new and need advice

Hello, My wife and I just bought a 1978 CJ5. I'm doing a complete restore on it as the last owner used it as a woods buggy for the last 13 years So after I finish the frame work and replacing every nut and bolt I want to change the drive line. I want to install a chevy 350 with a T5 tranny and a Dana 300 transfer. My question is this. Can anyone help me with drive shaft advice? Any insight at all would be great. I was an auto body tech for seven years and have a good bit of mechanical ability, but I have no experience with drive shafts in a case like this. I know I'm jumping ahead in the game as there is much to be done before I start on that part...but I want to know if it's even workable.

 

Welcome, go to the intro section and introduce yourself. We like pics of your Jeep too. Lots of info here, and a good place just to hang around.

T5 is long unless you use the one from an 82-86 cj. Then will it hold up to a v8? Might be better to us a t18 from a cj, or a Gm sm465 or sm420. Lower first gear, plenty tough and shorter. The longer the trans, the shorter the shaft and harder on ujoints and bearings in the trans and differential pinions. If it gets lifted the drive shaft gets longer but the angle gets worse.
http://www.4x4wire.com/tech/pinionangle/
How to do an sm420 swap.
http://www.earlycj5.com/tech/trans/SM420/sm420_swap.php
Plus if you use the GM trans you will not need an adapter for the 350.

 

really? i thought the t5 was short? is it really longer than a t18 or even a sm465?

i have the t5, with a very recent rebuild. seems to work great. i'm told it's a bit weak for abussive off roading. i personally don't need the 5spd being a trail only rig, my ideal would be a really tough 4 spd. although, when my jeep was street legal and dialed in for the highways, that 5spd was nice as i was flying by cars on the freeway and cruising 80-90.

if it is going to see primarily street, the t5 just fine (my opinion-which others will argue). if you will be doing heavy trail running, probably not the best choice.

good luck, and welcome

 

To put the length in perspective, a Ford T-18 with adapter to Dana 300 is almost the exact same length as a Jeep T-5.

The T-5 is "ok" if just used on the street but marginal at best for off road use, plus some of the parts (like 5th gear) are no longer available new.

I'd personally go T-18, SM-465, or something similar if used primarily off road. You get a very strong transmission with a much lower first gear.

 

NP435 will work with your T-5 bell housing, just drill and tap the holes

 

Sorry guys, (newbie mistake) the transfer case is a Dana 20 not the Dana 300 but will the Gm sm465 or sm420 still work with Dana 20 and a sbc 350?

 

There is a lot of good reading about these topics on the Novak site: http://www.novak-adapt.com/index.htm

There is no junkyard solution to mating a Muncie 4-speed to a Dana 20. However, the Muncie transmissions bolt up to GM bells without any adapters. So no problem on the engine side. On the transfer case side, you'll need an adapter (see link above).

 

Hi geocat, welcome. I am new to the site as well. I have a 74' that has the 360, T-18, Dana 20 set up. I used the truck a daily driver (only vehicle)as well as a weekend wheeler. (Jeep Jambo's and North East 4 wheelers ect.) I would not be hesitant at all to recomend this setup to anyone. I don't know much about the T-5, I'll leave that to others. I'm sure Novak and Advanced Adapters can adapt anything to the back of the T-18 instead of the Dana 20, but there is another option. Find an 80' Scout with a "Texas" style Dana 300. Will bolt right up. I have one but have not fould the time to install. For drive shafts, look up Tom Woods driveshaft service. He built mine and I could not be happier. He will probably set you up with a cv rear and heavy duty front.

 

Didn't know you had the Jeep T5. it's something like 10 inches. Other T5's are about 14".

 

Re the T-5, realize that the Jeep version is not the "world class" T-5 that was used in some sporty street cars. There was a company selling the WC T-5 for Jeeps, new, but it is no longer available. The page is still up if you are interested: http://www.5speeds.com/t5/jeep.html When they were for sale, they were ca $1200 IIRC.