81 cj7 input shaft

anybody know of a good strong replacement or up grade for the front input shaft on an 81 cj7 3 speed? I keep breaking the stock ones. maybe my driving style but it is geting expesive, 3 in the last week. Im running 35 inch tires 10 inches wide and a stock 258 engine, need to fix the problem before I start work on the engine.  

A 3spd in '81? What tranny is it? Automatic?  

no it is a manuel. not sure what  the make is  

Well, CJs did not have a 3spd manual in '81, so it's not stock. CJs had a T15 3spd through '75 and then a T150 3spd '76-'79. Both also had a Dana 20 t-case bolted to them. The '81 would have a SR4 4spd (4cyl) which was truly a weak pos or a T176 4spd (6&8cyl) which was respectable.

The '80-'86 also only had a Dana 300 t-case which would not bolt up to the 3 speeds in stock form. So, I'm guessing you don't have the 300 t-case either, which is too bad because that's an all-time great t-case.

So, look at the tranny case and see if T15 or 1307, or 13-07-065-901 are cast into the passenger's side of the case indicating a T15. Or, typical casting numbers found on the T150 are 2603xxx found on the top and each side of the case.

Also check to see what t-case you have.

T150...



Dana 20 t-case...



Dana 300 t-case...

 

ok I cant see any numbers on it because it is caked but the tranny has the dana 20 t-case big bummer right, right. well hear is the kicker I bought a tranny and t-case from a guy the other day and it has the dana 300 t-case. that one came out of a 79 cj7 with a 304 and it is a 4spd. what ever it came out of I got it and the t-case for 800 bucks not bad because it is a fresh rebuild. so I guess the thing to do is to swap out the 3spd for the 4spd. I would still like to replace the input shaft so I will still have a spare tranny.  

Take some pictures of what you bought and what is in your CJ with your cell phone and text message them to ftgiles.87350@uploads.photobucket.com.

The Dana 300 only came in '80-'86 CJs. The 4 speeds that were mated to it from the factory were the T4 (weak), SR4 (very weak), and the T176 (ok). All three are aluminum cases. If it's a Dana 300 and it came from a 304, I'm guessing it's '80 or '81 and it's a T176 tranny. '81 was the last year for CJ V8 power.

But, pre '80s CJs did not have a Dana 300. They had either a Dana 20 or Dana 18. So your years and parts aren't making sense.  

ok will do. it will take a little while to do it as I have no help and have the finish geting the old one out of the jeep.  

ok I have sent the pictures to your photobucket  

I did not receive any pictures in my photobucket. Make sure you typed the address correctly:

ftgiles.87350@uploads.photobucket.com

You should receive a text message back from photobucket saying it received them. Did you get a text message response from photobucket?

Does the 4spd that you bought have an aluminum case? Typical casting numbers found on the T176 main case can be C-2604203 or C-2604206. Top cover casting numbers like C-2604208 are common.  

ok the numbers on the side of my replacement are c-2604203 and yes the case is aluminum so I have a t176. I didnt send them with my phone the pictures from it are crap, i used my camera and my girlfriends photobucket account it should of come up as gansettgirls. I just sent them from I photo they should be marked as amanda_rocks  

Ok - so now you've got what belongs in your '81 CJ. The T176 and Dana 300 t-case.

Now as for strength, the T176 is fine, but not the best. In fact, it is not as strong as a T15 or T150 3spd if that's what you've been breaking. The big thing is to make sure that your bell housing is correct, that it is square to the flywheel and that you have the correct clutch parts. And critical, is the pilot bushing in the crankshaft. That's what keeps everything true. If it's sloppy or not the right one, that could certainly allow some flexing that could break stuff.

Check your flywheel runout with a dial indicator. Check your bell housing face to flywheel squareness with a dial indicator. These two things not being right will usually contribute to clutch problems (engagement/disengagement).

I'd question, measure and check everything since you don't know what's been mis-matched parts wise.  

the fly wheel is fine on the jeep no hot spots or any thing the old clutch was still good. baicslly it just spun the in put shaft in two  

I got your pics. Your old stuff is definitely a T15 and a Dana 20. The T15 is identified by those two big bosses cast into the case on the driver's side. Those bosses can be drilled and tapped for use with side shifting linkages. That combo would have only been used in CJ5s from '72-'75 only.

The pilot tip on the T15 input shaft is .75". The pilot tip on the T176 is 19/32". Check your engine crankshaft to see what bushing is in there. I'm guessing it's missing because the original T176 bushing would have been too small for the T15 pilot tip. Or maybe someone tried to enlarge it and it's not true. That would be my guess as to why you're breaking the input shaft, a bad or missing pilot bushing. The T15 is a very strong tranny.

Did you buy the Jeep with the T15/Dana 20 already installed? It's like someone swapped out the original Dana 300 t-case for the Dana 20 because of the Dana 300's greater demand and value and then sold the Jeep.  

yah I bought the jeep with the t15 in it. I just got done puting the t176 in and have a problem. the skidplate in the jeep will not line up to bolt the t176 up.are the skidplates for the 304 with the t176 and the 258 with the t15 the same?  

What about the pilot bushing?