Drivability

People here have given you lots of advice, it's all valid.
It's sort of subject to each person, like you said, you have only ridden in yours, so nothing to compare it to..
I run about 20 psi normally on the road with my 31x10.50 tires. I don't think you mentioned what you're running for tires.

 

I have a 2012 ford focus that has everything but an automatic transmission..... it handles great, is very quiet to drive and has cold a/c and a great stereo. that is what i drive to work and when i need to get somewhere quick or multi task.
but for a sunny day....the smell of the fresh air, the wind in your face (i like the windshield down) and the knowledge that you are driving a piece of history...something that is as American as it gets....is something that i look forward to.
I have manual brakes, manual steering and i dont offroad, (sorry...its a restoration piece) and no planst to change any of that. i love the simplicity of it. mechanically .. i would love the speed of a dauntless and an o/d....but ill settle for just an o/d so i can drive it further and more often!
let me put it into perspective....
when my 1965 cj5a was built, people only had house phones....1 phone per house and it had a cord! a computer was something from a sci-fi movie, and if you wanted to talk to someone about business...you had lunch together...not shot off an email. People ate supper together around the dinner table and went to church on sunday. most things were closed on sunday so you spent time with family and friends. people knew their neighbors and trusted them. kids would go outside and play unsupervised ...with toys..not stay indoor and play with a nintendo. when everyone was proud of their country..maybe not the politicians...but the flag was waved with pride... it was a slower, much more sane world. and every time i sit behind the wheel of my jeep....i am taken back to that time. so i guess to me... MY jeep is a time machine!

 

As mentioned previously, my jeep handled just like yours before I made these modifications; Dana 30 front, disc brakes, sawginaw power steering, 2.5 in lift, rancho rs9000 adjustable shocks, and tires inflated to 25 psi. I was going down the freeway the other day and was thinking how well my jeep tracked compared to before(bone stock). I was streering with just an index finger and thumb. Even with the softer leaf springs and rs 9000's set to soft, I still prefer the middle lane on the freeway as you will always bounce around in a little jeep!

 

"when my 1965 cj5a was built, people only had house phones....1 phone per house and it had a cord!"

When my '57 was built our phones still had a crank you had to turn, and it was a party-line shared with several neighbors. The original electronic social network! My grandpa's house didn't even get electricity until 1965.

And the '57 still steers just fine with all stock equipment.

We kids used to fight for a place to sit riding on the open tailgate with our feet dangling. Not today.

"the smell of the fresh air, the wind in your face (i like the windshield down) and the knowledge that you are driving a piece of history"

Right on!!

 

My only running vehicle is a 100% Stock Optional 1962 CJ-3B.
In fact my other 2 vehicles are also CJ-3's that are in various stages of rebuild.
One is a 100% Trans Vintage 3B the other is a 100% Trans Model CJ.
See: http://z4.invisionfree.com/CJ3B_Bulletin_Board/index.php?showtopic=2157&st=0&

I've certainly had other vehicles yet I have gone back to the early jeeps exclusively..
For me it amounts to self reliance in a world where transport is a must.
You get used to the ECJ's handling over time.

I enjoy driving primative roads and off road yet most of my driving is on road, including ample interstate driving.
Lately I've been wondering....
What's the best handling early CJ for the Hiway ?
The short answer...
Probably the stock standard 1972-1975 CJ-6.
Or how about a modified CJ-6 built from various CJ components...
~ 101 wheelbase CJ-6
~ insulated half or full cab
~ a rated suspension
~ Saginaw steering
~ D30 front axle
~ D-225 V-6 / T15 or (T18 much better off road)
~ Dana 20 (Tera Low for off road)
~ 4.09 final drive ratio
~ tall narrow tires like 7.50 x 16 or 215-85-16.

 

"Are all the small wheelbase jeeps hard to handle? Maybe I need to start over but I already replace knuckles and most of the front end. Any thoughts?"

The short answer is no. Go drive a Suzuki Samurai. I had one for 11 years and often drove it over 80 mph and it drove much better than my current XTerra. The wheel base does make it more dangerous in a wreck but as far as driving if all the components are sound and of modern construction the Jeep should drive fine.

I am curious though - why do people keep listing the Dana 30 as an improvement for driving experience. I realize it is a good axle but unless that is just a reference to disc brakes I don't understand.

 

Slightly wider track for better stability and turning radius. No more leaking knuckles. Ball joints instead of king pin bearings.

 

Hello, Olyeler, are you there?

 

Awesome.

 

I loaned my 1970 cj5 to someone and they said that they would never drive it again, it was 10 years old.
The steering was looooooooose. riding the wide ruts in the pavement made it move from side to side in the lane, left at the bottom of the rut then the right at the bottom of the rut. No problem for me, I was used to it. All you had to do was move the steering wheel from about 2 o'clock to 10 o'clock to catch it.
Now with a new steering box, same style, the steering is not a problem at all.
Still rides stiff. 1988 vintage Ranch 2.5" lift spring, are stiiiiiifffffff.
Been clocked at 80 on the freeway, 33" tires, OD, V6 and 4.88s.