bye bye clutch, hello 727?

[81jseries]

I was wheeling today in the local creek and roasted the clutch. The J-10 curently has a T-176. I like the dependability of my stick, and I enjoy driving it. People tell me that an automatic will wheel better, but i believe that the hassle of switching to the 727 isnt worth it. Please let me know what you think. by the way, I am shooting for springover and 38's with my dana 60

[Mikel2]

Why don't you go for a T-18A and Dana 20? Are your pumpkins in the driver side?

[81jseries]

yeah, 44 pumpkin is on the drivers side

[81jseries]

I have a 258 and a np208. is the t18 a bolt up?

[Lugnut]

Have you considered the differential ratio? The automatics have a much taller gear than the manuals. Or, maybe your vehicle is strictly off road and it wouldn't matter that much....or, maybe it would....
I've been thinking about this too. I have an '83 J-20, and also have an '83 Wag I'm gonna be parting out which is an auto.
Whoa, guys. I'm not ready to start stripping it down yet. I'll announce when that time comes and I've got all the pieces I'm gonna need for my own uses.

[porchpiggy]

A big advantage of the low geared manual over the auto is crawling downhill without toasting the brakes. I would love to go t18, but significant other insists on auto. Did you see the video of the blazer coming down lion's back with no brakes? Would never happen in granny low. :cool:

[RustyJeep]

with something like 6.32:1 1st gear, my T-18 is a stump puller....cast iron case...bullet-proof. To run one with your 208 and drivers diff, you'd need to get an adapter for Advanced adapters, or switch front axle to passengers side, and run a Dana 20....also indestructable IMO.

[fulmetal]

hey, I would not knock the 727 for wheelin. I have mine stuffed w/a hughes performancew kit and 1200 stall converter in front of an ATLASS II and mine compression brakes very well down the steep hills.

All I can say I see a lot more broken driveline parts with the manuals than with the autos. But when it comes down to it it's what you prefer

[scotty]

i have broken significantly more parts with the manual tranny.the torque convertot soaks up alot of the sudden shocks to the drivline that can break parts when directly coupled via a clutch.

you prolly will get a slightly better "crawl ratio" with the 727,since the torque convertor lets the engine rev up alittle higher,giving the illusion of a lower gear. plus the 208 does have a lower low range tha the d20.(2.61 vs 2.03)

how much do you like water? an auto is fine for wheelin that doesnt see much deep water fording. if you just do trail running,hillclimbing,etc,or like to drive around in the desert,then the auto is prolly fine.however,if you regularly dorde creeks deeper than your engines crankshaft,make sure you get a torque convertor and tranny pan with drain plugs,because youll be frequently draining/replacing the fluiid.

i prefer the manual over the auto. for 1 i like the simplicity.its a bunch of gears-no funky servos,valves,or hydraulic pressure required for proper operation.water n my auto tranny has ruined my wheelin fun for the night many times.i also carry less spare fluid now.i used to buy a case of tranny fluid before every wheelin trip. now i carry 1 quart,in case i need it for power steering :D everything else in my jeep takes good ol gear oil for lube. :cool: of course,my situation is prlly alittle differnt,i regularly drive thru 5-6 foot deep creeks,and stick it in very deep watery mudholes. if i get water in my t18,its not nearly as important that i drain int right then and there. it can wait till i get back to camp,or even till i get home.

no 2 i like the control. the granny gear gives me alot more control in crawling over things,and as was mentioned,compressionbraking downhill kicks Great Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley Moogley. the only way to get compression braking with an auto is to install very low gears in the axles,and/or t case. with factory t cases and moderate axle gears,youll hafta make sure your brakes are in good shape.

of course,we are talking about a t176 here,not a t18. since 1st inthe t176 is much higher than the granny in a t18,you wont have near the compression braking those of us with a t18 have. the important things to consider are a) how you use it b) location of your diffs c) what work,or $$ are you willing to spend to upgrade?

how long have you been running your t176? how many prollems have you had with it thus far? are you happy with the way it drive,wheels with the t176?

if youve had good luck with it thus far,and are happy with it,just rplace the clutch. if you want to upgrade,a 727 should be a fairly easy swap. a t18/208 is a rare find,and the 208 has a differnt input gear,so youll have to have the 208 from it as well,or add an input gear swap to your existing 208 to the budget.

having said all that,if it were me,id swap in a pass side axle and a pre 80 t18/d20. id also put 2.46 low range gears in the d20. of course,my opinion might be biased tongue.gif

good luck,whichever way you decide to go...