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Early CJ5 driveablity??

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by mikec4193, Dec 19, 2014.

  1. Dec 19, 2014
    mikec4193

    mikec4193 1947 CJ2A

    Mechanicville ny
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    May 31, 2009
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    73
    Hi Everybody

    In July of 2014 I sold my all stock 1947 CJ2A and I was happy to see it go....It just wasn't very driver friendly on the highways that I travel to and from work. I have read where folks take early CJ5's and they swap the tubs out on them and drive them around. I guess the wheelbase difference is only like 1". I currently own a roached out 1965 CJ5 that I was using up until last winter for plowing my 250 foot driveway...so I can say from a driveway standpoint they seem to be similar...

    But are the stock 4 cylinder early CJ5's any better than the stock CJ2A's are? I bought all the sheetmetal last fall for a 1948 and even starting building another one with a brand new 2x4 frame that I built and when I got tired of buying different parts and pieces to the tune of $2000.00 and nothing ever fit as I was told by the folks selling them....So I am slowly selling off most of the stray parts...I still have the sheetmetal and a 2.5 motor with a 5 speed transmission (any takers out there???) ...

    So will a stock CJ5 running gear run along with the flow of traffic???....I love the looks of the flatfenders but I have seen a few early running CJ5's for under $2000.00....thinking about maybe swapping tubs....my wife even wants another Jeep...I am not sure what to do...

    Any thoughts from you early CJ5 guys???

    MikeC
     
  2. Dec 19, 2014
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    IMO you'd be best to forget a 4 cylinder CJ if you want to run with modern traffic. My :v6: barely has enough power to keep up.
     
  3. Dec 19, 2014
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    A stock v6 powered jeep with a 3 speed will run along at 70 mph pretty much all day long. I recommend changing to disk brakes and Saginaw steering and setting the caster to around 5* or so to be able to do this comfortably. I have driven mine on the interstate at 70-75 for around 150 miles like this with no problems.
     
  4. Dec 19, 2014
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
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    well that depends on what you want . out of it . all early cj's . have a learning curb . on how they handle on the highway . in stock form with a 4 cylinder its going to have tall gears . so that pretty much , limits your freeway speed . no problems around town . sounds to me . you need to find a better condition project vehicle . a cj with a V6 and 3.73 gears will handle what your asking better . drove mine as a daily driver for 20 years .
     
  5. Dec 20, 2014
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Well, the gears do two things for the F134 Jeeps - they provide better performance at low speeds, and they put you at peak engine power at the maximum speed of the Jeep. There have been plenty of previous discussions of this - change the axle gear ratios of a F134 CJ-5 and you don't gain any top speed ... instead you simply run out of power before you go any faster. The wind resistance is a mighty barrier.

    As Ron writes, it depends on what you want. Any of these Jeeps that has not been owned by an enthusiast for the last decades will have many issues, both related to lack of maintenance and possibly to ill-advised modifications. The V6 was offered specifically to meet the need you mentioned - make the Jeep highway capable. But the average highway speed has crept up since the 60s ... I find that the left lanes of major highways are always traveling way over the speed limit, at speeds of 70 or 75 mph typically. In the day, everybody I knew with a V6 CJ-5 drove it on the California freeways. Any of the intermediate Jeeps are also highway capable, and include the changes mentioned above ... bigger brakes, Saginaw steering, larger engine.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2014
  6. Dec 20, 2014
    scoutpilot

    scoutpilot Member

    Asheboro, NC
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    I must concur with the others. An early 5 with the six cylinder, bigger brakes and good steering. Now you WILL need seat belts.
     
  7. Dec 20, 2014
    army grunt

    army grunt Member

    Georga USA
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    Feb 21, 2012
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    I have been driving my Cj5 with v6 an 3 speed,,brakes an steering is rebuilt, but stock. Its all ok. Its just that you pay attention to what you got, going down the road. I really enjoy it.
     
  8. Dec 20, 2014
    djbutler

    djbutler Sponsor

    Rio Linda CA
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    I concur with the others about a V6 equipped CJ5, it is well freeway capable. I don't hesitate to take mine on the interstate but generally keep it in the right lane cruising a little over 60 MPH, as long as the lane isn't too badly torn up by the big rigs.
    I just don't feel comfortable pushing it over 65 MPH because with the short wheelbase combined with the high CG things could go wrong so quickly at those speeds. There is plenty of power to do it however.

    Don
     
  9. Dec 20, 2014
    Mike C

    Mike C Member

    Austin, TX
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    I have a '79 CJ-5 that sees some road duty. With 3.54 gears and an AMC 360, power is not the issue. Saginaw steering is leaps and bounds ahead of the early 5's, but it's a white knuckle drive for any extended trip at 70 mph. The extra 4" of wheel base don't change it's basic characteristics much. Now if 55 mph cruising is where you want to be, it's a different story.

    My jeep does have manual steering (for now!) so steering is still slow so a power saginaw setup would help any jeep on the road. But if you want extended freeway trips, something else probably a better choice.
     
  10. Dec 20, 2014
    gunner

    gunner Member

    Washington state...
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    If you endlessly want to tinker with a vehicle- old worn out jeeps (ie, bargain jeeps) are great for that purpose. Maybe that's what you really want out of a jeep.

    If you want to drive one, start with a decent platform. Tim mentioned the intermediates and something like that might be more suitable for you.

    SWB jeeps are notoriously unforgiving at freeway speeds. Very little room for error, though many guys make enough mods to really help out there.
     
  11. Dec 20, 2014
    mikec4193

    mikec4193 1947 CJ2A

    Mechanicville ny
    Joined:
    May 31, 2009
    Messages:
    73
    Hi Everybody...

    So I am thinking now I need to find a V6 powered CJ5 for a decent running gear...a larger braking system too would only make sense too...has anybody on here put a T5 into one of these chassis before?...or is there a 4 speed transmission that Jeep made that would bolt up the back of the V6?...I need to be able run at least 55 mph so has to not get run over by others that I share the roadways with on my trip to work with each day...

    It is a funny thing my wife wants to get another Jeep but she would not drive the CJ2A I had...to me from a size and driveablity standpoint an early CJ5 (4 cylinder) is just about the same animal really right???

    You guys are great on here...

    MikeC
     
  12. Dec 20, 2014
    dsrt4

    dsrt4 Member

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    I think the way to go for a daily driver with no mods is a intermediate cj5 or cj6. My bone stock 73 cj5 was really a great running and driving jeep. It still had the early cj5 look to it and it did fine with traffic and extended hwy use. Steering was to me light years ahead of my uncles earlier cj5.

    The only mod I did to it for the longest time was disc's off a later model 30. But even with the larger stock drums it was fine on the street. I only changed out for disc's because of the brake fade after wheeling in the mud .

    With the v8 it had power to spare and got relatively decent fuel mileage. The inline 6's have no problems either.

    It was a absolute screamer out of the hole being so light and having a decent running 304. I donno how many times I drove that thing to and from Champagne Ill to St louis to visit my fiance. Always sat at 65mph and still got over 20mph.
     
  13. Dec 20, 2014
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    Final drive on a 3 speed with 3.73 gears and 31" tall tires will allow you to run well over 70mph (I've had mine over 85 just to see what top speed is) so you don't need an overdrive 4 speed or a t5 which would probably be nearly impossible to fit in.
     
  14. Dec 21, 2014
    Mike C

    Mike C Member

    Austin, TX
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    Tons of options on swapping a 4 speed behind the V6. Google is your friend. And the Dana 18 allows bolt on overdrive, so a couple of different options there as well.
     
  15. Dec 21, 2014
    mikec4193

    mikec4193 1947 CJ2A

    Mechanicville ny
    Joined:
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    Holey family...85 mph in a Jeep...I bet that was ride for sure...


    So I am gonna have to find a V6 old school Jeep so I can plop my 1948 sheetmetal on it...then I can go out and drive to work not feel like I have a target on my backside...


    Can I assume there is a good deal of replacement parts for a Jeep V6 engine??


    How do they like the new fuel we all burn now a days??


    MikeC
     
  16. Dec 21, 2014
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    Mine runs fine on the fuel we have now. Parts are relatively easy to find.
    85 was just to run it up and then back down, it was really scary, a good gust of wind would have been bad!
     
  17. Dec 21, 2014
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    I've felt comfortable up to 60 before, but that's with a 4 cylinder so I didn't try to go faster than that.
     
  18. Dec 21, 2014
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I think my runs flat out at 72- 74 , but mostly drive at 60 - 65 on interstates .when I have to drive on them . I feel like snail getting passed by everything :D:D
     
  19. Dec 21, 2014
    homersdog

    homersdog Tulsa, Ok 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Tulsa, OK
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    I think the interstates and expressways are just to crowded and dangerous around here anymore to drive the jeep on. When it was my DD from '78 till the mid 90s I would regularly drive at 70 no problem. It will do 85 depending on the wind. But now I realize it is a deathtrap at that speed. These days if I have take it out of town I use the county roads or state highways, 60 is my self imposed limit. 3.73 ratios.
     
  20. Dec 21, 2014
    Chris Insull

    Chris Insull All roads lead me back to the beach... 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Chesapeake, VA.
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    Although capable of faster speeds with the OD and 4.88's, I try to stay at/ below 65. It's a CJ-5, what's the rush? Enjoy the journey...
     
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