Coming back to a Jeep.

daddyusmaximus

daddyusmaximus

Explorer
He people. I'm going to be back in a good old Jeep CJ5. I wonder how many of these old warriors are still going out there. I've had 2 Jeeps before, both CJ5s, and both prior to the internet. After years in big trucks, I'm coming home to a CJ5. I've got money down on a 1979 that I will take delivery of in Jan.

This Jeep was built as a sand toy, and I want to run trails with it, and take it on camping trips (overlanding) so I've got many changes to make, but that's half the fun. Being a "real" Jeep, and not a "soccer mom grocery getter", it will also make a perfect summer no-top no-doors cruising vehicle. It is powered by a 1978~ish Dodge truck driveline, a 360 with a 727 trans and D20 T-case. Axles are D44 front and Chrysler 9.25 rear with 4.88 gears and 4 wheel disc brakes. The rear has a Detroit locker. It also has almost no rust.

I have some mangled up discs in my back and neck, and a bad right hip. I walk with a cane, so a suspension seat is the first thing, and a possible coilover setup in the future to soften out the ride in such a short bouncy leaf sprung vehicle. I love the CJ5s, but was much younger when I had my first two. Thinking pretty strongly that I will "Army up" the Jeep in a M38A1 style. Partly as a tribute to all my brothers and sisters who have served before, with, and after me, but also because I just never got over thinking that military vehicles are cool as I aged. Other choice is my standard black truck with red steelies.

Looking forward to being back on expo, reading, learning, and sharing. Well, here she is as I will get her.





There will be a build thread. It will be a long drawn out one too, expensive hobbies and VA disability don't go well together. I will also ask for advice along the way. I have found some Jeep forums as well. All minor things for now, until about this time next year when I'll really tear into her in the garage over the winter. I've got 2.5 years.

Little background... I destroyed my overland built Super Duty last Dec when I had a seizure coming home from a VA appointment. I have been without a 4x4 since and won't get this one for 2 months yet. It's killing me. By the way, the carcass of my truck was bought by an expo member in NJ, so the drivetrain should be living on in his truck by now, or soon. Anyway, I'm chomping at the bit, to get her ready for a bucket list trip to Alaska by summer 2019 with a small group, and still be able to do some shorter weekend trips as I go. It will probably be the only long (out of the country) trip I'll ever make in it, unless I can get up to Newfoundland again. Now there is a beautiful place.
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Yahoo... Indiana to Prudhoe Bay in a CJ5!
 
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Comanche Scott

Comanche Scott

Expedition Leader
Welcome back!

Nice CJ! :beer:

Soft springs with a military wrap, bump stops (hydraulic, or polyurethane) a good set of tuneable shocks, along with 35" tires on 15" beadlock rims aired down, will help a lot with the jarring part of the ride. The second part that tweaks a back is the unsupported swaying back and forth. So a form fitting seat with good side bolstering, and an appropriate harness would be good investments as well.
If it was built for sand, the transfer case may be stock. If so a 4:1 Teralow kit in a Dana 300 would be something else that makes life easier on the trail. Won't need the clutch as much with low crawly type gears, so with a dead pedal you can use both legs to support your torso.
 
daddyusmaximus

daddyusmaximus

Explorer
Comanche Scott said:
Welcome back!

Nice CJ! :beer:


If it was built for sand, the transfer case may be stock. If so a 4:1 Teralow kit in a Dana 300 would be something else that makes life easier on the trail. Won't need the clutch as much with low crawly type gears, so with a dead pedal you can use both legs to support your torso.
Click to expand...


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.
 
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daddyusmaximus

daddyusmaximus

Explorer
^^^ very similar to my first CJ, a '69. Love the low back seats. Mine had no windshield or roll bar. The top of the steering wheel was the highest thing on it. Just duck down to go under branches and keep on trucking...
 
moabian

moabian

Active member
Congrats on the CJ. My first Jeep was a Scrambler that I bought new in 1982 and sold in 1996. After owning a couple of the newer Jeeps (most recently a '13 JKUR), I discovered they just aren't as much fun as a CJ. Thankfully, I was able to track down my ol' CJ8 and convince the guy to whom I sold it that he should let me have it back. He put less than 9000 miles on it in 20 years. When I got it back last February, it still had the same tires on it that it wore when I sold it.
 
A

AgentOrange76

Adventurer
daddyusmaximus said:
^^^ very similar to my first CJ, a '69. Love the low back seats. Mine had no windshield or roll bar. The top of the steering wheel was the highest thing on it. Just duck down to go under branches and keep on trucking...
Click to expand...

Thanks! Ours is a '76 and bone stock. We yank the top and the windshield goes down every summer. People like the thing, can't go anywhere without people oogling it and asking questions. Had a guy at a gas station tell us it was sweet, then told us we could probably buy a windshield for it. Told him we already had one, we were just keeping on the hood til we got time to put it on :) :) :) He was like, oh, that's cool.... My buddy was telling me a story about his dad back when he was in the Army, he was bombing around in an old willys with no rollbar and rolled it. it didn't do anything but mangle up the steering wheel, like you said it was the highest part. Him and his budsflipped it back over and beat the steering wheel back in place and pretended it never happened.....

moabian said:
Congrats on the CJ. My first Jeep was a Scrambler that I bought new in 1982 and sold in 1996. After owning a couple of the newer Jeeps (most recently a '13 JKUR), I discovered they just aren't as much fun as a CJ. Thankfully, I was able to track down my ol' CJ8 and convince the guy to whom I sold it that he should let me have it back. He put less than 9000 miles on it in 20 years. When I got it back last February, it still had the same tires on it that it wore when I sold it.
Click to expand...

I love this story every time I hear it. I love my Jeep, and I know a 3 speed wouldn't like the 4 hour commute, but man CJs are just so much fun......
 
B

Bobzdar

Observer
That's easily changed with different backspacing on the rims. I would hate overlanding with wheels that far out as you'll be covering the sides and top of your jeep with mud/dirt and have to stop to clean your windows all the time. Might be fine in the sand, but I wouldn't do it on any kind of a long trip on unimproved roads or trails as it'd be a pita to have to clean it up all the time to see - especially if you run a soft top. Forget about going with no top unless you want to get completely covered. I love the cj5's if you can deal with the size. I had a '74 cj5 with 304/3 speed and they are great off road as they fit places other Jeeps can't. However, I ended up selling it as there was no way to realistically put the kids in it.
 
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