60 CJ-5 Ideas, Suggestions

Hi All..I would like any ideas out there, or suggestions..I have a 60 CJ-5 In GREAT SHAPE !.
NO Rust anywhere..and I traded an Old boat for it. it has Orig.drive train, motor 4 cyl hurricane
Maybe newer frame ( All boxed ) but rest is Orig. Including the Whole steering and front end.
and it drives like a Submarine in the beach !!..VERY Hard to steer, and it wanders around..no one on both sidewalks are safe ..lol..
I have $3,000 to work with so Im not rich, so kinda on a budget..I would like the steering Fixed ( modified ) to something that is more user friendly..it Will be on the trails %50 of the time..I would like to put a bigger Motor, and auto Trany in it. and for some reason the windshield looks welded solid..no hinges, and it don't move. it has a 2 inch lift, but thats it..and its a body lift. anyway...can anyone tell me where to start, ideas, Experienced doing something like this ?? where to get parts needed for this.
any help would be great. Im not trying to make this a Monster Jeep..just usable as a driver, and a Mild to Mid trail rig for now..more to come, after tax time again next year
Thanx all for any ideas or help you might have.
Rick

 

Have you looked at the technical library on this page? http://www.earlycj5.com/TechIndex.php Look at the 'Saginaw steering' article and search for old posts. The original Ross steering in your CJ isn't the best, but it's not nearly so horrible as you describ.

Another good place to start is the knowledge base at Novak: http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/knowledge_gateway.htm
An automatic transmission is hard because of the the short wheelbase. There are quite a few articles there that relate to your project.

If you have a digital camera, I'd suggest you take a ton of pictures and post them all where the members here can look at them. You can post a few using this forum as a host, but to post a lot, you'll need to use a different host. Hey guys, where's a good place to post a bunch of photos - Flicker?

Welcome from Boston!

 

3 pages of Saginaw steering to sift through:
http://www.earlycj5.com/gallery2/v/picBank/album_017/

Look at either a Buick oddfire swap or 4.3 EFI Chevy. Auto not recommended.

Pics?

Bob Supplee 4wd Enterprises
Oklahoma City, OK

www.jeepdoc.com

www.walcks4wd.com

www.4wd.com

Check sig line links for an exploded view.

Did I mention pics? We like pics!

 

1 - The windshield frame should not be welded on. You'll have to post pics of that so we can help you remedy it.
2 - The body lift of 2" in my opinion should be removed, that has to cause problems with the pedals going thru the floor. Do your pedals go thru the floor (stock) or are they hanging on the firewall (upgrade)??
3 - Engine wise you could go with a more modern designed 4cylinder, the AMC or GM 4 cylinders or the Buick or Chevy v6. Thats gonna require lots of work and will cost a few dollars by the time you get an adapter for the trans, find a motor, motor mounts, radiator upgrades (maybe) and a few other things.
4 - Steering is pretty cut and dried but will require fab work on your part and usually around $200-$500. You can go manual saginaw or power if you change the motor out. There are no mounts to put a power steering pump on a F-head. It would also siphon about 2hp to run the pump and with only 72 of them there kinda scarce.
Link to lots about saginaw steering (power but manual is the same) http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17911

I can help quite a bit on the steering set up as I have done several swaps now and have made parts to do it with.

The motor you will need to get advice from several other members who have done this.
The other thing you should seriously address is the brakes, yours should be 9" drums and there kinda marginal if you put a little larger tire on it, especially for city driving.


Post you location in your signature, there might be a member right down the road that can help.
We also like pics and it helps greatly.
You will get good solid answers and lots of help on the board about what to do, but you will need to make a few decisions as to whats important 1st.

 

Hi all..thanx for the replies so far..I know I need to make some decisions here, ..workin on it..lol
as for Pics..I will post some here..don't have alot of detail stuff yet..I will put the best ones I have for now here..don't think they will show what you all need to see.
I will have a Link to Photobucket as soon as the site is out of maint. mode. can't get to it yet.
ok..so far this is what I want to do...Buick 225 motor, chev 350 tranny ? the small one.
power steering...and I think the main reason the steering is so tough..it has 11.5 X 33...lotsa surface area.
I don't think these pics will help.
Let me know what you would like a pic of, and I can get it.
Im In Beloit Wisconsin, border of Il.
Thanx agn all
cell # is 608-774-2612.
Rick

 

If you want to go TH350, maybe a 4.3L Chevy V6 would be a better option. You may be able to score both the engine and trans in the same donor vehicle (Astro van?). The Chevy V6s don't fit quite as easily as the Buick V6s due to the distributor location (at the rear), but you're going to want to scoot the engine forward anyway to make your rear driveshaft as long as possible. In that case, firewall interference should not be a problem.

 

Its not a problem for length, I think they were extended...But I have a problem with the space between the brake pedal, and the gas Pedal and the Hump...VERY little room..I have to have my foot on the hump to use the gas..
Im kinda wondering if maybe I would be better off selling this, putting the $$ with my tax money, and getting something newer ??..
Im not as much into the nostalgia, as I am a Good Off road SWB Jeep..I have my 96 XJ, and its a blast off road..its built for wheelin..and looking for a SWB for the same thing but not sure im ready to try to make a 48 year old into a trail worthy rig in other words, would the money be better spent on something easer to Mod to get the same end result.? ..( just thinkin )

Oppinions ?
Me

 

Up to you re the newer vehicle. You say you want SWB ... the Jeep you have is 81", and a 72 or later CJ-5 is 84". Everything else is 94" - CJ-7, YJ, TJ, JK. YJs can be found pretty cheap, you can change the metal to have round eyes instead of square, and there was always an automatic optional on the 94" WB Jeeps. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_Wrangler

 

Yup..still thinkin..but moving forward with the search right now for the 225/231 v-6 after reading novac pages..found a 231 out of a camarro for $65..its a start..lol.
Lotsa research to do...more then I thought...problem I have is I only have 1 good arm now to work on the o'l girl..I will be going in for a 3rd surgery this month on it...so I might not have a choice as to what I do after that..just might have to sell it....
Wish I held up over the years as good as my o'l CJ...heh heh

When I come Back..I want to come back as a Jeep.

 

Well somethings not right with the gas pedal if you have to have your foot on the hump. Really big feet maybe or possibly the pedals not in the right place (been moved).
Your suppose to drive with your whole foot on the original style gas pedals.
Seriously though the stock F-head makes a good power plant for a normal woods machine.
Also noticed that the oil filter is missing off your motor.


Heres a very good looking stock F-head jeep that is a great trail rig. Its sitting on 34x9.5 swampers. Before and after shot.

You could go for something like this, it would be cheaper, also a good trail rig and with an overdrive stuck back in your transfercase it would run down the local highways quite easily.

 

I knew something wasn't right with the peddles ..and for the oil filter, I read a couple of places that it was not on all CJ's at one point...you could get the add on..just like a PCV add on..it was the same thing..I don't get why they wouldnt put a filter on it though..I understand the PCV upgrade..this engine was rebuilt last year by the Prev. owner, and has less then 100 miles on it..and I don't drive it right now, and wont untill I get the the Filter, or a new motor.

And Great Pics there.
Someday !!!

 

Good lookin jeep, does anyone know the spec on it, axles, motor, lift,ext,,,

 

Ask Billy, (blevisay) its his jeep, I just wheel with him once a year or so.
I think for the most part its all stock and rebuilt from the ground up with the exception of 11" brakes a lift kit along with a few minor things.

Oh and the pics don't do it justice!!!!

 

Good trail rig? Does Billy ever let animal out of the garage?R)

 

Very nice rig.

I'ld like to have the wheels and tires from the Before shot.
Looks like my Sixty. Same color.
I'm not that good at body work, so probably never look like After.
Can't afford them, but I would like to have original wheels some time.:hurrican:

 

I would start with the steering 'issues'. sounds like a worn bell crank, or tie rod, or even loose knuckles.

my foot rests on the hump too, but that's because how the po repaired the floor.

 

Yup..I think that will be the first..It runs good, shifts good...

Gona start with the only real problem...then go to the wish list.
Motor,trany combo/lift.
windshield fix
Rick

Try This Link to The Pics.
I hope it takes ya to the album..I have alot in there..it should let ya see them 1 at a time
http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/0_Montana_0/CJ3B/1960%20CJ5/?action=view&current=l_fffde6c08f8fd4e44ab551c1900cbf0a.jpg

another Link to a Trail Run with our Local group up to McCaslin in the Nat. Forest on the logging trails in Sept 07
Mine is the XJ with the Tire on top.

http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/0_Montana_0/McCaslin run Sept 14-16/?albumview=grid

 

I'll bet the windshield is just bondoed on the outside.

 

Could be..but I checked it with a magnet..stuck everywhere..might be light bondo, over weld though..Still has me baffled