Which TC case in snow and why [Archive] - International Full Size Jeep Association

turtlejoe

11-20-2009, 08:28 PM

Snow and ice? No better TC in my opinion than the QT. Grew up in Toledo driving both D20 and QT Wagons, and it was so great being able to go from snow to dry pavement to icy back to snow ... and never having to do a darned thing. If you wanted to go, just blip the throttle and there you went.

EDIT: Need one? I've got 2 NOS - yes, NOS - complete TC's in my possession. One is going in my Cherk, the other one was damaged in shipping (mounting tab). Even damaged, it's not going to go cheap since I'm in it for $800, just thought I'd mention it if you were looking.

mattmopar440

11-20-2009, 08:36 PM

Q/T the best in snow 2nd best is a NP229 Just my 2 cents

PlasticBoob

11-20-2009, 08:40 PM

QT QT QT!!! Reason: Experience. :p
http://home.off-road.com/%7Eplasticboob/pre-offroadtrip/a/DSC00281.JPG

babywag

11-20-2009, 08:43 PM

jaber

11-20-2009, 09:04 PM

x1000

QT + MN snow drifts = :D

I made a TON of money pulling 4wd vehicles out of the ditch with a stock '77 Cherk w/ 29" tires.
Their jaws would hit the floor when I just drove around them, got out hooked up a strap, and pulled them out.

"What the ****" was often mentioned.

x2000

My favorite time was making fresh tracks where no one had driven yet. Leaving for work before dawn, everything was quite and the J would just go like the snow was not there.

FSJ Guy

11-20-2009, 09:57 PM

Regular ol' QT will work fine.

JERSEY JOE

11-20-2009, 10:01 PM

The Qtrac is great . I wish my J-20 plow truck had one. Mine has a 208 and I plow unreal snow depth with it and a rear locker.

fsjman1978

11-20-2009, 10:44 PM

Qtracs are awesome in the snow.

TPICherokee

11-20-2009, 11:05 PM

Best rig I have ever owned in the snow was my 79 Cherokee with a QT...

Brizio

11-20-2009, 11:13 PM

Probably this is a stupid question... But... How I can distinguish a QT than the others? And from which year it was used?

SnowShoe

11-20-2009, 11:40 PM

Quad Tracks....BW 1339 with high / low and BW 13** without high / low where used from 74-79 IIRC and all were passenger side drive shaft offset. Full time all wheel drive.

Bill Moore

11-21-2009, 09:01 AM

this doesnt surprise me, when the qt is working, it works well. Makes sense it goes well in the snow. Is the 229 as good though?

talntar

11-21-2009, 09:18 AM

this doesnt surprise me, when the qt is working, it works well. Makes sense it goes well in the snow. Is the 229 as good though?
imo the 229 is just as good in snow.maybe a bit better.pluse you can disengage when not needed.
but for you it would add a bunch of work.axle swap trans swap or at least a full tera down of the 400.probably drive shaft work as well.

trellis8

11-21-2009, 09:26 AM

Yup, QT, although I really like my second gen. 219 QT as well.

Casey

11-21-2009, 09:28 AM

Nothing, but nothing, beats a Jeep Cherokee Chief with QT for traveling snow covered roads.

Period, amen.

:fsj:

The PIG Smith

11-21-2009, 11:12 AM

Yup, QT, although I really like my second gen. 219 QT as well. X2
I will not argue with the performance of the QT in the snow.
It is the best transfercase for these types of duties.

However, I've read all sorts of horror stories about getting these older units to work today.
Ask Flint, the QT King, how many units he had to go through to get one good one.

I would like to point out a few advantages the 219 has over the QT:
* Parts are still available, whereas not all the parts (cones) are available for the QT.
* No special fluid requirements.
* When the 219 dies, it can be easily replaced with a NP-208, 228 or 229.
With a little more work, even a Dana300 can swapped it.
* When the QT dies, the owner is stuck with a goofy TH400 output shaft that mates to nothing else.
* When a QT owner replaces the output shaft of the TH400 for a Dana20, or any other GM compatible transfercase swap,
they need to be somewhat concerned about the goofy rear axle offset.

I am very pleased with the 219 in both my J10 and my J20.
It does not bother me that the NP-219 is second banana to the Quadratrac.

trellis8

11-21-2009, 11:48 AM

Now I like my 219 even more! Thanks, Bryan!

babywag

11-21-2009, 01:02 PM

Original poster was asking about a '79 TH400 equipped vehicle.
So passenger drop transfer cases etc. etc.

You're talking about driver drop cases now...:rolleyes:

Plenty of options out there, but variation from the stock set-up is going to be more money than the average Jeep person is going to want to spend.
Some of the adapters and associated parts needed are more than some have spent on their whole rig!

mdill

11-21-2009, 01:06 PM

A QT with good clutches, a NP219 and the NP229 are all great winter snow/ice transfercases, for driving on raods that go from dry to ice and back no beating a good Full time case.
No part time case will hold a candel to the above for winter street driving.
Lockers can be scarry on ice, as both wheels will spin, allowing the rig to go sideways.

Mike D.

andy d

11-22-2009, 02:05 PM

No experience with the 1339, but a 219 is a great TC, so is the 229 in snow.

fulsizjeep

11-27-2009, 10:50 PM

A functional stock Borg Warner QuadraTrac is da kine for snow and ice. :thumbsup:

The NP219 is also a good unit for snow and ice from what I hear. I have never owned one except in a parts rig.

I have owned a few NP229 rigs and they are also great in snow and ice in 4 Hi. They are locked in 4 Lo and not as good in snow and ice in that mode.

fulsizjeep

11-27-2009, 10:57 PM

X2
I will not argue with the performance of the QT in the snow.
It is the best transfercase for these types of duties.

However, I've read all sorts of horror stories about getting these older units to work today.
Ask Flint, the QT King, how many units he had to go through to get one good one.

I would like to point out a few advantages the 219 has over the QT:
* Parts are still available, whereas not all the parts (cones) are available for the QT.
* No special fluid requirements.
* When the 219 dies, it can be easily replaced with a NP-208, 228 or 229.
With a little more work, even a Dana300 can swapped it.
* When the QT dies, the owner is stuck with a goofy TH400 output shaft that mates to nothing else.
* When a QT owner replaces the output shaft of the TH400 for a Dana20, or any other GM compatible transfercase swap,
they need to be somewhat concerned about the goofy rear axle offset.

I am very pleased with the 219 in both my J10 and my J20.
It does not bother me that the NP-219 is second banana to the Quadratrac.The NP219 may just be the most under rated tcase put in a FSJ. Now, clear some messages out of your PM box Bryan. ;)

[]V[]AXX

11-27-2009, 11:20 PM

So, would you say the QT was better for snow and ice because of the smoother engagement for less wheel spin? I have a friend with a TJ, and a small plow kit for it. He only does his driveway, and he went with the Powertrax no-slip on front and rear, and walks around everything he encounters with no issues. I'm just curious really. I'm too poor to change out the Dana 20 in mine, and have no real reason to in FL. Unless I go home to Vermont where this friend lives, that is...

PlasticBoob

11-27-2009, 11:24 PM

The "limited-slip" center diff of the QT allows for superior handling on snow and especially ice.

grand_wag_85

11-27-2009, 11:43 PM

I have pushed bumper deep snow up and over both Vail and Tennessee Passes with a BW1339 QT rig and the only problems that came up were overheating, ironically enough. The snow was getting packed in behind the Razor Grille but as soon as it was cleared I was good to go.

rmorit01

11-28-2009, 12:57 AM

imo the 229 is just as good in snow.maybe a bit better.pluse you can disengage when not needed.
but for you it would add a bunch of work.axle swap trans swap or at least a full tera down of the 400.probably drive shaft work as well.

X2 -- I am looking forward to this winter with a qtrac, but a 229 was marvelous in the snow and ice when I had one....

Thanks -- Bob

Gambler68

11-28-2009, 01:00 AM

vid of my flogging the SNOT out of my old FT QT in flints backyard. 79 WT Chero on 33s.

http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/cheech7474/vidz/?action=view&current=8cabb836.flv

sappy76

11-28-2009, 04:36 AM

Nice video.

Hard to believe that I can't wait until we get snow. I'm probably one of the few that pulled a T18/Dana20 to drop in a TH400/Quadratrac. I added LSDs in front and rear (PowerLoc in the rear Dana 60 and a truetrac in the front HD44.) I built my truck to be optimized for winter driving. (Hopefully it will outperform my old 98 Outback which I'm selling now that my Jeep is done.)

sappy76

11-28-2009, 04:42 AM

jeeping1974

11-28-2009, 04:50 AM

This is crazy! NOBODY like to be in an out of control death spin while trying to shift their rig into 4WD only to not allow it to go til that last possible minute then regain control and have your heart beating so hard you think your going to have a heart attack?

J/K folks. :p

fulsizjeep

11-28-2009, 10:15 AM

Any updates on replacement part suppliers?New parts are pretty much this:
gasket/seal kit
bearings
chain
vacuum shifter
fork pads
main sprocket thrust washer
MileMarker part time conversion kit - individual MileMarker parts can be purchased from a vendor (I use BJs Offroad)

I list some other sources here:
http://jubileejeeps.org/quadratrac

I have a stock differential in very good condition for sale. (http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=111220)

You used to be able to buy replacement 10 spline spud shafts for the low range, but they have not been available for a few years. I believe it was a Crown product.

SnowShoe

11-28-2009, 02:28 PM

Gambler68...

Thanks for the video...that's what I'm talk'in bout...thats just plain FUN...:cool: :lol: :lol:

Looks like I'd be hard pressed to doubt the operating ease and performance of a BW1339 giving the 3 options I considered in this post...play'in in the snoooww...

Thanks to all for your responces...it has been very enlightning and informative....

Happy Jeep'in to all....

fulsizjeep

11-28-2009, 05:43 PM

vid of my flogging the SNOT out of my old FT QT in flints backyard. 79 WT Chero on 33s.

http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/cheech7474/vidz/?action=view&current=8cabb836.flvI shot that video... :D It was much better in person! :thumbsup: One of my faves... :fsj:

grand_wag_85

11-28-2009, 08:37 PM

Any updates on replacement part suppliers?

Supposedly there are a few new kits in R&D but the last I heard of that was a year ago. With the econmy the way it is I'd say not likely those will be finished for awhile.

SnowShoe

11-28-2009, 08:58 PM

Cred's to you Flint for a great Video....:alc:wonder if there was any happy juice consumed for this shoot....I mean you guy's were have'n too much fun....LOL

Casey

11-28-2009, 09:02 PM

vid of my flogging the SNOT out of my old FT QT in flints backyard. 79 WT Chero on 33s.

http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/cheech7474/vidz/?action=view&current=8cabb836.flv

:cool:

sappy76

11-28-2009, 09:06 PM

Okay, now that we agree the Quadratrac is a great transfer case for the snow and that replacement parts are few and between, let's take a tangent.

What do you think about a 700r4 with a NP249? I've got three Quadratracs as backup however I have no idea as to the condition. Is it worth trying to keep fixing these or is it better to take the plunge and buy the adapter and go with newer technology that will give you overdrive? There are a lot of 700r4's out there and I have to imagine one can find an NP249 fairly cheap.

(I've searched the threads and this appears to be the best TH400/Quadratrac replacement.)

sappy76

12-01-2009, 03:41 PM

No one bit on the last post, so how about this. Running a 300 or a Dana 20 with twin sticks and keeping it in front wheel drive most of the time. Only kicking in the rear drive in really slippery roads?

fulsizjeep

12-03-2009, 05:29 AM

How about stacking 2 QTs together for churning ice cream? :cool:

SnowShoe

12-03-2009, 03:22 PM

Flint...that's an idea...just stay out of the yellow snow...lol :p

Gambler68

12-25-2009, 05:19 PM

As I'm getting used to my PT kit converted QT in the snow/ice, I am have to going say I love it. It's good in 4wd, as good as any 70-80s 4wd system. but the FUN starts when you put it in 2wd, crank the wheel and mash the gas :D :D :D :D can't do that in a FT QT.