1979 Golden Eagle

I recently bought a 79 golden eagle and noticed it had lockout hubs. Later i find the front wheels dont pull . So I'm getting the transfer case rebuilt but unsure if I can continue using the aftermarket hubs ? What if I leave them locked all time?

 

I would NOT recommend locking the front hubs. That engages the 4 wheel drive to that axle. 4 wheel drive is used in slippery conditions ONLY. On dry pavement you risk FUBARing your entire driveline. I would not suggest you leaving the Jeep in constant 4WD....

 

Have you verified the transfer case is the problem? Which T-case do you have? The quardratrac can do some quirky things being it is a limited slip transfer case, especially if a PO put lockouts on the front. If this is the case then they should stay locked or look for original drive flanges. The q-trac can be identified by both axles having an offset differential. If not, you most likely have a Dana 20 which is plenty strong for a small jeep. I would have doubts a 20 would give you no fwd unless there are pcs floating in the case. Does it have 2 shifters for the T case? These are aftermarket and can sometimes be problematic. The problem could be as simple as a bad hub. First step would be identifying the parts and pcs you have and post some pics here. Novak-adapt.com is also an excellent resource for identifying what you have in there. My best advice for owning a CJ is to learn all the parts and pcs and be prepared for regular maintenance and repairs. They are very simple machines that changed little over the years. The transmission, T-case and axles can all be serviced/ rebuilt with mostly basic garage tools.