Auto Trans Should it stay or should it Go

[Junkfood]

Best way to explain camber is to look at a shopping carts rear wheel. The center line of the axle trails the pivot. That offset is camber. On a car, or jeep, it means having the top of the knuckel tilted alittle toward the rear of the car. That's what makes the steering wheel want to return to center when you turn a corner.
Keith

[GRQster]

Caster is the problem with Scout axles and SOA is harder to do with them. If you're only going to 33's, a mild (3-4") lift with a body lift will get you the clearance you need.
Slow down Numbers. If your auto ain't broke, don't fix it, you'll have plenty of opportunities to fix stuff later.
Don't pay no attention to these losers [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/chair.gif[/img] hijacking your thread, they just see some fresh meat and are trying to impress you. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/40BEER.gif[/img]

[RamblinCommando]

Kevin...I think you will be very happy with the T-400 and the 20 T-case.The 400 is pretty much bullet proof.Rock crawling with an auto trans is great.No stalling like with a manual trans.The downfall is going down steep hills.You will have to use your brakes.With a manual,the gears hold you back.I liked that feeling in my CJ2A with a sm420 4spd.At 93-1,I could just idel down the hills.And get out and walk next to the Jeep when in low range.

A 30 front and a 44 rear will hold up to quite a bit of abuse.But if you are going with BIG tires(35"+) and are gonna get nuts,and axle upgrade may be in order.And you will really like the SOA.I just did one on mine,and gained 8 inches of lift.That includes the anti wrap spring perches and shackels.

Good luck!!! And welcome the Jeepster/Commando disease!!!

[6894jeep]

You All make a great point and i am not trying to sound like this is going to be done in a month. I was just trying to place myself so that i can decide which way i want to take this project. Right now my baby dose not even run so first things first. I think the a/t is a good choice for me and for now i am ging to keep it. I just want to say thanks for makeing me feel so welcome, this place is great. I truly wish my dad was still hear to see this. It is good to know that i am not the only one with the crazy idea of loving such a cool ride. He was the one i turned to for help, and since his passing in june i didn't even know if i wanted to finish the jeep with out him. But with guy's like you out their i am sure i will make him proud of the commando that brought us so close. Thanks to all

Kevin

[zdpzimmer68]

Kevin, I'm lucky that I bought mine from Pop, and we have both enjoyed it. I'm sorry that your Dad has passed, but let that be your inspiration. He'll be smiling down on you with satisfaction that your doing something with it. KEEP it going. Good luck. Keep checking back here for inspiration too.

[Randyzzz]

6894- I wish my Dad was still around to see my Jeep's progress, too. He's been gone 2 years now...he was a great inspiration to me and the source of my mechanical aptitude.

I'd keep the auto, and the D20. Unless you have it completely torn down, I'd get it running and safe, and drive it awhile. The more changes you make, the longer it will be until you can drive it, and the chances of giving up are greater. It's been 9 months since I drove mine last...it's driving me nuts! I'm pushing for having it driveable in a month...a simple engine swap snowballed into everything but the tub and frame from being changed!!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wall.gif[/img]

[GoldToyBox]

6894
Ditto to keeping the auto (at least for now) and the Dana 20. I know your looking down the road for ideas with a final goal in mind.
Your first steps and dollars should be for safety:
Roll Cage (roll bar is the absolute minumum)
Brake upgrades (11" drums or Disc)
Wiring upgrades
Power steering
Then consider things like lifts, SOA, Wheels/tires, lockers, lower gears, etc.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/RockOn.gif[/img]

[NudeJeep]

6894, get in touch if you're interested in power steering. I may be able to help you out.

As for Dad, I lost mine 16 years ago. He was my son's best "buddy" in the whole world, and my best friend for many years. I owe about 90% of what I know about auto/truck repair to him, and the rest I learned because I wanted him to be proud of me.

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/codger.gif[/img]My first wiring job was when I was 7 years old (I'm 52 now, and still remember that first real paycheck from a dealership) [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bow.gif[/img]. Dad brought home a wiring harness out of a burned truck, and the two of us rebuilt it. After that, I was hooked on working on motor vehicles [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cussing.gif[/img]. I made a career out of it until 15 years ago, when my wife and I had a wreck and the doctor told me, "no more heavy work", so I went back to school and got an engineering degree. While I was a technician, I spent several years working on Jeeps at an AMC/Jeep dealership, and I was there during the Bullnose years. In fact, I worked on the first V-8 CJ-5 that was sold by Morgan AMC/Jeep in Durham, NC. My Dad worked at the GMC dealer across the street, and they were a Jeep dealer until late '71.

About a year ago, I bought a Bullnose from the local Boy Scout camp. I had been looking at it since the first time I saw it with my son, about 16 years ago. He's now an Eagle Scout [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/usflag.gif[/img] (three palms for those of you who are familiar with Scouting), I'm a retired Scoutmaster (Woodbadge trained, again for those of you familiar with Scouting), and we both have fond memories of the 'Warwagen' at the camp.

With all of the parts I've managed to accumulate, I've about decided that the Warwagen is something he deserves to own, and I have enough to start building the Commando I really want (a fully restored '72).

So, with all of this in mind, I know your Dad would be proud to know you're moving ahead with your project, just as I am with my own son. I only wish my Dad was here to be a part of it. We do, however, have his other grandfather (my Father-In-Law), who is working with us and enjoying it, and who I hope lives long enough to see the fruits of all our labors come together. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

The attached photo is of my son helping me tear down our latest "acquisition". [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wall.gif[/img] He and I now have a drink [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/givemebeer.gif[/img]together [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/40BEER.gif[/img] every now and then, and it makes our relationship special, but not nearly as special as our love for working on 4-Wheel-Drives. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/RockOn.gif[/img]

[NudeJeep]

OOPS...
Got so involved in what I had to say, I forgot the photo of the #1 Son...

[badbrad]

Nude Jeep, that is a cool writeup. My oldest son also earned Eagle, I spent meny great years with him in his Scouting career, camping, committee chair and am Wood Badge trained myself. Also went through the entire program myself as a youth. Excellent program.

Ole Yeller is one thing that has made us closer as well as something we have "disagreed" about and learned to talk man to man over. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

On the original topic, 6894 if it were me I would keep the auto and d20. Just watch the adaptor and stock crossmenmber & mount, that setup sucks and will likely break or fail. I did not get home in time to get a picture of the one I fabricated, maybe tomorrow I will & can post. I am planning on that setup for the halfcab I am building, only wiht a 350 V8 on the front end. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
Ole Yeller now has a Novak adaptor in it and does not leak for the first time since we bought it. So far, much stronger. I think the new adaptor and the new crossmenber combined are much stronger than the stock setup.

Brad.