New Guy-CJ5 Project

[lts70]

I have a 1968 CJ-5 Jeep I built with my grandpa growing up. It has been sitting covered in my parents barn in Idaho for the last 8 years. Before that it was my summer high school driver. Each year when I go home for the 4th of July I get her out for a trip around the farm for the kids(I will Attach Pics)and that is as much driving as she sees each year. I just had my second boy three months ago and now my 4 person family doesn't fit in my 1970 Chevy truck anymore. So my thoughts are to bring the jeep home to Utah and put in a back seat to have for weekend cruises and camping trips. I would like to get it ready to take down to Moab Utah some day as well as I have never been.

The only things it needs is a new tranny(slips out of second, I think I found one in a wrecked 69 jeepster) and it needs new tires. Which leads me to my question for you guys. What size of tires should I get? I would not mind flipping the axle to get some more height to run a little larger tire but that is about as much modification as I want to do. If I don't need the hieght I would rather not lift it at all but if it will greatly improve the jeeps capabilities I would go for it. It just seems so top heavy already. I want to keep it cheap and simple. I would just run the original pizza cutters as I think they look cool but most of the trails down here in Utah involve some rock crawling and I would think some bigger tires would do better. The Jeep has the original Buick Dauntless V6, It even has the oil bath air cleaner. Every thing is original except the color and wheels & tires. Is there any thing that is a must change to do mild to medium trails in this jeep?

 

[BKCowGod]

Nice Jeep... welcome to ExPo!

As far as tires, I will admit I am unfamiliar with what was stock that long ago but I have always felt that 31" was a nice sweet spot size for the little 'uns...

 

[NoBrakesRacing]

Very nice Cj-5 and specially with the family history.

I've always liked a 2 1/2" lift on those with some 32/11.50 tires. A little more height with plenty more articulation, offset by the extra width of the tires for stability. Simple and looks very proportional on a cj. Lock-right rear and off you go.

A spring over lift would be too much for the short wheelbase and steering.

Good luck

Javier

 

[jeepmedic46]

Those smiles say it all. Welcome to the expo and very nice jeep.:smiley_drive:

 

[hugh]

nice jeep, I had a 76 and it was my first and with a body and spring lift it was to high, around 5 " plus 32,s and I tipped it over twice and the 2nd time seriously broke my left leg. So, my advice to you would be keep it low, maybe find some used axles from a later wide track cj they are about 5 " wider so more stable plus they are a direct bolt in. Buy or build a bit more roll over protection for your most precious possessions , your family, make a tube style door to keep your legs inside the jeep and be religous about wearing seat belts. As to tire size depending on what you are comfortable with you have many options. If a little sawzall work doesn,t scare you it,s easy to trim the rear wheel wells and cut the front fenders and you could prob fit 32 or even 33,s with maybe a 1" body lift. If you want to maintain the stock appearance maybe a small like 2" suspension lift and some 31 or 32,s. I had an 84 CJ7 after the 5 and with some trimming and modifying the inner front fenders with a 2 1/2 spring lift it ran 35 bfg,s.

 

[lts70]

Thanks for the compliments guys. Maybe I will run the size of tire I have on it now as they do not rub at all and I think they look good size wise. I don't even remember what size these last take off tires where. They are as bald as slicks now so I will defiantly have to get some replacements. They look like a 31" to me, what do you guys think they look like? I would like to find some better rims or at least spray these black as I don't like the cheep white spoke look. I wish I was not a state away form it, otherwise I would just look at what I have on it now. I like the idea of not lifting it at all, especially if it makes it more safe and stabile. I am looking on the local classifieds for a good used set of 31" tires as we speak.

I have a gallon of Hurculiner to put on the entire interior minus the dash. I just want to wait until I can find a replacement bed floor as it is wavy from hauling things in the past apparently. Does any one know where I can get a good original style bed floor patch panel?

Also the temp and Fuel gages that are built into the speedo do not work, I think when my Grandpa converted it to 12V it fried them as I believe they are 6volt gauges originally. Is there a way to convert the old gauges to 12V? I would like to get ride of the non matching gauges we put in the dash to compensate for losing the in-speedo gauges.

Thanks for any help or advice!!!!

 

[ox4mag]

Very nice Cj-5 and specially with the family history.

I've always liked a 2 1/2" lift on those with some 32/11.50 tires. A little more height with plenty more articulation, offset by the extra width of the tires for stability. Simple and looks very proportional on a cj. Lock-right rear and off you go.

A spring over lift would be too much for the short wheelbase and steering.

Good luck

Javier

I totally agree!

Welcome to ExPo and keep us posted.