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Dana 20 VS Dana 300

25756 Views 9 Replies 3 Participants Last post by barrelroll, Aug 10, 2010

Discussion Starter · Sep 27, 1999

When I bought my 79 cj-7 it camed with two transfer cases, one in it, and a spare(don't ask, there were pieces everywhere). When I finally got a chance to look at them I realized that ones a Dana model 20, and the other's a Dana 300. Which one do I keep and beef up? or are neither that spectacular when it comes to heavy off-roading?
thanx

Steve
/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gifJust Empty Every Pocket/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif

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Discussion Starter · #2 · Sep 27, 1999

The 300 is a very strong design, IMO stronger than the 20. Just as an example of this, many of the Jeeps at the ARCA meet this past weekend in Farmington were running 300s with TeraLo kits, I don't believe there was one broken case. The other part of this whole thing is the much lower low range in the 300, 2.62 as opposed to 2.03. Keep the 300.

Brad (from the 4 Wheeling center of the universe, 4 corners USA)

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Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 27, 1999

The 300 will need an adapter to work with your tranny, but I agree that it's the better unit - mainly 'cause of the lower gears. Rather than an adapter though, you should consider a different tranny if you want to use the 300. Odds are, you have a 3-speed. The 20 has a better U-joint yoke (u-bolts instead of straps). Make use of that on your 300 if you decide to put it in.

TEX

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G.U.M.B.O. Mud Racing

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Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 27, 1999

I got bash on this page once when i posted saying i like the dana 20 over the 300 since i didn't like the looks of the aluminum output covers on the 300 . But when it comes down to it, they are both strong, the dana 20 was used for a long time so they are more redillay available. If you put ennought power to either they'l break. The 300 has the option af a dul stick shifter. I'v heard many horror stories about the teralow gear kts breaking but not latley so mabey they fixed them. Personally i say use whichever one will bolt to the tranny since an adapor runs around $400. They are oth decent and i run the dana 2 now but truthfully on my next jeep i'm running a np-205. Or is t the np-203? I get them mixed up, whichever one is the part time case is the one i'm running. I think my brain's on vacation.

Al
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Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 28, 1999

I'm gonna side with Al on this. I'm cheap, use whichever one bolts up to your tranny. Thats probably the D20. Overall, if it was a direct bolt in the D300 is the better case. But I think the D20 is a decent case, its cast iron case and gear driven. True the low range isn't too hot, 2.03, but overall its pretty stout. Another consideration is, I think it sits up higher in the frame and doesnt hang down as low as the D300. Considering the price of an adapter, the Tera Low Dana 20 kit may be an option($695) somewhere down the road (3:15 low range). I'm gonna do that eventually, but...
Shain

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Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 28, 1999

Yeah, I'd have to agree that cheap & easy is normally the way I'd go. BTW, it's the 205 that is the gear-driven part-time T-case. The 203 is the chain-driven full-time unit.

TEX

/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif Got Mud?
G.U.M.B.O. Mud Racing

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Tim-E

· #7 · Aug 10, 2010

swapping 350/t18/d20 for 258/t5/d300- Driveshafts lengths?

Hey everybody.

So I'm really jonesin' for some V8 power in my cj7....and I've been shopping around for a cj with a 304 or 360, but getting kinda sick of shopping and my neighbors got an '86 350/t18/d20 for sale...asking a $1000...maybe i can get the package for 750 or so.
anyway...anyone know if my stock driveshafts will fit with this setup?

thanks

Tim

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Jim_Lou

· #8 · Aug 10, 2010

Driveshafts should be pretty close, depending on where the motor mounts are, but that shouldn't drive your decisions. Driveshafts are simple pieces, cheap to have shortened, and not very expensive to have lengthened.

The T18 is a great transmission, but really amounts to a 3-speed plus granny low. The lack of an overdrive can be an annoyance if you like to go fast on the highway for long distances. But that's not really what an old CJ is good for.

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Tim-E

· #9 · Aug 10, 2010

Jim_Lou said:
The T18 is a great transmission, but really amounts to a 3-speed plus granny low. The lack of an overdrive can be an annoyance if you like to go fast on the highway for long distances. But that's not really what an old CJ is good for.

I do like going fast on the highway, but I don't usually drive more than 10-15 miles a day and I'm totally satisfied with just getting to 70mph without trying too hard. My current 258/t5/d300 can get me going around 60 or 65mph and less the 2k rpm, but that is takes a long time to get there and its really max speed unless I've got a tailwind or I'm going downhill.

My old '76 cj7 with a t150/304 could get me going around 75 with no problems and at a reasonable RPM If i remember correctly. I used to take 4-5 hour road trips all the time with that setup. The t150 is also a great trans, cheap and easy to find, but this 350/t18/d20 is right here in my face and I'm getting sick of shopping.

I really want a 304/t176/d300 but those things are a little hard to find...

you know I'll be posting up the progress of this swap soon as I get some of this hardware together.

Thanks
Tim

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barrelroll

· #10 · Aug 10, 2010

I just did a sm465/ dana 300 swap in my CJ 5 (it allready had a 304). Now that it's pretty much "done" I'm happy with it but it was a ton of work. I'm thinking a t18 dana 20 that come mated together allready and mated to the motor you want to run will be much simpler.

I will say I was not a fan of the 3 speed in my jeep when I got it. I'm not sure where your from but if you deal with rocks I just don't see it being low enough. The 4 speed with granny gear is great, on "mild" trails I don't use low range and just drop it in granny when I need to crawl/ comepression breaking.

I hear you on a V8 power, my theory with amc v8's is if it's in there allready and works keep it, if you are going through the touble of swapping in a v8 into a CJ and are inevietably going to have to do some parts searching, possible rebuildin, figurin and fabermacatin you might as well do it with a cheaper/ more common motor. My personal thoughts is the GM 5.3 is "the cheap motor" to swap in, they can be had with under 100k for very reasonable, factory aluminum heads/ multi port fuel injection, last till over 200k, 300 horse power with nothing more than a computer tune.

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