Rebuild t176 or upgrade to sm465?

[blk85cj7]

Looking for some opinions, I know they are out there. My T176 Transmission has 250,000 miles and I'm getting ready to finish my stroker (been saying this for a while) I figure my tranny will be the next thing to go with the new power. In preparation I'm starting to research my options for the inevitable. I keep reading the SM465 is a good swap (Novak). The t176 has a good reputation as well. Keep it with out having to adapt or is it worth the upgrade? Suggestions welcome as well.
Thanks!

[IH 392]

The SM 465 is an excellent tranny, in a Chivy, if you feel the need to lay out BIG $$$$$$$ for the adapter bell housing and transfer case adapter go for it!, if you're cheap like me go get a T-18 out of a Jeep, it'll damneer bolt right in, I made the one for my CJ5, I got a T-18 out of an F 250, it should bolt right in to the bell housing you have now and a T-18 out of a J series pickup (for the married transfer case adapter), made one of the two and all for the total sum of almost $75!
If you intend it for a daily driver I'd keep the T-176 if you want off road it go for the TRUCK four speed (better crawl ratio with the "granny gear").

[Biggrnjeep97]

What are you using the jeep for? The T176 is, IMO, useless for off road but a very decent "everyday" trans, its light in weight (compared to a 465), and already fits. However, the Sm465 is a utilitarian mini-dumptruck trans, very heavy, hard/expensive to adapt, offers a granny gear w/ ~6.72? :1, and can put up with more than most BBC's can throw there way. Dont pin yourself down with just a Sm465 as your only option (albeit a bada$$ one), you could spend like coin and get a NV4500 and have OD or the hard to find CJ T18. Just my .02!
-Will

[blk85cj7]

I'm not stuck on any particular tranny. I'm looking to make it a tough all around jeep. It isn't a daily driver but I take it up to the family cabin (2 1/2 hr. drive), home depot, tow the jet ski. I also want to play with it a good bit. No hard core rock crawling. I'm looking for a sturdy middle ground that wont break the bank. Suggestions?
Thanks for the feedback.

[dwg86]

I used a t18 in my 79 cj5. It's a good strong tranny. You can get one out of a 2wd ford truck and buy an adapter kit, get one out af a CJ(hard to find and usually pricey), or one out of a jeep truck and change the input shaft. The Jeep J trucks had a long input shaft that need to be changed to a shorter one. The input shafts cost around $200.00. And be careful if of what bearing you use on the shorter input shafts. There are 2 different bearings, a narrow and wide bearing. If you use a wide bearing on an input shaft that is made for a narrow bearing, it will not go all the way into 4th gear...I know this from experience.

[Plechtan]

I would go with a 5 speed NV3550, It will bolt in and use a later model transfer case. Unless you are running a CJ5 where driveline length is an issue. you probably need a passenger side drop, so a dana 300 T case would fit the bill and bolt up to the later model trans.

[blk85cj7]

It's a 85 CJ7 with the stock Dana 300. No modifications with the NV3550? Also, I would like to have a 5th gear but is it stronger than the t176 I have?

[Plechtan]

The Novak conversions site has good things to say about the NV3550. I believe the SM465 has a Granny first gear, the NV3550 does not, but neither did the t176. The absolute best swap is the NV4500, but you are talking big dollars. JB conversion makes a great indexiable flange that comes with a longer input gear with the correct spline count for the NV4500. The NV4500 also requires some kind of adapter to go up to the engine, so the 3550 makes a little more sense.

[Biggrnjeep97]

I'm not stuck on any particular tranny. I'm looking to make it a tough all around jeep.

Please read this websites knowledge section. It has compiled years of research and made it "research" friendly.
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/tr ... ateway.htm
If your looking for a "tough" jeep DO NOT second guess the SM465 unless your going to do an NV4500, which would provide OD and a granny low 1st.
-Will
EDIT: An NV3550 is a good alternative, however, you will not have granny low.

[Biggrnjeep97]

No modifications with the NV3550? It's a 85 CJ7 with the stock Dana 300.

Call Novak. They like to talk this stuff. Other than driveshaft length differences, I think i remember there being a different seal for D300s than NP231/NP241OR's(which are found behind the 3550).

Also, I would like to have a 5th gear but is it stronger than the t176 I have?

Yes. The NV3550 is stronger than your t176, not alot, but still stronger. The 3550 and 4500 will both offer OD. Both are available in junkyards, but the 4500 fetches BIG coin on ALL counts and is found in dodges and chevys.
-Will

[the_wrench116]

what about the nsg370?

[Biggrnjeep97]

what about the nsg370?

Not a bad trans, but like everything else Benz, this trans is synonymous with $$$$ in repair costs and initial costs.