76 Wagoneer LS Engine Swap what Transfer Case???!

Modified FSJ Tech Area
Post Reply

Topic author
76Wagon
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2019 9:39 pm

76 Wagoneer LS Engine Swap what Transfer Case???!

Post by 76Wagon »

HELP!!! I’ve started a LS engine swap on my ‘76 Wagoneer and I’ve run into a snag....the QuadraTrac transfer case won’t work with the 4l60e that is mated up to the LM7 5.3l engine I got from a 2004 Avalanche.

What are my best TC options that will bolt up to the 4l60e, give me good freeway gearing (this rig is being built for daily driving and limited trail use) and still allow me to keep my passenger drop axels so I don’t have to dig even deeper into my depleting pocket book?!?

I spoke to the guys at Advanced Adapter before I started to the build and they told me all I needed was one of their adapter kits and I’d be fine. Spent the $500+ for the adapter only to find out that the front drive shaft of the QT doesn’t come anywhere close to clearing the 4l60e. Did I miss something?

I’m told that a Dana18 is my only other option if I want to keep my passenger side drop without replacing the axels (which is simply not in my budget after all I spent on the engine/trans/misc). This can’t be the case? I’m not keen on locating and making the move to the older Dana18.
1976 Wagoneer Custom | Currently undergoing a LS heart transplant: LM7 + 4L60e + TC TBD! | 31x10.5 BFG on 4" Shackle Flip with RS9000

mossBoys
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2017 7:59 pm

Re: 76 Wagoneer LS Engine Swap what Transfer Case???!

Post by mossBoys »

NP-241C passenger side drop is what i am using behind my LS swap... came in chevy suv's and some trucks couple of years... i think mine is out of a 99 suburbon... just research the years and it will most likely bolt up to your 4l60e... one side note... this is rear center output... so your rear driveshaft will now be at a anlge... ( which is why i put a 9 inch in ) i am sure other guys on here will weigh in to help you out to but i am told that guys run the angle with no problem :)
1979 Cherokee Chief in rebuilding stage... 4 inch lift, 5.3 LS, np241c, 4L80E and ford 9 inch.
2002 Jeep TJ 4 inch lift, 33's, SYE, dana 44 with Elocker, custom MossBoys cage and bumpers.

cpfeifffer
Posts: 81
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2018 6:03 am

Re: 76 Wagoneer LS Engine Swap what Transfer Case???!

Post by cpfeifffer »

My QT had a cracked case and bad cones, so I was not able to keep it.

I ended up using an Atlas. I know this may be more expensive than some want to spend, but I have been really happy with how everything turned out.

I am using the Novak weld in engine mounts to install a 5.3 L33 and 4L60E. The reference point for me was to use the shared bolt that mounts the shock absorber tower and factory engine mount. I put this through the upper front bolt hole on the new engine mount. With this placement, it left about 1" clearance at the front for the engine/radiator fan, about 1" spacing around the transmission/body, and about 3/4" for the transfer case/body. I did have to remove the heat shield above the transfer case to get this much room.

The Atlas is a lot shorter, and will clear the factory gas tank even though it is a center output. I was able to keep the existing crossmember and use an easily use an adjustable mount from Summit. The transmission shifter alignment looks like I'll be able to use the existing shifter linkage.

One thing I had to do was shift the engine and transmission 1.25" toward the driver's side. I haven't installed the new front driveshaft, but it looks like there won't be any clearance issues at this point.

Image

Image

I really like how the transfer case is above the cross member and tucks in tightly.

Image
1978 Cherokee Chief
5.3L L33, 4L60E, Atlas II 5.0

will e
Posts: 5097
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:21 am

Re: 76 Wagoneer LS Engine Swap what Transfer Case???!

Post by will e »

Altas. 4 speed if you can afford it.
81 Waggy 'WILL E' Retired
82 Cherokee WT - SOA/SF/high steer/Alcan springs/agr box/Borgeson steering shaft/AMC 401/performer/holley TA/HEI/BeCool/727/ALTAS (2.0/2.72/5.44)/D60 Snofighter(Yukon Zip,hubs,stubs,4.56)/14 Bolt (FF,BF shave, Discs, ARB,Artec Truss)/MTR 37X12.5/Corbeau XRS Baja & 5 point retractable harness/Hella Aux lights/tuffy console/killer32 sliders/Evil Twin bumpers, rack and roll cage/WARN 8000/TT Fabworks steering brace/dual batts/custom TC skid plate/ARB fridge
User avatar

Stuka
Site Admin
Posts: 11789
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 5:53 pm
Location: CA
Contact:

Re: 76 Wagoneer LS Engine Swap what Transfer Case???!

Post by Stuka »

If not an atlas, the NP241C will work, there is also the D300. The D300 may not be an option depending on what version of the transmission you are going with, the front output may interfere with the pan.
2017 JKU Rubicon
Pevious Jeeps: 1981 J10, 1975 Cherokee, 2008 JK, 2005 KJ, 1989 XJ
User avatar

DustinLangston
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:03 pm
Location: Cedar City Utah

Re: 76 Wagoneer LS Engine Swap what Transfer Case???!

Post by DustinLangston »

I did a Dana 300 on a 6L80E and it cleared the pan with the passenger side drop. Not sure if it would be similar to the 4L60E.
1982 Wagoneer Limited 5.3L Vortec 4L60E swap - finished/restored - sold - bought back - sold again
1979 Wagoneer 360 TH400 1339 QT - built into perfect daily driver - sold
1981 J10 Sportside Honcho - finished/restored - sold
1979 Cherokee Golden Eagle - 5.3L Vortec 6L80E swap - finished/restored - sold
1967 Super Wagoneer - sold, too much work
1978 J10 Golden Eagle - finished/restored - sold
1962 Rambler Classic Cross Country Wagon - current project, wife's daily driver - she'll never let me sell it

Topic author
76Wagon
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2019 9:39 pm

Re: 76 Wagoneer LS Engine Swap what Transfer Case???!

Post by 76Wagon »

Did the research and found that the only years that Chevy did a NP241c with passenger side drop for the 4l60e was 90-91 suburban 1500. Got one from a yard in WA shipping down to CA now. We will see when it gets here, may need to clock it to fit under the cross member. Going to deal with the angle shaft to the rear for now....the axel swap will have to be down the road. Thanks for the help!
1976 Wagoneer Custom | Currently undergoing a LS heart transplant: LM7 + 4L60e + TC TBD! | 31x10.5 BFG on 4" Shackle Flip with RS9000
User avatar

DustinLangston
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:03 pm
Location: Cedar City Utah

Re: 76 Wagoneer LS Engine Swap what Transfer Case???!

Post by DustinLangston »

76Wagon wrote: Sat Dec 14, 2019 8:32 am Did the research and found that the only years that Chevy did a NP241c with passenger side drop for the 4l60e was 90-91 suburban 1500. Got one from a yard in WA shipping down to CA now. We will see when it gets here, may need to clock it to fit under the cross member. Going to deal with the angle shaft to the rear for now....the axel swap will have to be down the road. Thanks for the help!
That transfer case has an electronic speedometer tailshaft. I am doing an LS swap into a 72 GMC Jimmy right now, if you would prefer a manual speedometer tailshaft let me know. I'd love to swap you because I need that tailshaft!
1982 Wagoneer Limited 5.3L Vortec 4L60E swap - finished/restored - sold - bought back - sold again
1979 Wagoneer 360 TH400 1339 QT - built into perfect daily driver - sold
1981 J10 Sportside Honcho - finished/restored - sold
1979 Cherokee Golden Eagle - 5.3L Vortec 6L80E swap - finished/restored - sold
1967 Super Wagoneer - sold, too much work
1978 J10 Golden Eagle - finished/restored - sold
1962 Rambler Classic Cross Country Wagon - current project, wife's daily driver - she'll never let me sell it

sonoraed
Vendor
Posts: 673
Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2013 7:38 am
Location: Sonora,Ca
Contact:

Re: 76 Wagoneer LS Engine Swap what Transfer Case???!

Post by sonoraed »

talked to the owner of advance adapters at SEMA last Nov he recommends D300 behind 700R4/4L60E for front driveline clearance I have a 700R4/Dana 20 behind LM7 and it's really tight

Eldog22
Posts: 47
Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2019 8:52 pm

Re: 76 Wagoneer LS Engine Swap what Transfer Case???!

Post by Eldog22 »

Hey cpfeifffer, can you tell me about your radiator? Or link?

cpfeifffer
Posts: 81
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2018 6:03 am

Re: 76 Wagoneer LS Engine Swap what Transfer Case???!

Post by cpfeifffer »

I got it from Novak: https://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/coo ... ators/fsj/.

Call and ask for Jeff. He is great to work with and will go over all your options based on your engine type.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
1978 Cherokee Chief
5.3L L33, 4L60E, Atlas II 5.0
Post Reply