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Dana 300 - No 2wd but 4Hi and 4lo are fine

C

colocj7

New member
City
Colorado Springs
State
CO
1981 CJ8, 258, T4, Dana 300. Went out yesterday to drive the 8 and noticed I get no gears to engage. I thought clutch at first but it is only a year old and all the linkage seems to move freely, and pressure feels good. As a hunch I put transfer case into 4Hi and all gears work fine, same with 4Low. So something is wrong inside the 300. I am fairly mechanically inclined but have never opened a T-case. Local transmission shops tell me they are happy to look but that parts are non-existent and they would be done at that point. I see rebuild kits but that is mostly seals and bearings.

What are your thoughts on what this could be? Parts sources, other than junkyards? I have checked those without luck. I am in Colorado Springs and the two Jeep specific salvage yards (FNJeep, and Republic don't have any 300's.

Thanks in advance for any input.


cj8.jpg
 
So do you have a single gear shifter or is a twin stick. I’ve had mine get a little hard to shift sometimes. I also was able to rebuild mine just a few years ago. Most parts should be available, but not all. I installed a 4:1 gear kit, so parts left over I saved.
 
Belizeit said:
So do you have a single gear shifter or is a twin stick. I’ve had mine get a little hard to shift sometimes. I also was able to rebuild mine just a few years ago. Most parts should be available, but not all. I installed a 4:1 gear kit, so parts left over I saved.
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No twin stick, still single. May have to go that route.
 
If you have an open rear diff and 2 piece axles, one of your hubs could be stripped.
 
barrys said:
If you have an open rear diff and 2 piece axles, one of your hubs could be stripped.
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Rear is Dana 44. But that is a good thought I could see that occurring. Also rear drive shaft does not spin. So it appears 300 is not engaging.
 
Anyone who has done a 4:1 conversion on their Dana 300 will have an almost complete set of internals left over. I still have most of those pieces in a box. I’d say that if you can figure out what you need that it’ll be pretty easy to source here.
Before you go tearing into your transfer case, completely remove the shifter boot and make sure that the boot isn’t keeping you from getting into 2wd. Also, make sure that the shifter isn’t hitting the sheet metal underneath the boot, keeping it from going into 2wd.
 
John N said:
Anyone who has done a 4:1 conversion on their Dana 300 will have an almost complete set of internals left over. I still have most of those pieces in a box. I’d say that if you can figure out what you need that it’ll be pretty easy to source here.
Before you go tearing into your transfer case, completely remove the shifter boot and make sure that the boot isn’t keeping you from getting into 2wd. Also, make sure that the shifter isn’t hitting the sheet metal underneath the boot, keeping it from going into 2wd.
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OK, I appreciate that. That’s a very good idea. The weird thing is I was driving it in 2wd for the past two or three weeks. Turned it off went inside for 30 minutes came back outside and thats when my problem started. Nothing dramatic, no offloading, no bumps, just street driving and it gave up the ghost. weird right
 
When you are in 4HI does the rear drive shaft spin if all 4 wheels are off the ground? Or, unlock the front hubs, does the jeep move?

If no, you have a transfer case internal issue.

If yes, you have a shift issue. Shift issue could be (as john said) the shifter slipped out of gear and you are not getting enough throw to fully engage 2HI.
 
ag4ever said:
When you are in 4HI does the rear drive shaft spin if all 4 wheels are off the ground? Or, unlock the front hubs, does the jeep move?

If no, you have a transfer case internal issue.

If yes, you have a shift issue. Shift issue could be (as john said) the shifter slipped out of gear and you are not getting enough throw to fully engage 2HI.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply,

In 4Hi and 4lo both drive shafts spin. In 2Hi - No movement on rear drive shaft.
 
Check your transmission mount is still good and that it's not let the driveline sag where the tcase shifter can't fully engage/is hitting the tub.
 
bigwalton said:
Check your transmission mount is still good and that it's not let the driveline sag where the tcase shifter can't fully engage/is hitting the tub.
Click to expand...
Or, pull the cover plate for the trans tunnel, then try to shift into 2HI.

I am 99.99% certain you are not getting full engagement of the shifter.
 
ag4ever said:
Or, pull the cover plate for the trans tunnel, then try to shift into 2HI.

I am 99.99% certain you are not getting full engagement of the shifter.
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Yep, that’s my plan tomorrow morning. I’ll let you know.
 
If you rule out the shifter assembly, you could always remove the bottom inspection cover on the Dana 300 and take a peak inside before removing the transfer case.
 
ag4ever said:
Or, pull the cover plate for the trans tunnel, then try to shift into 2HI.

I am 99.99% certain you are not getting full engagement of the shifter.
Click to expand...
You are absolutely correct. See update on top. Thanks for your help.

colocj7 said:
1981 CJ8, 258, T4, Dana 300. Went out yesterday to drive the 8 and noticed I get no gears to engage. I thought clutch at first but it is only a year old and all the linkage seems to move freely, and pressure feels good. As a hunch I put transfer case into 4Hi and all gears work fine, same with 4Low. So something is wrong inside the 300. I am fairly mechanically inclined but have never opened a T-case. Local transmission shops tell me they are happy to look but that parts are non-existent and they would be done at that point. I see rebuild kits but that is mostly seals and bearings.

What are your thoughts on what this could be? Parts sources, other than junkyards? I have checked those without luck. I am in Colorado Springs and the two Jeep specific salvage yards (FNJeep, and Republic don't have any 300's.

Thanks in advance for any input.


View attachment 118481
Click to expand...
 
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