a TH400 and likely a 360 V8 (not the Mopar 360, the AMC 360). It will either have a Dana 20 transfer case or (most likely) a BW1339 Quadratrac full-time transfer case. A Quadratrac is offset, like the Dana 18, so it's rear axle will be offset too.

If it's a V8 and a manual transmission, that too will be too long. The TC will be a D20. If a V8, there will be a long spacer between the trans and bell that (in the wagon) moves the shifter back into the passenger cabin. The spacer would be problematic in a CJ-5. The sixes have a thin (or no) spacer, but you can't fit an inline 6 (258) into a pre-72 CJ without cutting the firewall. Too long.

So, there's a lot to cover in '70s Cherokee' - I could be more specific if I knew exactly which vehicle you want to know about.

 

I think DanStew and probably several other guys used Wagoneer axles.

Auto is prolly not going to happen. In the "Jeep Rebuilder's Manual" I've got, Ludel used an NV3550 trans (I think might've been used in Dodge pick ups) with an adapter to a D18 case and Warn OD. That would be big $$$, but would bolt up to your 318 and give you the highway speed you want. With the double OD, you could even keep your 5.38 gears and have the best of both worlds.

 

The NP435 was used in Dodge trucks too, and it's short and would be cheaper. IIRC Christian (Dummy) used the NV3550 in his CJ-6, but I would guess it's too long for a CJ-5.

I think any 1:1 top gear transmission, a Warn overdrive and a modern V8 engine would propel a CJ-5 at as high a speed as you would dare. If you want lower engine speed on the highway, you could swap axles (5.38s now?).

 

Check out this link, a good reference site.

http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/mopar_small_block.htm

 

Do you know if you want to run a auto or a manual? Depending on which you go with to save money, you may be able to use the whatever TC is behind said transmission. If the output is centered you can with a 80 or so (not sure when they stopped using quadratrac) wag. axles, that have a pass. drop and a centered rear end. If your tranny that your going to use has a pass offset tcase, or is easily adapted to your existing D18 go with the early wag axles the have the quadratrac (offset rear). As for putting the axles under your jeep, you'll need to outboard the springs like said above, new brake lines, driveshafts, shocks. For steering you'll need to do a saggy conversion, manual or power is your decision, but you'll need to to do one or the other. So basically it all boils down to what tranny you want and how much money you have :twisted: What 4wd do 318s come in?? If it was me I'd find one with a manual and take everything from the bellhousing back, assuming it has a pass. drop tcase and swap it all into the jeep.

 

It was actually out of a TJ. Jeep Rebuilder's Manual: 1946-1971, pg 175-179. Went into a '55 CJ5. Used some spensive looking AA parts, though.

From Novak: "The length of the 318/360 restricts them to 1972 and later Short Wheelbase Jeeps..." I wonder if an electric fan mounted to the front of the radiator like Dondo's would give you a couple inches of wiggle room.

 

I am building almost what you want except in a 2a. A v8 is long so I had to remove the firewall and move it back a couple inches. I don't know about the length of the 318 compared to the 360 amc I am running but I have a dodge 360 I can measure to see if it might be alittle shorter but very doubtful. This will leave barely enough room for a radiator and I am planning an electric fan in front of the grill. Also gonna be running the np435 to a dana 300 (pretty close to a dana 20) Without alot of cutting and a wheelbase stretch it will never fit. I am going with 4:10 gears and 36's which should be a good combo with the v8.

Adam

 

70's Cherokee wheelbase 109"
ECJ5 wheelbase 80.5"

Got some wiggling to do to make that fit.

Maybe a post 1972 CJ6 or 8 would cover it at 103.5". Save some sheet metal work for sure.

 

How far out there are you really looking to go? If it were me i would say go with the drive train all from one vehicle to eliminate adapters and keep the cost and length down. he more adapters you have to run the longer your drive train will get and also the thinner your wallet will get. Have you considered full width truck axles? If you went with a 3/4 ton dodge you could use the axles, transfer case and transmission from it then throw your 318 in front of it. Plus if the dodge had an engine in it you and your son could fix it up for the Diplomat and get a new tradition going but that is a whole different thing. Any way to keep the width down you could then put some hummer beadlock rims on the 8 bolt axles since they have somewhere around 7 inches of backspace which would bring full width axles back down to being similar to regular wheels on a 62" wms-wms axle instead of stock wheels on a ~67" axle. That would put your track width just a little wider a TJ. Then the only other thing i would do would be to swap the rear springs out for some xj leafs since they have the offset center pin which would gain you about 6 inches or so of wheelbase without really having to lengthen your frame out any, just comp cut the rear wheel wells, to stretch things out so you have a littel room for the rear driveshaft. Some things to think about in doing it that way are you get 3/4 ton brakes which would be more than enough to stop a cj under almost any conditions, you get the DOT legal beadlock wheels whit runflat inserts if you choose to use them, axles that are stong enough to hold up to your built 318, and a nice big stable base. Then again that is just what i would do(except with a chevy drivetrain )

 

A guy on G503 has an M170 chassis for sale cheap, if you want to go for a stretched wheelbase.

 

I will try and get a pic or measurement of the 318 in my 6' with an ealry tub to see if the 3 extra inches can be found. You can run 2 electric fans offset from the waterpump pully one behind and one in front of the radiator for cooling. You may have to do some floor pan mods to get the NP 435 in. You will never get the dodge t-case in with a rear driveshaft of any decent length. Believe me, I have 20 extra inches and still a real short rear shaft.

 

Here is a pic of my 318 in the 6'
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/fourtrail/100_0592a.jpg

 

Thanks, guess I should of read that! So it is the same length as my amc. Plus if you use a dodge np435 the bellhousing is 8.5" IIRC where my setup is only 6.5" so there goes two more inches. Ya, deffintly not going to get a stock 435 tcase in there, the factory adapter on mine is LONG.