74 Cherokee Project

[Merc69]

I have been giving the 74 Cherokee project a lot of thought lately. What I am looking to do is to turn this into a trail rig with occasional road use. I don't want to have to tow it where ever I may want to go.

I am thinking of the Chevrolet D-60, 14 bolt combination for the axles, Detroit in the rear and some sort of selectable for the front. I have the 360, TH-400, Quadra-track t-case combo. I believe I will have to dump the Q-track for some other t-case. What are my options? Will I be better off dumping the TH-400 for something else and mate a different transmission and t-case to the 360?

PsyOp is on track with it's transformation. Just thinking about possibilities smile.gif

[Will Morris]

Well, I'm working on getting my Chief changed over to 1 ton running gear myself. I have a 14 bolt rear and Dodge Dana 60 front in place. As far as the transfer case problem, I'm facing the same thing you are right now. What I'm looking for is a TH400/NP203 or TH400/NP205 from a Chevy so that I can get the rear output, adapter, and transfer case and swap them in place of the quadra-trac. Unfortunately you can't just bolt an NP203 or NP205 in place of the Quadra-Trac, which is why you need the correct output and adapter as well as the transfer case. If you read my other post, I'm trying to figure out how to make an NP208 work because they're a little bit cheaper. I'd stick with the TH400 just because with that tranny and a strong transfer case and 1 ton axles, you won't have a week link in your drivetrain. You could also go with a Ford Dana 60 front and a Jeep TF727/NP208 like Andrew (RockJeep44). It holds up to a lot of abuse.

Will

[Stuka]

what do you plan on doing for lift? I am sure you will go SOA up front. But for the rear, your gona need to do some custom fab work to get the right lift because of the post mount springs.

[Blackjack]

Axle width will be an issue too since a '74 is a narrow track. You're planning on hacking the sheetmetal?, then what...flares?

[Merc69]

For lift I plan on some fab work. I saw someones pics else where, where they made up some new brackets to replace the post mount.

As for hacking smile.gif I have access to a wonderfull tool of mass distruction, a battery powered saws-all. If the battery goes dead I could always use the old standby with an electric cord. Fender flairs will be interesting. I have a set of Wide track flairs and fenders sitting out back right now...well almost I still have to cut out the rears. smile.gif I found out that the original bumper jack is hard to cut though :D I guess I should have looked what was behind that rear fender before I started to cut.

Wil - I look forward to your solution...I will let you solve it then copy smile.gif Of course if I can figure something out I will let your know. In fact I might know where a Jeep 208 is sitting...now where to find the Chevy 208 unit ??

Any thoughts about using an Advanced Adapters Transfere case...pricey but will they hold up?

Way to many questions :D

[robselina]

everyone loves the atlas (advanced adapters) if you can afford it do that.

Dana 20s will bolt up too if I'm not mistaken. Check with River Beast, I believe he's made the swap. As far as I recall, Borg Warner T-cases are bolt compatible with D20s and NP t-cases are bolt compatible with D300s.

I would not do anything that requires an adapter. After you buy those things and wrestle with getting them installed, you could have gotten an atlas for just a little more....I intend to do the Atlas in my CJ, btw, but I think I might keep my 208 at this point and just beef her up a little. Kinda depends on whether I can find a Ford D60 drivers side drop front or not.

[Damage, Inc.]

Well my 74 is getting the TH400/D20; it has the QT in it right now.
It's getting a SOA and 4" springs and 3" body lift. (Don't ask me why...) The rear is getting custom mounts fabbed with shackle reversal.
All-in-all, it's getting more and more complicated the further I go!!

[Merc69]

Damage

I feel you pain brother. Thank goodness for welders, benders, chop saws, tourches, and the many other toys out there. Got to enjoy this stuff or I would have quit before I got started :D :cool:

[MIDLERTH]

DAMAGE,
SOA, 4" springs and 3" body. If you got hat high I will expect to see you racin against grevedigger on tv.
7" soa
4" springs
+3" body
14" of lift, that is seriously high,hope theres no low bridges where you live.

[Will Morris]

Merc69,
If you can afford the Atlas or NP205, then go for it. It's way less work and if I had the money myself, I'd just do it and start wheeling. Unfortunately I don't have the cash at the moment. Oh well, maybe over the summer.

Damage,
That'll be one tall truck. What tires are you planning on running?

Will

[Sycho15]

The D20 and BW-1339 (Q-Trac) have different bolt-patterns. That's why the TH400-D20 x-case adapter is so highly sought after. Finding a Chevy TH400 4x4 tranny would give you the parts to convert your Jeep TH400 to accept the NP205

ALSO... What about the KLUNE-V? From what I understand you could bolt this behind your TH-400 and bolt on whatever x-case you wanted behind it. It'll add a little length to your drivetrain (improve that front driveshaft angle some) but give you an extra-low gearing selection. Also- it costs roughly half as much as an Atlas II.

Personally- I'd run the Q-Trac until it breaks

[ May 09, 2003, 08:20 AM: Message edited by: Sycho15 ]

[Stuka]

Todd used to have 14" of lift on river beast. He lower it because it was to unstable being that high. Our rigs arent as wide as the ford/chevy/dodges. So they can go higher without as many side effects. Only reason to go that high IMHO is for a show truck.

[Damage, Inc.]

The 74 is getting WT axles and the SOA won't be 7", more like 5". The tires will likely be 35"s to start, maybe bigger in the future.
I was originally making this a 50-50 vehicle, but now it's pretty much going to be a trail-only vehicle.

I'm one of those people that hates redoing stuff...I know if I go too small, that in 6 months, I'll want it to be bigger!!

[80258WT]

i just finished a soa in the front with rancho 44044's (2.5 lift) and a 4 link in the rear with 14" king 2.5" coilovers in the rear. It works very well (1100 rti with brand new front leaves) and it clears my 38.5 sx's very well also. If you have about 2 grand to spend then i would go this route if it is for a offroad only application.

[Damage, Inc.]

LOL..already spent my $2K...plus a couple more!

[Merc69]

80258WT
Do you have any pics? Sounds cool :cool: Now all I need to do is come up with a set of Dana 60's, a centered t-case so I can use a Dana 60 or Corp 14.

What did some one say about Jeep meaning Just Empty Every Pocket :D

[Panther]

Originally posted by 80258WT:
i just finished a soa in the front with rancho 44044's (2.5 lift) and a 4 link in the rear with 14" king 2.5" coilovers in the rear. It works very well (1100 rti with brand new front leaves) and it clears my 38.5 sx's very well also. If you have about 2 grand to spend then i would go this route if it is for a offroad only application.Yeah PICS PICS PICS!!!!
1980 Cherokee W/t D60,D60,fuel injected 258,t-176,atlas4.3,4" superlift with fender trimmin for 37" MTR's, agr rock ram hydro steer, hy steer, kustom toob job. Not only of the suspension but also of all that is in your sig. Wow

[rockjeep44]

Yea man post some pics of that, I'm saving up money for 4 SAW coilovers right now.
-Andrew