Few newbie questions about a '79

[thedave]

I'm looking into buying a 1979 Cherokee Chief with the AMC 360 and the BW 1339 QT Transfer case. The body seems to be in good shape as well as the interior, and the QT has a Part Time kit on it. I'm pretty new to the whole 4x4 thing, and also the QT. After doing some research on both the transfer case and the Part time kit, my impression is that with the PT kit, I'll always be in 2WD unless i'm in emergency drive with the front hubs locked. Is this right or am I just way the heck out in left field? I suppose what I'm mostly wondering is that the area i live in isn't known for its warm and cozy winters, and I'm looking for something that I can have in 4WD and have more mobility than my one wheel wonder pickup truck. I appreciate any help that any of you can give me, and I'll post some pics as soon as the Chief makes it way to my driveway.

[janie]

Dave, welcome aboard! Our QT Wizard has years of experience with these transfercase's and fortunately for all of us, he's put it all in print and pictures.

Click the linky:

http://jubileejeeps.org/quadratrac/index.htm

[billyrb]

a P/T kit changes the QT truck from full-time 4wd (think AWD drive) to a "normal" 4wd system. It will be in 2wd until you lock the hubs and engage "emergency drive" which is now converted to your 4wd selector. If you have a lever on the floor just in front of the right side of the driver seat, you also have low-range.

Do you know if the P/T kit was the overdrive or non-overdrive version?

[Gambler68]

Does that mean you can also run in 2-LO without getting out and locking the hubs or switching to E-drive?

[Rande]

"I suppose what I'm mostly wondering is that the area i live in isn't known for its warm and cozy winters, and I'm looking for something that I can have in 4WD and have more mobility than my one wheel wonder pickup truck."

Sounds like you want a full-time system. With that part-time kit, you can't drive on a hard surface in 4 wheel drive. A part-time system will bind up on any hard, high traction surface to the point of breaking things. A full-time system will not bind up unless you "lock" the transfercase. You generally have to pull a lever to do that.

Full-time gives you added traction and stability in snow, rain, and on ice. Doesn't help with braking though. You may want to pass on that truck in favor of one without the part-time kit.

[Retro93]

Does that mean you can also run in 2-LO without getting out and locking the hubs or switching to E-drive?Yes

[jeepguzzi]

I disagree with Rande. I have run my '79 with the part time kit for many many winters here in Northern Illinois. Whenever you have winter conditions you can leave the hubs locked and simply switch into and out of 4 wheel drive as needed with the vacume switch in the glove box.
I used this method alot after the roads were plowed, but I still needed to get into my alley and driveway.

[tgreese]

I think the usual misconception is about the locking hubs. In the winter, I leave the hubs of my truck locked in all the time. Then, if I need a little extra traction, I pull the shifter back, drive through. Back on dry pavement, I push it back into 2WD.

I'd be careful with 2WD low - easy on the throttle, or you might break something.

If you leave the hubs locked in, be sure that your front driveshaft CV joint is in good shape. If the CV joint is badly worn, it can break in two and damage the automatic transmission case. Common problem with these vehicles.

Nothing to do with the hubs though. Prior to 1974, hubs were strictly an aftermarket item - every factory Jeep came with flanges, not locking hubs. Contrary to the popular conception, you don't "need" locking hubs - they are an accessory that may give you a little better gas mileage and will reduce wear and tear on the front axle slightly.

However, the full-time 4WD of the original QT is pretty nice in snow country, or so I've heard. No need to switch in or out of 4WD, and the torque-proportioning characteristics reduce wheel slip and increase steering control. However, you can get most of the QT benefits with a conventional 4WD system. It's been almost 30 years since the BW1339 was produced. Parts are getting scarce, and the original cases are often broken or worn out. The differential between the front and rear driveshafts seems to be the most difficult part to source, and that's the part that the part-time kit replaces.

You can change it back to full-time if you want ... a few NOS transfer cases (complete units) are still available, or with a little searching you should be able to find enough of the internal parts to convert back to full-time.

hth!

[thedave]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I really appreciate the help. To start with, I did end up buying the chief, I just couldn't pass on it. 58,000 original miles, hardly any rust and the 360 and the price on it was perfect. The only down side is that the master cylinder went kaput and I couldn't drive it today. Knowing how the PT conversion will work and what limitations it has are fine enough for me. I was really unclear about the workings of it and what it meant to how I can drive it. So far, it drives like a dream and seems to be starting an addiction.

[Kali]

So far, it drives like a dream and seems to be starting an addiction.

You have NO idea :D

[Gambler68]

QTs and Snow=What snow?

When I brought back my 79 Chief from Idaho, we hit some frozen slush/icy roads north of Flint and Kristas..I was driving 'cautiously' at 45-50 on my 33" MTS and had NO sliding or loss of traction. Didn't see my gf behind me for a bit in a 2005 Dodge Dakota 4x4 so I pulled over..let's just say she was mightly po'ed because she kept sliding off the road trying to keep up with me :P Whoops :rolleyes:

They work great when they work and they fail miserably when they fail, just like anything else.

I'd bet we'll be forced off the road by gas prices long before the stock of QT parts completely dries up. Someone eventually will start reproducing the wear parts or kits to eliminate them alltogether anyways I'd bet too ;)