My slower than crap CJ5 build.

People like photos, so I'll start out with one.



Got my new (to me) 1979 Jeep CJ5 today. This is my 3rd CJ5, but the last one I had was when Regan was in office. I decided to start my build thread on the same day I took delivery, but please do not expect a complete build in a short time. You see I'm poor. Well, OK, maybe not poor poor, but I'm living off my VA disability, so there's not a lot of cash raining down on me.


My starting point is rough not only due to the 38 year old vehicle, but the jurry rigged stuff done by others. Oh, I'll jurry rig stuff too, but there are some things I need to address. This thing was modified into a sand toy a couple of owners ago. She has a strong 360 under the hood with a 4 barrel, headers, a mild cam, and MSD ignition. Trans is a Torqueflite 727. Transfer case is supposed to be a Dana 20. Axles are from a full size Dodge truck, 4.88 geared and mounted SOA on 33x12.50s. They are Dana 44 in front, with lockouts, and 9.25 rear with a Detroit locker. They have 4 wheel discs brakes, but not power brakes. No top, no doors, no heater or defrost, rusty spots to fix, and the aforementioned jurry rigged stuff.


She will not be a daily driver. I will use her as a weekend wheeling vehicle, but I do want to make enough changes to her to be able to take her on longer trips. I have visions of Black Bear Pass, MOAB, Drummond Island MI, and even Alaska... in 2019. Most of the time she ventures off the beaten path will be right here in good old Indiana at the Badlands Off Road Park an hr south of me. I'm going to do her up as a copy of an M38A1, but in desert colors like the vehicles I drove in Iraq. She'll probably get a soft top one of these days, but the plastic racing seats are going away by spring. My spine is too mangled up for anything other than good suspension seats. She is not intended to be anything other than a fun vehicle to go exploring in, and I'm not a good welder or fabricator, so don't expect to see top notch workmanship.

 

First off, thank you for your service to our nation. Second, I'm new here, but that's a very awesome build. One piece at a time, little by little. I'm on a shoestring budget so tight if I had less I'd be riding a bicycle. Yours has some well chosen mods, but as you've said, the aforementioned "rigging" sounds like an immediate concern. I love the classic CJ5's and an M38 copy in desert colors would be awesome. I'm lookin forward to seeing how this build progresses.

 

Hey! You finally got it. You never mentioned the TF727 tranny. I understand that that is a very coveted Tranny in the Chrysler world for drag racing. I understand the back issue and necessity for a good ride. If you find that the bouncy seats are not enough then look for a couple sets of YJ springs and some YJ front shackles and hangers. You can use the 5leaf pack springs in the front, and you'll need to combine a 5leaf with a 4 leaf pack in the back to prevent axle wrap, but it sure is a lot softer ride than the CJ springs. Check this article out.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/16719/

 

The rear may have the YJ springs, they are 2.5" wide. Fronts are only 2" wide.





It also has torque arms to keep the rear from hopping.

 

Then the builder puts new spring pads on the axle to match the width of the CJ5 frame... but leaves on the factory Dodge truck spring pads, and runs the brake line under a u-bolt.

 

My CJ came with 2.5 in springs in the back and 2 in. in the front. I believe this is normal, but that spring in the back does look like a new YJ spring pack, judging by the number stamped on it. I think I see a bar going from your rear axle to the frame. That is an after market (home made) traction bar that is actually used to prevent axle wrap. I understand that they limit your flex which is why I researched and found the custom spring pack in the article I posted earlier, but give it a try and let me know how it does on the trail. Another side effect of the axles wrapping is broken Ujoints on acceleration. The pumpkin flexes up and stresses the driveshaft (hazards of SOA lift). The custom spring packs and the traction bar both eliminate the SOA mishaps. Love the pictures and the build. I'll watch this closely for sure.

 

Love to see the old classics saved. Love watching builds and keep the pictures coming!

 

Daddyusmaximus: I can't remember and I can't find the pictures that were posted, but didn't say that your Tcase hangs down very low? I just got my new tranny and Tcase installed and It also hangs down low. I found this Clocking ring that I'm gonna try out. You might be interested.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Clocking-Ri...393852?hash=item28233565bc:g:GDcAAOSwB09YCPmQ

 

Thanks but it won't work for me. I have the Dana 20 T-case that has the stupid Texas looking bolt pattern. It only hags low due to a home built crossmember put on by a PO. Probably to avoid buying new driveshafts after the spring over. I have found a factory skidplate for it and will try that first. If that fails, I'll build another custom crossmember. That won't happen till Aug or Sept as I want to drive it as is for the summer so I don't have to get new driveshafts just yet. I don't mind custom shafts, but I don't want to buy them just for this summer.

I start teardown in the fall. I've decided to go all out, and will be doing a coilover conversion to get the ultimate in soft ride along with a suspension seat. My mangled up spine and neck with thank me. This will also get me the bonus of great trail flex. So far my research points to using Ruff Stuff brackets, Artec Industries shock towers, and King coilovers. Gonna be a long busy 2 years...

 

My first mod ended up being a center console. I needed a place to keep my stuff, so I bolted in a 20mm ammo can. Hey, Jeeps and ammo cans go way back.

 

Here's a shot of my constant shadow Brandy and I last week on our first trip off roading in over a year. She is my 98 pound German Shepherd. (more like German Shedder) She is a service dog and is with me 24/7. The passenger seat will be replaced by a custom made platform for Brandy as she's too big to lay down on a bucket seat.

 

Brown Santa dropped off my new J B twin stick cable shifter today. If all goes well, that will go on within the next week.

 

All didn't go well... Got the shifter off of the transfercase but couldn't get the adapter for the new twin stick cable shifter mounted. There is a piece in the way I need to cut off, but my sawzall died. Will have to pick up a new one soon. Probably get a battery powered one.

 

Got the twin stick shifter mounted, but can't get the transfer case to move out of neutral in the front drive. Shifter is good, T-case is messed up somehow. Worked 2 weeks ago... ???

Took the front seat out, and built Brandy a temporary front seat dog bed. I'll have to re do it later when I get my suspension seat, and build the center console for the shifters, but it's good enough for this summer.

 

Did you get inside the T-case and remove the center link between the 2 shift rails?

 

Never opened it. PO may have. Didn't know there was a link between the shift rods.

 

Did you install the twin stick? If so you have to remove the interlock pill inside the case. They are labeled in the picture below as rods.

 

Haven't had much energy or money to put into the project, but I have done a few small things.

New front recovery points are off my old F250.


Put in a CB. Not many places to fit a full size radio in a CJ5. I welded a couple bars between the top runners on the roll cage. I used an old bracket from a military vehicle radio antenna.




Installed a Blue Sea charging port in the radio hole in the dash. Can't wait to get rid of the diamond plate.


Steps make it easier to get in and don't cost any ground clearance. Jerry cans go mounted on the side. They can't hit anything as the tires stick out with the full width axles.



Put the Hi-Lift on the cowl in front of the windshield that I'll probably never put down.