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My New 1959/86 Jeep Cj

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Maddevill, Oct 7, 2019.

  1. Oct 7, 2019
    Maddevill

    Maddevill Member

    Shingletown CA
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2019
    Messages:
    96
    Hello all,
    Finally got up to the house and saw the Jeep for the first time. My wife is already madly in love with it. It's a 1959 CJ5. Motor, tranny, front transaxle, power steering, disk brakes etc all came out of a 1986 Jeep Cherokee. Rear end from a 1986 Comanche. It has the V6 with 5 speed manual and a Posi lock for the front lockout. Has Cherokee seats which brings me to the first problem. I'm 6'3" I can't move the seat back enough, they hit the rear wheel wells so my knees are up around my ears. Luckily, my wife is 5'2" and doesn't understand the problem. Going to have to figure out different seats.
    Secondly, our neighbor did the entire conversion. Great guy but definitely backyard mechanic on some things.
    It looks like the trans bell housing is hitting the floor pan at the rear of the engine compartment. I'm thinking of putting a spacer under the transmission cross member, just a small one. If I can get 1/2 inch clearance it will be fine. Thoughts?
    If I can ever figure out how to post pictures from my phone I'll stick them up here.

    Mad
     
  2. Oct 7, 2019
    Gregory Plouff

    Gregory Plouff New Member

    Fraser MI
    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2019
    Messages:
    48
    Sounds like a very nice Jeep with the updates.
     
  3. Oct 7, 2019
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sheboygan
    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2006
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    2,753
    Pics
     
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  4. Oct 8, 2019
    Maddevill

    Maddevill Member

    Shingletown CA
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    Oct 3, 2019
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    96
    Here it is
     

    Attached Files:

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  5. Oct 8, 2019
    txtoller

    txtoller Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
    Joined:
    May 28, 2014
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    971
    Great looking Jeep!

    Damn good start!
     
  6. Oct 9, 2019
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2016
    Messages:
    534
    Since your wife is already in love with it, you probably lost it to her already. I'd look for an intact early CJ5 just for yourself, so you can 'truly live the experience'. His and Hers Jeeps, not a bad idea at all.

    It's not really a 1959 CJ5 either. It's just an old body lying on Frankenstein parts...just in time for Halloween. [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2019
  7. Oct 9, 2019
    Maddevill

    Maddevill Member

    Shingletown CA
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2019
    Messages:
    96
    You go that right Hellion. I guess you could say it's mostly a 86 Cherokee lol.
    I got some little things to take care of before we start going out on adventures. Like, bell housing hitting floor pan, makes for a noisy ride on the rocks.

    Mad
     
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  8. Oct 9, 2019
    Ns0mniac

    Ns0mniac Member

    San Clemente, CA
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2019
    Messages:
    63
    Looks good! Mine's not really a CJ5 anymore either haha, enjoy your unique piece of machinery, what the title says is only important to the DMV.

    A small spacer on your crossmember mounts will probably be fine, it will probably help your rear driveshaft angle too. The alternatives would be either a small body lift or to trim/dent/bend the floor pan where it hits. Remember that the engine mounts are further forward so a small shim on the crossmember will make a bigger difference in clearance than you think, might not even need a very big shim.

    I've got like 3/4" of shims on there but that's to stop my rear driveshaft from blowing U joints every time I go out :whistle:
     
  9. Oct 9, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2016
    Messages:
    942
    Very neat setup. Looks like a CJ5 to me!

    Can you snap a pic or two of the transmission and rear driver shaft? I'm interested how that 5-speed fits in an 81" Jeep for my own project ideas.
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2019
  10. Oct 9, 2019
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
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    500
    Interesting. Pretty sure that’s the GM 2.8 V6 in front of an AX5. Curious to see the pinion angle and driveshaft lengths. Is the rear axle the Dana 35 or AMC 20?
     
  11. Oct 9, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    Oct 3, 2016
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    942
    The front is an XJ 30, so I imagine the rear is an XJ 44 or 35.
     
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  12. Oct 9, 2019
    Maddevill

    Maddevill Member

    Shingletown CA
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2019
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    96
    Guys, I don't know squat about Jeeps or stuff. I'm mainly a motorcycle guy. But when I get back up there I'll crawl under the thing and snap some pictures and try to get some ID marks off various components. Bob, the guy I
    bought it from, said the motor, trans, transaxle etc were all from a 86 Cherokee. Rear end from a 86 Comanche. So what ever they use is still in there. He did the conversion himself, he's one of the type guy who will just
    make stuff work, regardless of logistics and looks. Lots of home done welding in there. Right now I know it runs nice, looks decent and my wife is happy as a clam.
    Oh, I also found out that Bob did a complete top end O/H on the motor before he put it in.

    Mad
     
  13. Oct 9, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    That rear might well be an MJ D44 then. If so, you got a really nice setup. Nothing wrong with homebrew if it stays together and does the job.

    Looking forward to more pics. That body is in really nice shape.
     
  14. Oct 9, 2019
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
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    500
    If the rear axle is from an ‘86 MJ, then it’s either a Dana 35 or AMC 20. The Dana 44 came along in ‘87. Both are great axles as the 20 would’ve had one piece axles from the factory.

    In for more pictures. :watch:
     
  15. Oct 9, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    I don't believe an AMC20 was ever offered on either a MJ or XJ platform. IIRC it will either be a D35 or D44 through the entire run of MJ. XJ got access to a C8.25 later on.
     
  16. Oct 9, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    The “M20” was in ‘86 only, and only under the long wheelbase “metric tonne” option.
     
  17. Oct 9, 2019
    Cowboyjeeper

    Cowboyjeeper Member

    Show low az
    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2019
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    473
    If its titled as a 59 your golden. Very interesting jeep though. I agree with the comment earlier his and hers jeeps would be cool.
     
  18. Oct 9, 2019
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
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    Yup. To take it a step further, all ‘86s were long beds.
     
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  19. Oct 9, 2019
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2016
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    534
    More pics please. It is still an interesting Jeep.

    Looks like your windshield is immobilized from ever folding again, with that brace on the side. What's the story on that?
    It's fun driving with the windshield down on hot days, I will say.
     
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  20. Oct 9, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    I stand corrected. Learn something every day.
     
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