Your thoughts on this driveline set up

Well, I'm jeepless and starting to get the shakes and don't know quite what to do with myself at night!
My last project was "smushed" and is sold for a HUGE loss.
I have found another, (much to my wife's distain).
This one is 99% done, (yeah right!)
It's a '66 CJ5, with a 350 chevy (stock) and a turbo 400, matched up with the stock transfercase (T-88??) with the Dana 44 rear and 27 front.
I dunno why the guy didn't bolt up a chevy transfer case to the 400 but???
How do you think the axles and transfer case will hold up? He's had the jeep out only in the summer as a "Sunday ride".
Now, I'm 52, I don't go off roading, abusing the machine, but it will be "driven", and run in the snow.
Me thinks if I can get him down a few $$, I get a set of newer axles, MAKE them fit and maybe a chevy transfer case, but if consenseus is that the transfer case and axle will hold up......
But your thoughts.
Joe
Jeese, I didn't know my garage was THAT big now thet there is a open bay!! Look I can park my Ranger in here now!:JEEP:

 

stock t case should be a dana 18 yes it should hold up for what you are going to do with it. I have had friends have the 18 behind big block power in the past. your weakest link will be your front axle but if you are not going to beat on it i think it will be fine. anything can be broken if you have a heavy right foot.

 

hard to say, the 350 came in many different HP versions. a late 60's to early 70's 350 will make 300 HP stock, the later versions right around 180HP IIRC. the D44 is a tuff nut as well as the D18 transfer if thats what you have. alot of folks have went this route with good results. but really in the end it all depends on you

 

Turbo 400 in a CJ5? How long is the rear driveshaft?

 

I applaud your consideration prior to purchase!
Make sure you know now what you want to do with your Jeep. Do you best to forecast what you will be doing tomorrow, next year and in 10 years with the vehicle. If the above Jeep comes close to fitting your plan, then proceed with it. Those axles and case are fine if driven with a responsible foot, even with the extra power. I never recommend a V8 CJ, but that's a personal preference.
If you enjoy the labor of working on the machine, then this may be right for you. However, if you'd rather drive it than spend time in the garage, then I'd wait to find something else that is nearly complete and ready to go...even if it costs more up front.
If I had to start over right now, I'd sure look for something fuel injected.

 

I thought about this too but as he said he is not going to wheel it so he should be ok

 

i bought my 1955 jeep almost 20 years ago. it came with a 350 sbc and the stock dana 18 transfer case and 44 front and 25 rear, both with stock 10 spline axles. shortly after getting it i broke the front diff. carrier while hopping the front end in the sand, replaced it and nothing since. 33" tires and a lot off roading, mostly rock crawling. never any problems. finally put a lockright in the rear and years after found a brand new power-loc for the front. still no problems for many year, that is until i decided to speed shift it on the street. broke one rear axle and at the same time twisted the other. replaced them and away i go. now the rear axles were 55 years old, that might of contributed to the breakage, plus speed shifting. the one upgrade i did was a tranny upgrade from the t90. advance adapters told me that was the weak link. true = you can break anything. the front carrier is kinda weak so thats why id never put a lockright in it, leave it open or find a power-loc.

 

Probably the reason he didn't put in a Chev transfer case behind the TH-400 is because the TH-400 is almost too long as it is. Add in the length of the Chev transfer case and there simply isn't enough room in a short wheel base vehicle without stretching the wheel base quite a bit.

 

You can get the TurboHydromatic mounted with a jeep transfer case out of the Wagoneers and pickups that came with automatics. Don't remember the length on them though. Actually pretty tough buggers.

 

Cool bean and Ham!
It is a T-18 transfer case, how I typed 88 is a mystery, (I knew all those fumes would come back to haunt me))!
As for working/driving time- well, over the last 4 decades, I've had, oh, maybe 20 jeeps in assorted years, makes, but the miles I have on them is ALOT less.
I'm the guy who spends years rebuilding them, take them out and get's ****ed cuz the fender wells got dirty!
The guy told me the rear drive shaft is TINY, but another concern is he said he/or someone ate the front drive shaft, as it is now missing.:?
I figured it'd hold up to an old guys driving, as that ' 50's Willys wagon held up with the 302, with the plow and a stupid kids heavy foot, (me).
The deal is kinda mute now, as last night I dropped a deposit on a '74 CJ5, (always wanted one of those, as that was the year jeep I learned to drive on).
It's nice and best of all cheaper!
so prehaps I'll be hangin' in the posting below this one,f not, I'll take the trip up, and lookie at the '66
Joe
If I get this jeep it'll be the one I keep for ever as I love it.
Oh! Look at that jeep, Man I LIKE that..............
So many jeep so few $$