Hurricane F134 Driveability

Hey All, I've been trying to find something speaking to this, but haven't had any luck.

My wife and I are restoring a '57 CJ5 and it has an F134 in it. We plan to build it to weekend drive around the area and light trails. I know the motor will be fine for the trails, but what's it like driving down the road with say 33's and stock T90/D18/D44? My area has a lot of 40-55 MPH speed limits and I'd like to be able to hit those.

I like the idea of running the original motor, but as of right now I'm leaning toward a 4.3 conversion just to be able to run the speed limit.

Any comments on the drivability would be helpful. Thanks!

 

Thanks, I've tried searching here and pirate 4X4, difficult to search for this particular subject.

Good to note, I do plan on upgrading to disc brakes.

 

I've operated standard Willys 134 engines onroad for many years.
I've racked up well over 200 K old Willys miles on crosscountry interstates and hiways.
I've encountered few problems travelling at highway speeds so long as...

1) You understand an early Willys does not handle so well at speeds over 65 MPG
2) your engine is in good condition
3) you have 5.38 gears plus an overdrive unit (yields 4.03 final drive ratio)
4) you run the Hurricane hard and "damned" hard at times
5) Your not bucking the SANTA ANNA winds !
6) On common interstate grades (Missouri Ozarks)) the top speed may be reduced to 55 mph at W.O.T.

 

running the speed limit is one thing....

steering and stopping are kinda more important..

 

With the 134, I predict you will be happier with a smaller diameter and width tire. You don't have a lot of extra HP to spend on moving large tires, the diameter will make your effective final drive ratio too tall for optimum performance, and the original 9" brakes are marginal even with the original tires. The factory steering will be very difficult to steer at low speed with very oversize tires.

 

Excellent information, thank you all. As with any build, every decision is fluid and my mind is changed daily on the direction I want to take.

 

You have 5.38 gears we're assuming?

I have put a lot of miles on an F-head on 33x12.50s. If your motor is in good health, you won't have an issue. As was stated, these things have the aerodynamics of a pizza box, so headwind and hills will be noticed. Don't expect more out of it than what it is, and you might just be pleasantly surprised.

As was also stated, a brake upgrade would be nice. 33s really push the limits of the 9" brakes. You'll get a leg workout. Your steering will be fairly adequate as long as all the parts and pivot points are in as good of shape as can be expected.

You're best bet is to come up with some sort of onboard air setup so you can air down for the trails and go back to running high pressures on the road.

 

Not positive on the gearing yet, it just made it to it's final home for deconstruction and working on removing everything in a particular order, just working on getting a framework for the build.

Current motor needs to be fully rebuilt. This is a full frame off restoration everything being pulled and rebuilt, brakes being upgraded to largest discs that I can.

Good call on the air setup.

 

You have to take a lot of willys out of your willys to make a decent freeway driver. Easiest mod tow bar.

 

Not looking to make a freeway driver, state routes in my area are all 45-55 and I'd rather not be that guy that holds everyone up.

I would have no problem cruising at a slower speed, but I get irritated when other people do it, so I'd rather not be the hypocrite

 

Not very fan of high....speed with a cj5 and a hurricane.
It can be funny 2 or 3 times, just to say I Did it.
Nicer to drive calmly on small roads and tracks.
It need to be concentrated on the driving, put on the brakes in advance, if wet it is like skiing.
Make a test and decide

 

By the way, don't ask a question like this on Pirate unless you like to be called names and have your sexual preference debated.

 

It really depends on the terrain where you actually live. The best advise I could give you is to borrow a Jeep with the same running gear as yours and take it for a drive. I live where a 134 cant make it up our hills and 9" brakes are not going to stop you going down the other side. Experiences in a flat state with no traffic will be totally different.

 

Anybody near Saratoga NY? lol

 

We drove from Deltona through deland to Daytona Beach for Jeep Beach with our F134. I had previously installed a tachometer which allowed me to monitor the engines RPM's. 3k RPM gave us approx 55 mph which was good enough for us.

Ours has a four speed, so I dont know how much of a difference that makes vs a three speed.

 

None.

Same final gear ratio. Maybe 100lb more iron. A little more drag from the heavier gears.

 

I have 31's and a T-98 Tranny. I have had the Jeep up to 65 before, but that was on flat, smooth road and I was right around 4000 rpm. I have 4:27 gears in mine. One of the issues you will find with the 134 is that if you install an overdrive, it just doesn't have anything left in the upper rpms to manage to provide enough torque to make the jeep move any faster. Yeah, your ratio may be geared more towards speed, but the engine just doesn't have the cojones to make up the difference. There was one guy in here about a year ago who posted his speed before the overdrive installation and the speed after it was done. Top end was exactly the same. The nice thing with overdrive is that your engine is not turning as fast at the same top end and you can do "gear-splitting".

Play around with it as it is and see what you come up with. You have options, but they are limited.

 

I don't have the 134 but . I have run 33's once . the one thing I hated was a limited turning circle . inside of tires would rub springs