Need Assistance 84 Jeep CJ7 bell housing/clutch

WViereck

Greetings - I am working on rebuilding 1984 Jeep CJ7 that came with an AMC 4 cyl engine and Dana 300 transfer case. The bell housing and transmission were missing when I got it. I purchased a rebuild Borg Warner T4 (4 WD version) and am trying to mate it with the engine and need to know the correct bell housing, clutch fork and through-out bearing. I have a set now but when I install the bell housing with the clutch slave cylinder not yet installed (fork all the way released) the throughput bearing still compresses the clutch spring so the clutch will not engage. What am I doing wrong or what parts do I need? Walter V - Kingston Washington

Austin-At-Novak

Hi Walter,

For your setup - 1984 CJ-7 with the AMC 2.5L four-cylinder and a Borg-Warner T4 4x4 - here’s likely the correct factory parts combination and what might be causing the issue you’re seeing:

Bellhousing: Jeep PN 52000066
Clutch Fork: PN J5361620
Throwout Bearing: PN 53000175 or J5361614? (not sure)
T4 Input Bearing Retainer: PN 8134013

I've heard mixing a six-cylinder bellhousing with a four-cylinder clutch setup can throw off stack height, causing the issue you're experiencing.

Also there were a couple different retainer heights over the years, and the wrong one can change how far the bearing sits forward. Make sure your T4 has the correct CJ version.

That combination of bellhousing, throwout bearing, and bearing retainer should get your clutch working. If you still can’t get any free play between the bearing and clutch fingers at rest, an adjustable throwout bearing or adjustable pivot ball might help dial it in.

Maybe someone else here can chime in too if they’ve run into this exact combo - but that’s where I’d start.