Axle ID???

I've been out cleaning the underside of my jeep in anticipation of pulling my transmission & transfer case & eyeballing what else I'm eventually going to want/need to do & was trying to ID my axles, but the only tags I can find are on the main case...I've been searching off & on all day trying to figure it out, but I'm not coming up with anything.
10 bolt cover front & back...my transmission is the T86 with a model 20 transfer case...vintage 1966...I'd post some more pics, but my card slot on the compute is acting up...the only pic I can offer up is already in my photobucket... [/URL][/IMG]

Maybe a year or so down the road I'd like to either swap out the 3.73 gears (if that's an option) or try to find 4.88's off the net...I also seen a post earlier today about somebody changing gears in their transfer case vs axle swap...any & all insight is greatly appreciated.

 

Your front axle should be a Dana model 27. The transfer case should be a Dana 18, not a Dana 20. Unless someone made a swap of it and the rear axle. If you scrub around on the cast part of the front axle, you will likely fins the number 27 or 27A cast into it. On the top I believe.

 

Make sure you double check.

Circa 1966, Jeeps had the Dana 44 rear, Dana 27(a?) front, and Dana 18 transfercase.

The front axle number mentioned above should appear around here IIRC.



Edit: Which engine do you have?

Most, if not all 4 cylinders came with 5.38 gears IIRC, a brochure I have also shows that 4.27s were available.
Whereas the :v6: models came with 4.88s, or 3.73 which was an option if I remember correctly.

Axle gears, transfer case gears, and transmission gears will all have an effect on your overall Jeep.

What do you want to do with it? There are certainly different combos that have been tried for different uses.

 

You guys are right about the transfer case being a 18. I'm not sure how I got the number 20 in my head...I have the 225 V6 & the gearing is 3.73. It also has the Warn overdrive. The Jeep has been my daily driver for the past 4 months & my only off roading will be what I consider light use...no Rubicon stuff. The gearing it has now is about right for street use IF I was driving in overdrive. Later today, I'll get back out & see if I can find the numbers on the axles...

 

So the gearing works if you're in overdrive? What speed do you cruise at in O/D?
Also, you said you're gonna be using it for light off roading.
Everyone's definition is a little different.
Are you talking something like fire roads and green circle trails?

 

By "works" I mean its only comfortable cruising in O/D.

 

The 3.73 axle ratio should be fine on the highway with no overdrive. I would suggest that you are being overly sensitive to the engine noise and highway noise. It's not a passenger car.

How tall are your tires?

 

If you change the gear ratio to anything higher, you will have to change the carrier too.

 

Just tossing this out there. I have 4:88 gears in my 27a and 44. I have been wanting to get my hands on a set of 3:73s.

 

Where do you live?

 

This. Should be able to cruise 65 pretty comfortably with 3.73 gears with no overdrive. I'd also double check to make sure if your gear ratio. Did you go by the tags or actually count the ring and pinion teeth? Tags get swapped around all the time. I never trust them on a vehicle as old as these Jeeps.


Sent from my iPhone

 

Just going by the tags but I suspect they are right because I can cruise comfortably at 65 without putting it in overdrive...Id like to get to a gearing ratio where my overdrive would put me in about the same range as I currently am when it's not engaged.

 

Before you count teeth, the gear count should be stamped into the edge of the ring gear, ie "41 11" gives 41/11= 3.73.

 

Where do you live?

 

No...the gearing is way too high in overdrive. The night I bought it, I drove it the 125 miles home on I-5 at what the speedometer said was 65...my brother said we did 75 all the way home & I didn't feel I was pushing it in the least. My off roading will at worst be bad forest service roads sometimes in snow. I have a Rokon if I really need to go off road.

 

In those years the 4.27 gears were standard, the 5.38's were the option. Also, keep in mind just because the title says it is a 1966 does not mean it is. My title from new says 1965, because that is the year my Jeep was sold, but it is definitely a 1963 model. Check the VIN and look right on the axle, I suspect that is a D25

 

I would also think that without OD, at 65 mph you should be around 2800 RPM, give or take depending on tire size. At 75 MPH you should be around 3200 RPM. But it does depend on your tires also. I used 29 inches which is probably a little smaller but that is near stock.

 

I see a D27 in the picture from Middlefork. The spotting feature I see is the vent on the case. The D25 used a vent right on the cover.

Don

 

I live in kcmo 64117. With the same setup as you I'm able to get 50 mph with 31's without sounding to crazy. Has more but gas is not cheep enough for that extra bit of top end left it it. Can start off in sec gear without feeling like my clutch is being abused.

 

That might be a little too low...it's not something I'm planning on doing any time soon. Maybe next spring, if finances allow...I guess I should use a calculator to try & figure out speeds.

Right now I'm more concerned with getting my tranny & transfer case rebuilt...thanks for all the input guys.