1969 NEED HELP IDENTIFYING ORIGINAL DRIVETRAIN DONOR

[RenegadeCJ]

Howdy FSJers!
I need some help from the experts on narrowing down the vehicle that my drivetrain swap came from. The PO performed the swap forever ago and I never got the backstory on it's true origin. The drivetrain is in an 81 CJ-7 and I've been happy with it for many years.

What I know:
1969 Buick V8 - 350 Dauntless - T18 4 speed transmission and Dana 20 T-Case

What I think:
Based on what I can gather this was originally in a Wagoneer or Gladiator. I'm not sure if that means it could also be in a JXXXX truck either.

The engine was time for a rebuild and I am trying to tackle several loose ends that have bugged me for many years.

Loose Ends:
1.Clutch Pilot Bearing - Can anyone help me with a part number for this? I've tried searching for both Jeep and Buick models, but am not having any consistent luck here.
2. Throw-Out Bearing - If anyone has a part number handy it would be great. I found a N1489 on the center force site, but am not sure about it.
3. Clutch fork Boot - I've never been able to find a replacement for this. Anyone know of a source or good solution for this. I live in Colorado where it's super dusty, so trying to protect it more.
4. Bellhousing Inspection Cover - I've never seen a replacement available for purchase. I rigged up a homemade one on my own but it's not the greatest. I'll attach a picture of what I'm working with.
5. Reverse Backup switch - My guess is that the original vehicle had a switch that mounted into the first port on the back of the tranny cover. Mine has always had a wooden dowel pin jammed in there. I would like to know how to mount a switch so that it actuates once the transmission is in reverse.

Hopefully there weren't too many questions listed above and someone will read the post and lend a hand. I'm a huge Jeep fan and one day hope to have a truck too!
Rock on!

[tgreese]

This is clearly Buick 350 V8 J-series. It does not matter whether it's from a Wagoneer or a J-truck. In this context, these parts are the same across the range. The long bell housing is meant to move the V8 engine forward and away from firewall interference, leaving the transmission and shifter in the same place. These vehicles were originally designed for the 230 OHC Kaiser inline 6, and this was how Jeep adapted the existing layout to V8 engines.

There is a '62-73 Jeep J-series factory parts catalog here: https://oljeep.com/edge_parts_man.html I would look up the factory part numbers for the parts you want and try to cross them online to the aftermarket listings. Suggest you download the whole thing and review it on your desktop. Chancey you'll connect with an owner that has that info readily at hand - maybe. You can try posting at IFSJA.org too, though getting an account there seems hit or miss. Maybe someone with one of these Jeeps has kept track of the parts they used.

Production of these Jeeps was never very high in the Kaiser era, and most of those have automatics; the Buick was a commodity engine for Jeep, and they only offered it for 3 years ('68-69-70) before the new owners (AMC) substituted their V8s. Not a lot of profit potential in the aftermarket producing parts that are unique to these vehicles. You may be better off trying to find a workaround - for the clutch boot I'd maybe try T.A. Performance or other Buick specialists - http://taperformance.com/ It's a Buick; maybe that's a source for your clutch boot and other parts. Unfortunately there's no other maker who paired the T-18 with these engines.

Regarding the backup light switch, looking in the hole, you should see the shift rail come forward to press on the switch when you move the shifter to reverse. It might be https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.ph ... 40&jsn=391 - this is a guess. The Jeep PN may cross to it at some point, or not. Not much incentive to match the old part numbers to the later ones.

[5jeepsaz]

This is clearly Buick 350 V8 J-series. It does not matter whether it's from a Wagoneer or a J-truck. In this context, these parts are the same across the range. The long bell housing is meant to move the V8 engine forward and away from firewall interference, leaving the transmission and shifter in the same place. These vehicles were originally designed for the 230 OHC Kaiser inline 6, and this was how Jeep adapted the existing layout to V8 engines.

There is a '62-73 Jeep J-series factory parts catalog here: https://oljeep.com/edge_parts_man.html I would look up the factory part numbers for the parts you want and try to cross them online to the aftermarket listings. Suggest you download the whole thing and review it on your desktop. Chancey you'll connect with an owner that has that info readily at hand - maybe. You can try posting at IFSJA.org too, though getting an account there seems hit or miss. Maybe someone with one of these Jeeps has kept track of the parts they used.

Production of these Jeeps was never very high in the Kaiser era, and most of those have automatics; the Buick was a commodity engine for Jeep, and they only offered it for 3 years ('68-69-70) before the new owners (AMC) substituted their V8s. Not a lot of profit potential in the aftermarket producing parts that are unique to these vehicles. You may be better off trying to find a workaround - for the clutch boot I'd maybe try T.A. Performance or other Buick specialists - http://taperformance.com/ It's a Buick; maybe that's a source for your clutch boot and other parts. Unfortunately there's no other maker who paired the T-18 with these engines.

Regarding the backup light switch, looking in the hole, you should see the shift rail come forward to press on the switch when you move the shifter to reverse. It might be https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.ph ... 40&jsn=391 - this is a guess. The Jeep PN may cross to it at some point, or not. Not much incentive to match the old part numbers to the later ones.

Great information. Thank you

[RenegadeCJ]

This is clearly Buick 350 V8 J-series. It does not matter whether it's from a Wagoneer or a J-truck. In this context, these parts are the same across the range. The long bell housing is meant to move the V8 engine forward and away from firewall interference, leaving the transmission and shifter in the same place. These vehicles were originally designed for the 230 OHC Kaiser inline 6, and this was how Jeep adapted the existing layout to V8 engines.

There is a '62-73 Jeep J-series factory parts catalog here: https://oljeep.com/edge_parts_man.html I would look up the factory part numbers for the parts you want and try to cross them online to the aftermarket listings. Suggest you download the whole thing and review it on your desktop. Chancey you'll connect with an owner that has that info readily at hand - maybe. You can try posting at IFSJA.org too, though getting an account there seems hit or miss. Maybe someone with one of these Jeeps has kept track of the parts they used.

Production of these Jeeps was never very high in the Kaiser era, and most of those have automatics; the Buick was a commodity engine for Jeep, and they only offered it for 3 years ('68-69-70) before the new owners (AMC) substituted their V8s. Not a lot of profit potential in the aftermarket producing parts that are unique to these vehicles. You may be better off trying to find a workaround - for the clutch boot I'd maybe try T.A. Performance or other Buick specialists - http://taperformance.com/ It's a Buick; maybe that's a source for your clutch boot and other parts. Unfortunately there's no other maker who paired the T-18 with these engines.

Regarding the backup light switch, looking in the hole, you should see the shift rail come forward to press on the switch when you move the shifter to reverse. It might be https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.ph ... 40&jsn=391 - this is a guess. The Jeep PN may cross to it at some point, or not. Not much incentive to match the old part numbers to the later ones.

Thanks so much for this information TGREESE. I'll study the catalog and see what I can come with. You are correct about the shifter rail actuating about a half an inch inside the first hole where the dowel was used. I have a similar switch that you linked that I need to design something around I'm guessing. If I end up solving this I'll post an update to some of my questions just in case another member is tackling some similar issues as me.