Coming back to a Jeep.

[carlo muro]

360 Dodge in a CJ5?! Good lord I bet that thing is scary quick.

I've had a '74 for 20 years now. My only advice to you is to make sure you have the windshield secured if you plan on laying it down. I crossed over an overpass on a nice spring day and the wind got up under the windshield. It flew up and broke across the steering wheel. I'm still not sure how I kept from having a wreck.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Not sure on the "scary quick". Just went on a quick little test drive to make sure everything worked. The seller was with me so I didn't want to test it too hard. Didn't take much to have it pin you back in the seat. He's a young kid who ran sand dunes in it, so it's probably gonna have no problem come time to get up and go. Lots of changes to make to turn it into a trail rig. It's going to be a nice day trail rig for the most part, but being my only 4x4 it will have to double as a light overlanding vehicle too. I think you can use most any capable vehicle to take on a trip. You have to pack different, and camp different, but it can work.

 

[Somecallmetimm]

First off, thank you for your service and sacrifice.
Beautiful jeep with a lot of potential. The drive train should give you some good years of use and plenty of power upgrade options down the line. I ran full width Chevy axles on a 78 CJ5 and used stock hummer rims to get the wheel tucked back closer to stock location. It did the job well. The only hitch in your case would be the bolt pattern, although many companies offer press in or weld in center sections for hummer rims. I understand trail worthy fab does a decent job of that, but there are others. The other benefit is that military tires are generally pretty inexpensive in larger sizes, and plentiful.

IMG00162 by Tim, on Flickr

Good luck with your project!

 

[Deleted member 96197]

Nothing is stock. Entire drivetrain out of a 70s Dodge truck. No clutch either. It has the Torqueflite 727 3 speed auto. I won't be doing any hard core rock crawling, so the 2 to 1 D20 is fine, or will be if I can get it tucked up out of harms way. Don't know if I can clock it, and it's hanging way down low. It's got a real beefy crossmember going under it, but it will still hang me up of stuff. Not much breakover clearance here...



If I have to go with a different case, I'll explore better low range options.

It looks like that was already clocked, to reduced driveline angles (I bet when they did the spring over)... if you plan to keep the SOA, dropping the whole cross member might be the only way to level it out a bit and reduce that giant rock catcher you have now...
I'm building a '79 CJ7 now, I opted to keep the lift super mild, stay SUA, and just cut the fenders/body as necessary to ensure I have full articulation with the most comfortable driveline angles.

 

[Bobzdar]

Not sure on the "scary quick". Just went on a quick little test drive to make sure everything worked. The seller was with me so I didn't want to test it too hard. Didn't take much to have it pin you back in the seat. He's a young kid who ran sand dunes in it, so it's probably gonna have no problem come time to get up and go. Lots of changes to make to turn it into a trail rig. It's going to be a nice day trail rig for the most part, but being my only 4x4 it will have to double as a light overlanding vehicle too. I think you can use most any capable vehicle to take on a trip. You have to pack different, and camp different, but it can work.

There are so many storage racks and options for Jeeps that it won't be much of a problem. Issue for me was putting more people in it, too. I love these old Jeeps so looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

People are not a problem. Kids in college, wife hates going off road. Any adventures I go on it's just me and Brandy my German Shepherd service dog.

 

[Happy Joe]

Its good to see folks still reworking Old Iron!
Ran a heavily modified 5 for many moons then got tired of it trying to endo on steep climbs and descents ...
.. the short wheel base combined with a rear Detroit did whiten my knuckles a couple of times on the interstate during winter road trips.
Never really had room issues, when the gear reaches the top of the front seats (not headrest) it tells you that its time to consolidate (or build a trailer).
Still a great vehicle and lots of fun though.
Watching with interest...

Enjoy!

 

[Donkey_jaw]

Looks nice!!

This is my 73. Its a love/hate relationship.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

The short wheelbase is a pain in really steep terrain, but an asset on some tight trails. I don't plan on coming down off too many ledges like a rock crawler. Sucks when you are trying to climb up something, and both the front and rear axle has to climb at once. Winch time. I have seen snatch straps used to anchor a vehicle to the following vehicle to keep from going end over when forced to drop of a steep ledge. (or winching down) The Detroit locker would be a handful on snow and ice like said, but this one isn't gonna be a daily driver. It will mostly go on trails in the woods exploring on weekends, but it will get one real good adventure... taking it from Indiana to Prudhoe Bay with some buddies... That's gonna be interesting in a CJ5, but we're not going til 2019, and we sure ain't going in the dead of winter, so I have time to figure it out.

 

[Happy Joe]

The short wheelbase is a pain in really steep terrain, but an asset on some tight trails. I don't plan on coming down off too many ledges like a rock crawler....I have seen snatch straps used to anchor a vehicle to the following vehicle to keep from going end over when forced to drop of a steep ledge. (or winching down)

Yep! I got so that I just stepped on the gas when going downhill forward ... easy to say, but hard to do when your reflexes say mash the brake...

Sucks when you are trying to climb up something, and both the front and rear axle has to climb at once.

This happens, eventually, no mater what wheelbase you (or at least I) have.

It will mostly go on trails in the woods exploring on weekends, but it will get one real good adventure... taking it from Indiana to Prudhoe Bay with some buddies... That's gonna be interesting in a CJ5, but we're not going til 2019, and we sure ain't going in the dead of winter, so I have time to figure it out.

I would recommend a nice, soft, easy riding suspension; the bumps between the concrete slabs on some sections of highway can be a pain in the neck (literally)...
some passes in the Rockies can be slick at other times of the year than winter... they have been done many times though...

Sounds like a fun trip; and it will definitely be a fun project...

Enjoy!

 

[daddyusmaximus]

I would recommend a nice, soft, easy riding suspension; the bumps between the concrete slabs on some sections of highway can be a pain in the neck (literally)...

Been reading that YJ springs ride better than CJ springs.

 

[M35A2]

I like the Jeep and I like your plans.

Good luck with it, and thank you for your service.

 

[MOguy]

Not sure on the "scary quick". Just went on a quick little test drive to make sure everything worked. The seller was with me so I didn't want to test it too hard. Didn't take much to have it pin you back in the seat. He's a young kid who ran sand dunes in it, so it's probably gonna have no problem come time to get up and go. Lots of changes to make to turn it into a trail rig. It's going to be a nice day trail rig for the most part, but being my only 4x4 it will have to double as a light overlanding vehicle too. I think you can use most any capable vehicle to take on a trip. You have to pack different, and camp different, but it can work.

I have a TJ and packing can be a challenge if you let it. My first years in the Army I was in a light Infantry Unit so packing light is easy for me. I don't take any perishable food so no need for an ice chest, that save me allot of room. Sleeping bags take up space. I have a lighter wait sleeping bag and toss foot warms into it when it gets cold.

I had a battle buddy with a bad back. He bought a new Jeep and couldn't deal with ride. He bought a high dollar suspension seat and that took care of that problem for him. He also got an electric step that would retract close to the Jeep to help him get in. He also found it allot easier to deal with a synthetic rope/cable for his winch as opposed to a metal cable.

Another issue he faced was the spare tire. He was running 35s and because of his injuries he was unable to lift the tire to get on the spare rack. He was researching a rear spare tire rack that allowed the tire to fold down away from the jeep instead of to the side. He ended up medically retired before he bought one and I have since lost contact with him.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

I have similar problems as your buddy is sounds. I have already decided to get a suspension seat it will be the first real improvement.

http://corbeau.com/suspension-seats/baja-low-back.html

 

[MOguy]

I have similar problems as your buddy is sounds. I have already decided to get a suspension seat it will be the first real improvement.

http://corbeau.com/suspension-seats/baja-low-back.html

Looks good. Make sure you take of your back. My buddy opted to go the pain med route for treatment as opposed to working at it to make his back stronger.