new fsj'er needs help...

[77 chief]

i just aquired a 1977 jeep cherokee chief. it has a amc 360 motor in it, i was wondering if anyone knew what size axles it has and if it has quadratrac, thanks for any info....

[ffej]

Someone here will be able to help you for sure..Welcome to the sickness. :D :D :D

[Joe J-Truck]

SWEET! Welcome to Fullsize Jeep insanity! Cherokees are cool. I have two I'm parting out (if you need any parts?). If you have an automatic, its a TH400 (produced by GM) and is backed by the famous Qudratrac transfer case... arguably the best 4x4 system in the world. Look in your glovebox, if there's a switch in there, that's a vacuum switch for the QT. In regular mode, the QT case acts like a positrac limited slip diff inbetween your axles. In E-drive, the driveshafts are locked together and both axles turn at the same time. If there's a lever on the floor by the driver's seat, that is the low-range for the t-case. QT's have a deep 2.6:1 low or somewhere close to that. You must have the tranny in Nuetral to shift the case. Its a good idea if the vehicle is stopped. If you just bought a QT vehicle, its a good idea to change the fluid and check the chain condition while you're at it. If you do a search (click the "search" link up on the top of this screen) in the this tech forum you'll find all the info you need on that subject. The cheros, along with most FSJ's use Dana 44 front and rear axles. These are good, strong units. You can determine the gear ratio by looking at the cover of the front diff and there should be an ID tag between two of the bolts securing the cover. This will tell you the ring and pinion tooth count and you can find out your ratio by doing the math.
Chero's were available in both Narrow track and wide track. I think most or all cheifs were WT (someone correct me if I'm wrong here). All wags are NT. Personally I'm a fan of WT rigs due to their increased stability off road.

[JeepBountyHunter]

Nice find, what shape is it and how much did you sacrifice?

[Bombadier]

my Chief is a NT....
But welcome! The '77 is a good year, IMHO....
Check your T-case fluids as mentioned above, get a compression check done, look at anything rubber or electrical you can get your hands on, and your FSJ will last for a long time.

For some great links to FSJ resources, check the IFSJA Links in my signature.

BTW- SHOW US SOME PICS :D :D :D

[77 chief]

thanks for the response, so it prolly has the d44 front and rear? the guy i bought it from says it sucks air through the gas line? could this be a worn out gas seal? or bad gas line? i got the jeep at a STEAL. only 500$ the axles are worth that much! i have heard good and bad things about q-trac, ok here is the stupid ? of the day....... what is e-drive? thanks again

[bvibert]

Welcome to the site, you'll find lots of good, helpful people here. Sounds like you got yourself a good rig there!

E-Drive stands for Emergancy Drive. There are no stupid questions here smile.gif

[tuckers89GW]

welcome to the forum. Cheros are pretty cool. My next FSJ will be one. Joe pretty much covered what to look for as to what you have.

We do want pictures!!!!!!

[Don S]

Originally posted by 77 chief:
thanks for the response, so it prolly has the d44 front and rear? the guy i bought it from says it sucks air through the gas line? could this be a worn out gas seal? or bad gas line? i got the jeep at a STEAL. only 500$ the axles are worth that much! i have heard good and bad things about q-trac, ok here is the stupid ? of the day....... what is e-drive? thanks againWelcome to the IFSJA group. I sure hope you enjoy our members here.
IMHO If we were to line up all the FSJs by year model and if all were in identical condition I would pay a lot more for a 76 – 77 year model.
The BW-1339 is a good tuff T-Case. Here is links that should answer most questions..
http://groups.msn.com/JEEPTECH101/jeeptech.msnw QT TESTING
http://www.frontier.net/~mystkblu/qt_cutout.htm Flints QT cutaway pic
http://www.t-r-j.com/Auto/QT/quadratrac.htm QT
http://home.earthlink.net/~riverbeast/qt01.htm RBs QT
http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=007239 FSJ QT1339 CONES
http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=009894 e-drive SWIHCHES

It should have D-44s front and rear...
… Below is a good fast link to acronyms we really use.
link> Acronym and Abbreviations for 4x4 Gearheads (http://groups.msn.com/NISSAN4X4TRAILS/acronymlist.msnw)

Good luck and http://www.michiganjeepers.com/forums/images/graemlins/wave.gif and … CUL.. ds..
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1976 406 MC4300 TH400 QT TruTrac 2" lift 31x10.50s duel Optimas
It’s taken me over 261 Colorado Mountain Passes since 1985-
BRC#30093 link> Blue Ribbon Coalition JOIN and save your TRAIL (http://www.sharetrails.org/)
http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/1963-1983-Wagoneers/76401.s.jpg ALL American Pure Cast Iron
link> 2003 OURAY FSJ Invasion Info and High Altitude Tips (http://groups.msn.com/ATexasOklahomaJeepClub/ouraycotopic.msnw)
link> Acronym and Abbreviations for 4x4 Gearheads (http://groups.msn.com/NISSAN4X4TRAILS/acronymlist.msnw)

[jeepguzzi]

Originally posted by 77 chief:
thanks for the response, so it prolly has the d44 front and rear? the guy i bought it from says it sucks air through the gas line? could this be a worn out gas seal? or bad gas line? i got the jeep at a STEAL. only 500$ the axles are worth that much! i have heard good and bad things about q-trac, ok here is the stupid ? of the day....... what is e-drive? thanks againYour gas line may be corroded, being in MI. The Quadra Trac was used by Baja racers for a long time. The bad things you heard were most likely from people that did no maintenance on it and then were surprised that the chain stretched and needed replaced after 80,000 miles. Then they got a shock at the cost of the fluid needed in the Borg Warner unit.

You must use the special fluid, or a brew that includes a friction modifier if your case is still the original full time unit. Many here have also converted it to part time with a kit made by mile marker. The conversion allows you to use tranny fluid.

Either way, it is a good transfer case. Just be sure to check and change the fluid and check the chain and replace it when it is time.

[andy d]

if indeed it is sucking air theu the gasline it might be the fuel pickup right where it comes out of the tank. this has happened to me with the one in my 81 wag

[77 chief]

im gonna be tinkering with it for a while, but i will let ya know how im doing.

[Gwamp]

Originally posted by 77 chief:
im gonna be tinkering with it for a while, but i will let ya know how im doing.he he...you'll spend the rest of the time you own your rig doing that! Welcome aboard!

[new2fsjeeps]

I can tell you that everyone here is full of knowhow and willing to help in any way possible! I just joined the club with my 1980 and have had a warm and insightful welcome. This is a great place gain both knowlege and history of these vehichles. Welcome aboard!

[The Preacher]

Welcome aboard! smile.gif

Sucking air through the gas line? The FSJ's are notorious for vapor lock when things heat up outside. That "may" be what the po was referring to. Don S is our resident expert on that so click on his link above and you'll know more than you ever wanted to about that topic. :D

The learning curve is pretty steep on these rigs at first but once you get past a few of the typical problems things begin to come a lot easier.

Hang in there and good luck!