A reader writes us and asks...
Does an 1982 CJ-7 jeep originally have a back bumper ? Need to know for WV inspection sticker. Thanks, John
Well John, the 80's version of the CJ never had an actual rear bumper. Occasionally there were dealer installed bumpers and factory installed "bumperettes" on Laredos and Renegades which were mere metal loops that did essentially nothing.
QUESTION: What do I need to put a TH350 transmission in my 1977 CJ-7 with the 258 I6 and a Dana 20 T-case? Mike D
ANSWER: Several companies offer adapters for this popular conversion. Novak Adapters are probably the best on the market. In this conversion you will need two adapters. The first adapts the TH350 to the AMC engine and the second adapts the TH350 to the Dana 20.
The engine adapter - Novak 437AMC-1 kit is a plate style adapter that is precision laser cut and machined. Included are the crank spacer, flexplate, flexplate spacers, flexplate reinforcement ring and fastening hardware.
The transmission adapter - Novak 103 kit will adapt a TH350 to a Dana 20 utilizing a compact adapter casting, several bearings, and seals.
In general this is a popular conversion that will yield excellent results. The adapters will cost you though. You will be looking at a cost of just under $1000 for both adapters. Plus drive-shafts would most likely need to be lengthened/shortend to accomodate the added length.
Another option that would be less expensive and require no adapters would be to find a Chrysler 999/Dana 300 combo that was already in a Jeep. The 80-86 CJ-7 was available with this transmission/transfer case combo. You would be looking at a near bolt-in job. You could probably find factory drive shafts too.
QUESTION: I have 72 CJ-5 and I am swapping the AMC 304 with a Chevy 350. I am wondering what would be the best transmission to use? I have a 700r4 but think it will be too long which would only give me about a 6 inch rear drive line. I would like to use an automatic, I am thinking of a turbo 350 with a married up transfer case? Please tell me what you think. Thank you, Jon
ANSWER: An automatic in a CJ-5 is tough. A Turbo 400 will just squeak by but a Turbo 350 will give you better results. The TH350 is several inches shorter and will allow a longer rear drive shaft to avoid vibration from excess angles. Novak and Advance Adapters both make adapters to fit your automatic to your transfer case.
QUESTION: Good evening, a while back I traded into an old Jeep long abandoned. I can't identify whether it is an M38-A1 or CJ-5. The serial plate is long gone, it has a Ford V8 so no correct engine, and no title. Where else on this thing should a valid number to identify it so I can proceed to restore it.
ANSWER: There was minimal differences between the two. The body was one. The M38 had a large opening on the passenger side cowl and a recessed hole in the passenger side near where the Jeep logo would go. Most CJ-5 Jeeps had one piece windshields. The two piece could be special ordered and appear on many import CJ-5's. I'd probably guess you have an M38-A1.
