1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

dj5c to cj5 conversion.

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by notquitemusashi, Mar 11, 2006.

  1. Mar 11, 2006
    notquitemusashi

    notquitemusashi I'm not fat, I'm American

    tampa
    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2006
    Messages:
    12
    i just acquired a dj5c rolling chassis, basically a complete jeep MINUS the "body". i have the frontend, just not the "tub"

    i dont like postal jeeps so i thought i would make a cj5 out of it. any help would be greatly appreciated.

    i have considered the RHD issue and think it might be cool to do a RHD jeep, different anyway

    what is the easiest way to do this. i am not afraid to work i just dont have the facilities to fab a lot of stuff up.


    thanx in advance
     
    notquitemusashi, Mar 11, 2006
    #1
  2. Mar 11, 2006
    Rondog

    Rondog just hangin' out

    Parker, CO
    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2005
    Messages:
    2,918
    I would recommend you just go find a CJ5 and work THAT over. You can probably find one cheap enough, when you consider all the money, time and grief you're going to spend trying to make a silk purse out of that sow's ear. Do something else with the DJ, or use it for a parts donor. You'll have to acquire a whole lotta stuff that you don't have to start with. I'd say it would be mucho easier to rebuild even a beater CJ that already has everything. I don't know for sure, but I'd be concerned that the DJ frame wouldn't be up to the task to begin with.

    Hell, I went and test drove a CJ5 for Chuck that was a running, tagged, legal driver with a straight 6 and a 4-speed that you probably could have bought for $1000 cash. Needed some body work, but would have made a great toy! You'll dump many times that into the DJ before you could even drive it. JMHO.
     
    Rondog, Mar 11, 2006
    #2
  3. Mar 11, 2006
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    :iagree:
     
    timgr, Mar 11, 2006
    #3
  4. Mar 11, 2006
    notquitemusashi

    notquitemusashi I'm not fat, I'm American

    tampa
    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2006
    Messages:
    12
    that bad huh? wel it has a running 232 and a tracloc d44 rear. figured i could do something with it. its really only missing the tub. it was a complete jeep till the former owner pulled the tub.
     
    notquitemusashi, Mar 11, 2006
    #4
  5. Mar 11, 2006
    Rondog

    Rondog just hangin' out

    Parker, CO
    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2005
    Messages:
    2,918
    It may have been a complete Jeep, but it was NOT a complete 4WD Jeep! Correct? I'm no expert, but I can imagine all kinds of problems you'll run up against. Is a DJ frame even up to handling the stresses of off-road use?
     
    Rondog, Mar 11, 2006
    #5
  6. Mar 11, 2006
    notquitemusashi

    notquitemusashi I'm not fat, I'm American

    tampa
    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2006
    Messages:
    12
    i think it should be strong enough. i wasnt planning to wheel it, per se. maybe just ride some trails and let the wife drive it to work and back. she might leave my YJ alone then:D


    so what would be the biggest hurdle? mounting the tub on the frame?
     
    notquitemusashi, Mar 11, 2006
    #6
  7. Mar 11, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    Actually the postal frame is a good upgrade fo an early cj5, it is boxed. Given the rear mounts out board, but it is not a frame to be tossed. Hardest thing to do is probably to figure out the steering. Check the frame out, possibly there may be another set of mounting holes on the driver side of the frame. If there is, then you are going to be able to bolt on a saginaw unit on the driveside. and pretty much bolt on a CJ5 body. you will probably want to find an early cj5 tub or an intermedaite tub (72-75) i think it is almost a bolt on affair, but you may have to mod a few mody mounts. You will need the later CJ hood and fenders because the postal jeep used a deeper grill and short fenders, so if you go with a regular grill you will run out of room with the 6 cyl. If the front beam axle is botled onto leaf springs, then you can bolt on a live front axle from a CJ. As for a Tranny and Tcase, probably get a an intermediate tranny adn Tcase. It is alot of work. If you find an intermediate CJ, you may as well as just keep that. If you still had the postal body, it would probably be better toi add the stuff since you can find intermediate stuff pretty easy. But bottom line is it depends on $$$
     
    DanStew, Mar 11, 2006
    #7
  8. Mar 11, 2006
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    I think the frame would be ok. IMO the main problem is that it's incomplete. A ground-up buildup is great, you get exactly what you want, but expensive. Not neccessarily that the individual parts are expensive individually, but that when you add them all you can spend a lot. Buying a complete Jeep is a bargain compared with buying the parts to build one.
     
    timgr, Mar 11, 2006
    #8
  9. Mar 11, 2006
    notquitemusashi

    notquitemusashi I'm not fat, I'm American

    tampa
    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2006
    Messages:
    12
    danstew, if i wanted to keep costs down and use the grill, hood and fenders i have from the postal, do they bolt on?
     
    notquitemusashi, Mar 11, 2006
    #9
  10. Mar 11, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    Yup, you can use the postal front clip no problem
     
    DanStew, Mar 11, 2006
    #10
  11. Mar 11, 2006
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
    Messages:
    4,275
    I tend to agree with Tim's assessment about the $$$ you will need to sink into the 4WD conversion, especially considering that you want to keep the RHDs etup. Not that this is a particularly difficult thing to do mind you, it's just that there are bound to be front end issues that can't be solved with bolt-on parts from either a DJ or a CJ donor vehicle. You alost certainly have the postal saginaw steering setup, but how the linkage will bolt up to a CJ front axle is a question mark.

    Second, you most likely will be looking for a centered-output (Dana 20) transfer case because your postal jeep has a centered rear axle. Then you'll need to adapt the Dana 20 to a transmission, since the postal automatic doesn't bolt up without an adaptor, even if you can find such an animal. Also, you're going to need a front axle withthe same gear ratio as your rearend, or you'll have to change one or the other sets of gears.

    By far, the most economical and practical solution is going to be to acquire a complete CJ parts vehicle, and swap the driveline over to your frame. This way you will have the benefit of getting all the little pieces and parts that add up to a TON of money if you have to buy them separately. If you're going to do that, you might as well just restore the CJ, since it will have the 4WD you want, the axles you want, etc.

    I'm sorry if I've justed rained on your parade, but I think what you want to do is going to end up costing even more than buying a restorable CJ and going that route.
     
    w3srl, Mar 11, 2006
    #11
  12. Mar 12, 2006
    notquitemusashi

    notquitemusashi I'm not fat, I'm American

    tampa
    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2006
    Messages:
    12
    not raining on my parade! no problem. i really dont need 4wd, i know dont shoot me!!!

    thnax for all the replies. you guys have give me lots to think about.
     
    notquitemusashi, Mar 12, 2006
    #12
  13. Aug 22, 2006
    notquitemusashi

    notquitemusashi I'm not fat, I'm American

    tampa
    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2006
    Messages:
    12
    ok, i am well on my way to getting this project going. i have a NT d30 from a cj7 lined up and a LHD saginaw on its way. the tranny/transfer case is my next hurdle. i was thinking dana 20 or a dana 300. since i am building this for the wife, and she has stated she would like an AUTO, what are my best options to bolt between the 232 and the transfer case?

    TIA
     
    notquitemusashi, Aug 22, 2006
    #13
  14. Aug 22, 2006
    jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    Oklahoma City, USA
    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Messages:
    2,622
    I don't think that 232 will work with the CJ grille; might have to re-use that DJ grille. Don't know if that is a big deal to you or not, but I saw in one of your earlier posts that you didn't like the look of a postal jeep.

    I bet there's a bunch of stuff in the intermediate section about that drivetrain issue, since you want to go with the centered rear.
     
    jayhawkclint, Aug 22, 2006
    #14
  15. Aug 23, 2006
    notquitemusashi

    notquitemusashi I'm not fat, I'm American

    tampa
    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2006
    Messages:
    12
    Well I am gonna keep the dj front end, but I am getting rid if the dj “box” and going to a cj tub. Right now it is a 2wd and I am just trying to get opinions on the best tranny/tranfer case setup for it
    thanx
     
    notquitemusashi, Aug 23, 2006
    #15
  16. Aug 23, 2006
    CJ-X

    CJ-X Member

    Ohio
    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2006
    Messages:
    816
    If you don't care about 4WD, just go get another dirt cheap DJ and start picking and assembling the best parts.
     
    CJ-X, Aug 23, 2006
    #16
  17. Aug 24, 2006
    notquitemusashi

    notquitemusashi I'm not fat, I'm American

    tampa
    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2006
    Messages:
    12
    thats the problem, i want to convert it to 4wd. i literally have everything but the "cab/tub" from the dj. i have a nt d30 from a cj7 that will be going under it. i was just wondering what my easiest and best tranny/transfer case options would be.
     
    notquitemusashi, Aug 24, 2006
    #17
  18. Aug 24, 2006
    mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    Charlottesville Va
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2003
    Messages:
    2,706
    Do you have the 7s whole drivetrain? I would think that would be easiest to put in, but I have been wrong in the past
     
    mb82, Aug 24, 2006
    #18
  19. Aug 24, 2006
    notquitemusashi

    notquitemusashi I'm not fat, I'm American

    tampa
    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2006
    Messages:
    12
    i have a rebuilt 232 + m11 that is in the dj. i found a CHEAP d30 from a friend. i now need a 4wd tranny and t-case. there are lots of combos out there and was trying to do it right the first time, you know?
     
    notquitemusashi, Aug 24, 2006
    #19
  20. Aug 24, 2006
    jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    Oklahoma City, USA
    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Messages:
    2,622
    I might be mistaken, but I think that 232 has the same bell pattern as the 258, so you're going to want to find an AMC CJ drivetrain unless you want to spend big $$$ on adapters. Just run a search. I'm sure you'll find a zillion different opinions on this subject already debated.
     
    jayhawkclint, Aug 24, 2006
    #20
New Posts