I found a CJ5 I may end up with. It's a little rusty but is about what I've been lookin' for. While checkin' it out the guy told me it was a 4speed and said they were getting hard to come by. He's got ALOT of jeep stuff and said he had 3 of these 4speeds. He said he could get $600 out of the trans alone. Are they rare? Also it has all the top harware but no top. He said I could but the top w/out hardware for bout $400. He said he'd give me a set of doors. I like this thing, it's rough around the edges but so am I.
How rare are the 4speeds?
- Thread starter flatie46
- Start date
The 4spds aren't a dime a dozen,but I don't know that I'd call them rare. A few different 4spds were used thru-out the years. $600 sounds a bit high,I've see T176s (used in the CJ5 in the late "70s) go for around $400 on E-bay(I don't know about condition).
As far as the top hardware...Bestop sells a replacement top that fits the original hardware(I prefer it to the other bestops,but that's my opinion). I think the current prices for a CJ5 top are closer to $500.
By the way I have a CJ5 top to fit original hardware that I'd love to sell for way cheaper.
Hope that helps...good luck striking a deal & picking up a CJ5!!!!
As far as the top hardware...Bestop sells a replacement top that fits the original hardware(I prefer it to the other bestops,but that's my opinion). I think the current prices for a CJ5 top are closer to $500.
By the way I have a CJ5 top to fit original hardware that I'd love to sell for way cheaper.
Hope that helps...good luck striking a deal & picking up a CJ5!!!!
Well I traded for a rusty old '79 CJ5 today. I'll do a full thread on it tomorrow, too dark to get a picture tonite. It had been parked in a barn for a year and a half maybe 2. We put some freash gas in it and a battery and went 4wheelin. The old guy didn't cut it no slack, it run rough for a bit then the more we drove it the better it run. I drove it bout 10 mile down the highway and she done pretty darn good all things considered. I'm happy as a pig in poo!
Was there a reason they didn't put the 4speeds behind the V8?
Was there a reason they didn't put the 4speeds behind the V8?
Crazy4diesels
New member
The four speed was available with the V8 too. My friends 79 Renegade with a 304 had one. First gear was really nice off road compared to my three speed. -John
SteelHeadz
Super Moderator
Yep!! My 81 CJ7 originally came with a 304 and a 4 speed with the Dana 300.
4 spd manuals pre 86 jeeps way out number 5 spd manuals. the t5 wasn't introduced until ~76 prior to that they were T4, T18, T-176. imho, the t5 is a pretty crappy transmission, I'd go with a T-176 if it were me just due to simplicity of install.
With a short wheel base cj5, rear shaft length is something to consider as well as the first gear ranges on all these are
T-5 = 15.25†1st gear 4.03
T-18/adapter for 258= 15.7†1st gear 6.32
T-176 no adapter = 12.9 1st gear 3.52
The T-5 is junk the T-176 is a medium duty transmission but quicker and cheaper to install.
now if you can find a
With a short wheel base cj5, rear shaft length is something to consider as well as the first gear ranges on all these are
T-5 = 15.25†1st gear 4.03
T-18/adapter for 258= 15.7†1st gear 6.32
T-176 no adapter = 12.9 1st gear 3.52
The T-5 is junk the T-176 is a medium duty transmission but quicker and cheaper to install.
now if you can find a
Saddle Tramp
New member
To clarify, in a CJ the T18 4 speeds were only available behind an I6 except for 1979 where a T18 was a factory option behind the V8. The T18s used in CJ from 1972 to 1976 were the 4.03 granny low gear while from 1976 to 1979 they were the generally more coveted 6.32 low. From 1980 to 1986 the T18 was replaced with a T176 which has a 3.52 low and was available behind the V8 until the motor was retired due to the smog Nazis in 1981.
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Crazy4diesels
New member
I doubt you're wrong at all... The brochure you have is probably older than the V8 \ 4spd combo. They changed things so often it's a wonder they could keep track of anything. All the examples I've seen are 79 or later. -John
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