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New To Me Cj5 74 Help And Advice Please

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by 74CJ5_PA, Apr 17, 2022.

  1. Apr 17, 2022
    74CJ5_PA

    74CJ5_PA New Member

    Gibsonia, PA
    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2022
    Messages:
    4
    Hello folks,

    I just bought a 74 CJ 5. Here is the down and dirty:
    The T-case is a Dana 20, the transmission is a T15, the front axle is Dana 30, and the rear axle is Dana 44. The engine is not original. I believe it was a 6
    The previous owner completed:
    -New front seats (sits way too high)
    -New rear seat
    -New carpet with insulation under it
    -33”x12.50x15 Kenda Klever tires
    -15x10 aluminum wheels
    -304 v8 with mild cam, Edelbrock intake, quick fuel carb, Doug Thorley headers
    -T15 transmission with Dana 20 t-case
    -all new u-joints on the driveshaft
    -2.5” Procomp spring lift
    -1.5” Rusty’s Off-road Lift shackles
    -aluminum radiator with electric fans

    I want to upgrade the steering (power) and brakes (disk front). The rest I want to keep as original as possible. The seat is mounted too high and the axil looks way off (picture included).
    I'm all over the road above 40mph. I think it may be the old steering box. I may need stabilizers when I convert to power. Also, I read that it may need caster shims but I have no idea what size.
    Any and all advice for parts and cause is welcome.
     
    Buildflycrash likes this.
  2. Apr 17, 2022
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2019
    Messages:
    1,765
    Is that rear axle offset? looks like it in the pic. If it is it is not the original axle. Also the driveshaft is in upside down.
     
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  3. Apr 17, 2022
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Aug 10, 2003
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    Suggest you measure the caster angle. Likely affected by the lift and shackles. You need the right caster. A popular topic, and you'll find plenty of discussion if you search old posts.

    The rear axle should be centered behind the output of the transfer case. I don't see any easy way that could have been changed ... there was an axle for the '70-71 Jeeps that was way off center, but that would be really obvious.

    These Jeeps came from the factory with optional power steering. It can be a bolt-in upgrade, though the 3-bolt manual steering frame bracket is not as strong as the 4-bolt power steering bracket. There's no kit per se - you'll have to gather the parts from the junkyard and/or parts store and bolt them in.

    Several alternatives are possible for disk brakes. Search old posts and you'll find lots of discussion.
     
    74CJ5_PA likes this.
  4. Apr 17, 2022
    jeepdaddy2000

    jeepdaddy2000 Active Member

    Eagle Point oregon
    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2004
    Messages:
    1,132
    Always start with the "wiggle" test.
    Have a buddy wiggle the wheel while you observe everything from the lower steering shaft U joint down through the tie rod ends.
    Steering U joint
    Coupler movement
    Steering box mount flex
    Insure the box is centered
    Worm gear/sector shaft movement
    Tie rod end movement
    Shackle movement/bad bushings
    Jack up the front end and check the ball joints.
    Tighten/replace everything that moves when it shouldn't. Then get it to a front end shop to have the caster/camber checked.
     
    74CJ5_PA, Ol Fogie and Fireball like this.
  5. Apr 18, 2022
    jeeper50

    jeeper50 jeeps 'till I die

    Spanish Fort. AL
    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2007
    Messages:
    844
    I would suggest the wiggle test too, with one more thing. have that buddy move everything slowly while you bridge your fingers across the item in question to be able to feel small amounts of play and wiggle your looking for. Suspension shackles and ball joints too. Just keep your fingers safe near the pinch points.
     
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  6. Apr 19, 2022
    52M38-73CJ5

    52M38-73CJ5 Member

    Wenatchee WA
    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2020
    Messages:
    154
    When you go to your front disk you wont have the. "No sir I'm not drunk excuse anymore" It will stop straight.
    I remember this guy laughing at me when I went to the auto parts store he said "Drum Brakes?"
     
    74CJ5_PA likes this.
  7. Apr 20, 2022
    Lane Meyer

    Lane Meyer Member

    Maryland
    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2019
    Messages:
    65
    I have a '74 with ~2.5 inches of lift (installed by a PO). It was terrible at 40mph. I measured using a cheap angle finder (factoring in the degree of slope in my garage floor) and found that I had zero degrees of caster. Of course, a proper measurement from an alignment shop would be best, but I wanted to see what I could do on my own. Six degree shims made a night and day difference. I still have some slop in the steering to address, but I can now cruise comfortably and relaxed at 55 mph. If you search the site, you can find plenty of reading to make sense of caster shims. I found steel shims (the idea of aluminum shims in the front doesn't sit well with me) and ubolts on ebay.

    Edit: Love the hard top!
     
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  8. Apr 22, 2022
    hudsonhawk

    hudsonhawk Well-Known Member

    North Texas...
    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2005
    Messages:
    1,937
    Had the same problem with being all over the place. It was the front lift shackles throwing off the steering geometry. You need to either shim the axle or ditch the lift shackles.
     
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  9. Apr 26, 2022
    cj2atruck

    cj2atruck Member

    Spokane, WA
    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2020
    Messages:
    64
    Yup, those longer front shackles are not your friend without proper castor shims...
     
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  10. Apr 27, 2022
    Desertdog48

    Desertdog48 Everybody's crazy...it just shows up different!

    Butler Pa
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2021
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    117
    Edit: Love the hard top![/QUOTE]

    Lane, I believe he may be selling it and you're on the right side of the country!
     
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  11. Apr 27, 2022
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
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    Look's that way to me , too? If so, That would certainly contribute to your all over the road above 40 MPH troubles :shrug:
     
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  12. Apr 27, 2022
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
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    Nov 24, 2019
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    1,765
    Lane, I believe he may be selling it and you're on the right side of the country![/QUOTE]
    I like the fiberglass hardtop too. I think that would be just a little more sporty than the steel hardtops. My wife says the steel tops look a little bit too much like a milk truck. However the steel tops would probably be far more more durable. Seems like everything is a trade off of some kind no matter what it is.
     
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  13. Apr 28, 2022
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
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    Yep ....... I agree the ' Glass ' ones for an intermediate are rare .
     
  14. Apr 28, 2022
    jeepdaddy2000

    jeepdaddy2000 Active Member

    Eagle Point oregon
    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2004
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    1,132
    I scored a fiberglass top and doors for mine about fifteen years ago. It has held up well. There are some stress cracking on the roof gelcoat that needs to be addressed but all in all, it has seen nothing more than a tarp in the winter so I'm sold.

    It is SOOOOOOooo much lighter than a metal top. I sported a Meyers in the 90's and hated the way it made the Jeep handle. If you are thinking of a hard top, I would dive on it (price dependent).
     
  15. Apr 28, 2022
    cj2atruck

    cj2atruck Member

    Spokane, WA
    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2020
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    Looks like an offset axle that was used with a DANA18. If so, these have value so a swap to the correct Dana 44 for the Dana20 transfer case might net a few coins in your pocket.
     
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  16. Apr 28, 2022
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Dunno. This is under my CJ-6 and it's not obviously different. Longer driveshaft but same offset.

    underCJ6.jpg
     
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  17. Apr 28, 2022
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
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    74CJ5_PA ,
    From your Picture , your rear driveshaft universals are no where near in the same plane with each other. She's gotta shake someth'n Fierce ? Pictures are often misleadin' , though . :shrug:
     
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  18. Apr 29, 2022
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    IMO the OP's rear axle pinion angle could be improved so the u-joints would last longer, and there would likely be less vibration. Suggest you look here https://4xshaft.com/blogs/general-tech-info-articles/driveshaft-angles and consider "Proper Geometry for COnventional Two Joint Driveshaft."

    The driveshaft u-joints don't last a long time on these Jeeps, in my experience. My '73 304 CJ-5 threw a rear driveshaft at ca 20K miles, and this with no lift other than the original HD springs. I think this is typical. With the Dana 20 and short wheelbase, driveshaft geometry would appear to be at the edge of acceptable. Add lift and it gets worse.
     
  19. Apr 30, 2022
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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  20. Jun 4, 2022
    74CJ5_PA

    74CJ5_PA New Member

    Gibsonia, PA
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    Very much appreciated!
     
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