T5 swap, What's best?

Looking for solution. Just rebuilt a 304 for my 83 CJ7. Motor not the problem. My tranny, a weak
T5. Which didn't last 1800 miles. lol. I knew it was going to bust. Looking for a tranny. I know driveshafts and mounts will be different for anything I put in. That is not my concerns. I don't want to get into switching out input shafts or anything like that. Would the T176 from a cj be the easiest route? One more question, Is the T176 a good tranny? I have found a 4 speed with a Dana 300 for $600. That sound like a good deal? I use this as a daily driver. I liked the gearing of the T5. It seemed good enough for me. All and any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

When my son had his CJ7 we did the opposite swap from a T176 to a T5. He wanted the overdrive on the freeway. We had to change driveshafts and shifter boots inside. If you go with the T176 buy an extra shift lever repair kit http://www.quadratec.com/products/52112_50.htm as the sheet metal tabs will tear off if you shift it hard. 1st gear in the T176 is around 3.52 whereas the the T5, I believe, is 4.02. Of course you will loose the overdrive.

 

I am in the same boat. I have the 4 speed and want a 5 speed as the speed limits here in North Dakota are 70 on the road I live off of and the freeway speed limit is 75. While I thoroughly enjoy hearing the glaspacks attached to the long tube headers, I tend to not be able to hear much when I get back from going into town. It is affecting my relationship with my girlfriend because I hear even less of what she says now.

Not to hijack your thread, this question does pertain to what you are asking...

If I were to swap out my 4sp. for a T-5, would I need to change driveshaft length or would it be a direct swap?

I should really start a new thread for this, but since I have already taken this one over (and brought it back from the dead through a Google search)...Would any T-5 work...like say out of a Mustang?

 

I know where there is a World Class T-5 built to replace a stock Jeep T-5. IIRC it's brand new, never installed. PM me if interested. The World class is quite a bit stronger than a normal T-5.

 

NV3550 or an AX-15, both would be a good option, with the latter being the cheaper option.
Stronger than a t5 and has overdrive gears
No adapters
should be around the same length so drive shaft changes may not be needed.

 

the d20 wont bolt to either of these transmissions. He'd have to source a D300

 

He is putting this is a 83 CJ7? correct? that should have a D300 already or did I miss that something has been changed.

 

the t5 uses a d300

 

Heres some overall lengths

T5 15.26
NV3550 16.7
ax15 16.5
T176 12.9 <---- drive shaft work needed

 

I went through this when my T5 ground to a halt and I eventually went with the 700R4 automatic and am really, really happy with it. Low first gear and 30% overdrive. Nobody has discussed automatics thus far and it was a pretty straight forward swap.