I see a lot of info about using the T176 shifter on a 4 speed toploader transmission but does anyone actually use a T176 4 speed transmission in their hot rod?
T-176 is the Jeep transmission no overdrive, I have 3 of them. Haven't given any of them a job yet. Lots of T-170 overdrive boxes in use. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...-original-model-a-engine-w-torquetube.728951/
The T176 has a tail shaft and housing to bolt up to a transfer case . None that I know of were ever made for 2 wheel drive for Jeep.
That could be. I've never had reason to explore it. One would have to set a torque tube trans up with the T176 beside it on the bench and start measuring and designing. The actual issue may be that Jeep guys who play with CJ jeeps tend to put seriously high prices on parts in good usable condition. It's not worth much after they tear it up = shifter off broken trans but the complete trains in great shape commands a stiff price as does that flathead 4 that they pulled out and stuck in the corner to stick a lot more power in the Jeep. When I started gathering parts for my boat tail I was looking for a Jeep flathead four cylinder and they wanted more for one around here than 8 BA flatheads were going for. Plus the guys around here are hard on Jeeps, the first Jeep club in the US was started 20 miles from me.
Imperfect ones are around and cheap, just have to hunt them up. I got all 3 of mine in a couple weeks period a few summers ago. First 2 came from a guy on Craigslist advertising a Jeep transfer case, plus repair and used parts. When I called him and asked about a transmission he said ,"Yep, I've got one but I think it's junk." I drove over there and he had a yard full of 70s and 80s Jeeps in various stages of disrepair. He was one of those windy bullshitters that wants you to think he knows everything there is to know. The transmission he was talking about was in a Wagoneer without an engine. He climbed in over the radiator core support and grabbed the end of the input shaft that goes into the pilot bearing and started jerking it around. "Look here how much it moves, it's all worn out." Well, any input shaft will have a little movement without being in a pilot bearing and this one looked like it moved way less than an 1/8 inch. I asked how much he wanted for it and was told that since it's junk I could just have it, but I had to pull it myself. Cool. Then I asked if he had any others. "Yep", he said, "Got one in a CJ, right over here." The CJ was up on blocks with no top, axles or transfer case, no hood and the intake manifold was off. The transmission tunnel was removed so there was no shift boot to keep rain water from getting in the transmission around the shift lever. I asked what he wanted for that one and he stammered around a little before he said he'd have to have 400 bucks for that one. I was suspicious about water, so I said let's drain the oil out and see what it looks like. He found a crescent wrench and an old plastic dish pan and slid under and pulled the plug. First thing that came out was about a half gallon of clear water, followed by some nice looking green gear oil. Soon as he saw the water he started cussing. I told him it might not be too bad inside yet, let me pull it out and open it up. I got it out in just a few minutes and scattered it out on the tailgate of my pickup. He'd never seen anyone take apart a transmission before I guess and was amazed at how fast I had it spread out. There was just very light surface rust in a few places on the cluster gear, but none that I could see on any of the teeth except for the reverse idler gear for some reason. Needle bearings were all perfect. He was still really disappointed to see any rust in there and such a moron that he didn't realize the teeth were okay. He asked if I'd give him a hundred bucks for it and I said, "How about 50?" He thought 50 was okay, so I got both T-176 transmissions for 50 bucks. When I got home I took apart the one out of the Wagoneer and it was perfect inside. When it's time to give it a job I'll put in a bearing kit and be good to go. The 3rd one I saw in parts in a bucket in the back of a little old Jap pickup in front of me at a stop light. I recognized the shifter assembly and followed the pickup a couple blocks until he pulled into a gas station. A couple nice guy G.I.s got out to pick up a tire repair in the shop. I asked about the transmission in the bucket. They laughed and said it was too weak for them. They were stuck in a mud hole and rocking the Jeep (a CJ with huge tires) back and forth to get out. First gear, dump the clutch, reverse, dump the clutch, first, dump the clutch, reverse, dump the clutch... uh-oh, nothing happened. Broken. One of them reached into the bucket and pulled out the reverse idler gear and showed me that about 4 teeth were broken off. The CJ was at a transmission shop getting a big granny gear 4 speed right then. I asked what they wanted for the bucket of transmission and was told they were on their way to a dumpster with it. One of them grabbed it and set it in the back of my truck. I gave them 20 bucks and said get yourselves a box of beer. everyone was happy. So, three T-176s for 70 bucks. Keep your eyes open, they're out there and not necessarily at premium prices.
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