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Transmission issue

Tiny
CJMATT
  • MEMBER
  • 1981 JEEP CJ7
  • 4.2L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 10,000 MILES
Purchased this vehicle non op. Did some repairs at mechanic shop got it running, but did not drive it cause brakes were out. At an idle it started to over heat. Changed water pump, thermostat and radiator, still over heating. Mechanic said it is the head needs a valve job. I said lets just do a complete rebuild engine and transmission. Done! Changed the tire, rims, interior, bumpers, lift and paint. Done! Looks great! Now the vehicle will not idle keeps turning off. Mechanic said needs a carburetor adjustment and timing is off. Done! Now idles perfect and cranks up right away. Finally jump in to go for a ride after waiting since February of 2017, and it will not go past first gear and the automatic shifter on the column feels like a knife cutting through butter. Called the transmission guy, he says well we put all together and had it on the rack went through all the gears just fine. Help!
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Monday, November 6th, 2017 AT 5:10 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
If the shifter is that loose, it sounds like the linkage is disconnected or in need of repair. Have they checked that? Actually, there is a tech here by the name of CJ. He lives and breaths Jeeps. Check the linkage first, and if it appears okay, I am sure CJ will be in touch really soon.
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Monday, November 6th, 2017 AT 5:31 PM
Tiny
CJMATT
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Correct, the linkage is damaged and being repaired but the the transmission not going into gears two and three is freaking me out.
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Monday, November 6th, 2017 AT 5:32 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,972 POSTS
Once the linkage is repaired and adjusted check it again. The upper lever moves a lot farther than the lower control lever. Even being just a bit out of adjustment can mean you cannot get into the other gears.
Also, verify that the linkage is correctly mounted to the frame parts. As both the engine and transmission were out it could be assembled wrong.
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Tuesday, November 7th, 2017 AT 12:24 AM
Tiny
CJMATT
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Okay, so I heard back from my mechanic today telling he is having a hard time finding the linkage parts saying they need to be an exact match. Any chance you can send me a link to anyone that may sell what I need?
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Wednesday, November 8th, 2017 AT 7:20 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,972 POSTS
For a Jeep of that vintage you are probably going to need to find a salvage yard or go to one of the aftermarket companies like Novak or Lokar and get one of the cable kits they sell. Eliminates a lot of extra parts.
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Wednesday, November 8th, 2017 AT 11:28 PM
Tiny
CJMATT
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Okay, I am going to lose my mind. I am looking online for a diagram of the actual linkage and bushings from under the steering column to where the links and bushings are and either I do not know what I am looking for or the impossible, it does not exist
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Thursday, November 9th, 2017 AT 11:08 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,972 POSTS
Take a look here, there are some pictures in there showing the stock column shift linkage. Personally I'd switch it to a cable system.

http://www.rudys-cjs.com/pictorial_of_work_done_examples/how_to_convert_a_manual_shift_cj_to_an_automatic_on_the_column
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Thursday, November 9th, 2017 AT 2:50 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
I will forward this link to CJ. If there are parts out there, he'll know where to find them.
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Monday, November 13th, 2017 AT 5:29 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
I have the whole '77 AMC Manual on disc (now on my computer), I also have a really worn '79 AMC 2" thick paper manual.

I seldom see automatic CJs, but I don't think quadratrac changed over the years.

Having an AMC manual is the cat's meow, even with an older one, much of the stuff didn't change. By '79 the fuse box changed not much else, not until they stuck a computer in 'em and a T-4 (4 spd) and T-5 (5 spd) tranny. But still most of the other stuff did not change.

I'm not Bill Gates by far,

If you really gotta have it.

If you can tell me how to do it (exactly) if it can be done.

I'll send you the '77 manual

Or at least the steering, auto tranny, quadratrac sections

They are PDF files

I'm a PDF (pretty dumb feller) when it comes to sending lots of pics or anything else in Yahoo email.

Let me know the plan, I'll try to comply.

Below are a few screenshots

The Medic
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Monday, November 13th, 2017 AT 7:16 PM

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