Safe cruising speed for Dauntless

In my '66 CJ5 I have the original Dauntless and a T14, both allegedly have appx 45k miles on them. 31" tires and stock axle gearing as far as I know. I have no tachometer and I don't want to hurt the engine.

What cruising speed were these things designed for, and what is too much? It is smooth as silk at 55mph, but I haven't really pushed it faster because I can't hear the engine due to wind/softtop noise so I don't know if it's running too hard/fast for it's liking.

While I'm asking; does the Dauntless like to be short shifted and lugged or run out further in each gear? My "approximate speedometer" says I shift around 10mph, 20mph, and 35mph.

 

No need to wind it out. When I had my 3-speed CJs, I typically would only shift into 1st at a full stop. It won't hurt the engine to shift at a lower speed, as long as you are happy with the slower acceleration. Low speed shifts and a light throttle foot works fine ... modern cars are so powerful that folks tend to rocket from stoplight to stoplight, in my experience. There's no need to do that in your Jeep.

Re cruising speed, if you engine is healthy, you won't do any harm by traveling a little faster. With to optional 4.88s and 31s, you will be turning under 3500 RPM at 65, which is fine for the engine will sounds like it's wound out. With the standard 3.73 axle ratio, you will be turning under 2700 RPM.

 

I'll have to check on the axle ratios. Is there any easy way to find out?

The T14 transmission was swapped in twenty years ago.

 

1) Tag under the cover bolt 2) Rotate driveshaft and count turns (can be inaccurate) 3) Ring/pinion tooth count stamped into edge of ring gear.

 

Yep, back to the gearing but the short answer is it will likely cruise way faster than you want to drive it. Mine has the optional 4.88's and an OD and does just fine at 70 mph-but everything else really needs to be up to snuff to do that. And I don't know if I would want to do that with a steel hardtop.

 

3.73s in my V6 CJ, T14. I cruise on the freeway at 65. Cruises just fine.

 

Great information! I just got my Jeep, I was wondering the exact same thing

 

These things intrigue me-- under $50; easy installation. Do a 'net search if interested.

My CJ5 V-6 225 odd-fire with a 4-spd and overdrive w/4.88 axles and 33" rubber is okay at 65 mph plus. I was going to say runs comfortable at the plus side of 65mph, but I'm not for long in a short & narrow 1967 CJ5.

 

Thanks for all the replies, guys. My engine is all original so I'll just let it loaf along at 55mph where it likes to be.

 

I'm sure the almighty Jeep will let you know as to what's safe or not. To me, it depends a lot on the other stuff... like road conditions, quality of the pavement, side wind, front end slop (if any), tires, steering, wheel balance and nervous passengers. Feeling safe is a very personal thing as well - my daughter races mountain bikes downhill... so safe for her is on a whole different level than for me.

I have the F134 - so its pretty safe even when its maxed out but I have to say - I was going a slight downhill with a tail wind and I hit 60 mph. The pavement was good and it was sort of OK. if the pavement was cracked and heaved then it would have been waaaaay too fast.

 

One evening I got mine up to 70 for about 60 seconds just to see how it felt. With the amount of slop in my steering it was a pretty intense experience. Both hands on the wheel and paying full attention to everything.

 

Yeah, one day I'll do something to tighten up the steering. Right after I paint the frame, fix the body rust, etc. Like I tell my wife when she comes up with another home improvement, "It's on the list."

 

You must race mountain bikes downhill too!

 

If you wondered where my "mountain bike" comment came from it was regarding one's comfort level in PierreDneper post #12. Keep the rubber down! --Out

 

Boy do I fell like the old guy then, I just go to 50mph, lol!
(Don't want to miss the scenery...)