• Notice for iPhone users: DO NOT use the image size reduction option when uploading photos to the forum. This causes portrait images to post as landscape. We have added a warning to the image insert pop-up as well.

Dana 20 questions

S

scrambler4315

Member
City
Las Vegas
State
NV
Ok, I have still been working on getting a lot of little things fixed on the 81 I got this summer, but I am finding that there are some really messed up things that one of the previous owners did to this rig. Thankfully the front and rear axles are correct, narrow D30 and AMC 20 and the original 258 under the hood. However, the transmission and transfer case are a confusing conundrum to me. They swapped in a T150 3 speed trans and a Dana 20 T-case. This Jeep is not going to be used for hard core off-roading, I'll find a YJ or a decent CJ for that, it will be around town, and the occasional dirt road maybe some light 4wd driving.
Now, those of you that read all that and are still here, hopefully one of you has some insight for me. I was going to swap the T5/Dana 300 that I have from my pile of parts 84 8, but now I'm not so sure. I've seen that the Dana 20 is actually a pretty tough t-case and a twin stick upgrade is available. The only reason I am not super happy about the 20 is that it doesn't have a 4wd indicator and I don't see where I can install the switch. As for the backup lights, I can put a new switch in the T150 and get it wired up. The other option is getting a trans that I can swap in place of the T150 that I can use the Dana 20 with, which I think I have read that the AX15 would fit that bill.
I apologize, I have been out of the Jeep community for so long, and honestly never dealt with the older drivelines so I am kinda out of my element. YJ's, TJ's, and even JK's I know quite a bit about, but the older Jeeps not so much. Even tho I think the best looking jeep ever made is the CJ5/CJ7/8. Any insight here would be super helpful and very much appreciated.
 
Ax15 will not bolt up to a dana 20 without adapter(if there is even one). T18 speed would bolt up(FSJ t18 has a longer something so it is not ideal from what I have heard). 1st gear is very low so it's almost like a 3 speed unless offroad.
 
If the intention is city streets and not much highway driving, I’d leave the D20/T150 and enjoy it as is.

The input flange pattern of a D20 is different than a D300, so it is limited to transmissions that have the “Texas” tail housing bolt pattern as opposed to the circular pattern of newer style transfer cases. This means, if you want a modern type transmission you need a D300 transfer case at a minimum. Or one that is similar.

Your T5/D300 is a good light duty setup. It would be fine for your intended use case and be decent for highway driving. The D300 is not the weak link, that would be the T5, but it is plenty strong for light wheeling and street use.
 
Thank you for the insight and kinda helping me get it in my head to enjoy it how it is and not keep looking to make it "normal". I am going to finally get it registered on Monday, and I will be putting some gas in it and seeing how the drive really is. I have only driven it around the back yard and never out of 1st gear. I will post the update after that.
 
Ok, I said I'd update after the first test drive, and here it goes since I was able to get the classic plates and she is all legal now. It was the perfect first test drive of the Jeep. I put 5 gallons of gas in from a fuel can into her and found out that the gas gauge needs fixed. Not sure if it is just a bad ground or the sending unit is shot or if the fuel gauge is shot. I already printed the troubleshooting guide from somewhere on here so that will be the weekend project. I took the 8 out from the back of the house onto the road. I headed to the first corner and as I rounded the corner the Jeep stalled and the driver side door swung open. So I had to grab the door, crank her over to fire it back up, and carry on! The rest of the "around the block" test drive was good. The 3 speed seems to have tall enough gears that I could see living with that drive line. However, the speedometer doesn't work, all the lights work, the odometer works, but the speedo won't go above the resting 5mph. So that is on the list of things to fix. But after that initial WTF moment of stalling and doors flying open, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Also, after that initial stall out, had no other engine issues, might do a tune up to be sure. Hopefully I can get these things figured out fairly quickly, I want to drive her to work one of these days!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top