Well, armed with all this new info from you guys, I will see what happens. Maybe bring some ether with me to to start it up. I checked the oil and it didn't look half bad. The coolant is up to the top still and green. He told me tonight that it has been sitting for more like two years. I've been charging a battery at work overnight to take with me. It only has 550 CCA's but just in case I will hook up the trooper to it via jumper cables when I try to start the beast. I am really stoked now. I am more interested to find out exactly what year this thing is. Now that you have some input invested in it, you would probably like to know too. Monday is the day. Thanks again. Ryan

Hey, I finally got the chance to go start this rig up and beleive it or not, it only took a little starting fluid and

some gas in the carb throat and it started like a daily driver! As a side note, this is not a late 70's Wagoneer like I thought. It is in fact a 1988. It has the 2wd-4wd little switch on the dash that sounds like it is vaccuum activated. To refresh, it was parked because the local

tranny shop said the transfer case was shot. Now when I put it into gear, it just felt like it was in neutral and didn't move or idle lower.It rolls and brakes work and everything

seems normal except the drive train. I am assuming this is why they took it to the shop and finally parked it. Are we

talking about the same problem as you all mentioned before:the transfer case chain broken? Anyhow, thank you for your recent answers and any current advice on it would be appreciated. Ryan <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I wonder if it is possible for that little gem to be locked into neutral? Somebody here will be familiar with that transfer case...I am not.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

no the chain would only effect 4wd. find the part that does the actuaing for 4wheel to 2wheel and pull it off and see if it still actuates.

the q-trac is an all wheel drive 'case. the problem could be as simple as a worn out drive plate up front. that happened to me once. the jeep wouldn't move. many other possibilities too.

I think the first order of business is to get it home and get the thing put in your name. If it's an easy fix and you get it going at the house of the guy giving it to you, he may have second thoughts on "giving" it to you. Sounds like you came aross a good deal. I would start with looking at the simple things first. Just because someone at a tranny shop said the t-case is wasted doesn't mean it's true, he just might not be fully trained on that type of set-up. Good luck.

"the q-trac is an all wheel drive 'case. the problem could be as simple as a worn out drive plate up front. that happened to me once. the jeep wouldn't move. many other possibilities too."

Are you refering to the drive plate that mates the transmission to the engine or are you refering to something within the transfer case? While running and in gear, I hear no strange sounds or no change in idle when shifted from park to drive or reverse. Also, when I had the thing running, I was switching the 2wd-4wd nob back and forth and I could hear the vaccuum line behind the switch tranfering vaccuum. Would that indicate anything to you?

Regarding the comment on getting that thing home before the owner decides that he might keep it: Yes, I will get on that. That thought crossed my mind too.Fortunately, it is sitting at a rental house of his, not his own house. Well, I guess I should look into it a little bit deeper and spend some time under the thing to see if it is a simple fix.

One more question; Say I have it in gear and it is sitting there idling, what if I got under it and saw the drive shaft extending from the transmission not moving, would that rule out a bad transfer case? So many questions. All advice is welcome and appreciated. You guys have been a great help so far. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Ryan

the drive plates(drive flanges) are basically the front hubs in the front axle. that t-case(q-trac) transfers power between the front and rear axles. if you have a problem, like a bad hub(drive plate) or broken axle, all your power is going to go there even if it's in the front. if there is a driveline spinning while your in gear, the t-case is probably ok. are you sure the tranny is ok, if it's low on atf, it won't move.

That makes sense to me. Fine explanation. Now I can check it out more with a little more insight. By the way, I am going to tow it about 4 miles to my parents house(probably just strap tow it with the trooper. If I can roll freely when towed, is there any harm being done to the drive train being towed 4 miles....assuming I put it in neutral and go? Ryan

If it rolls free 4 miles shouldn't hurt it. You say it runs? let it idle in neutural and that will keep the transmission lubed assuming it has fluid. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />