newb w/ a question

Hello to all,

I am trying to plan the build of my '73 cj5 and have a question. I would like to know what the capabilities of a "stock" 73 cj5 are? I am trying to figure out how far I need to take my build. I don't plan on doing any serious wheeling. I would mainly be driving the OHV trails in the Ocala National Forrest. I will be driving the vehicle to and from the trails and as a nice weather driver. Are intermediate CJ's in their stock configuration as durable as these WWII jeeps?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6Y6yzna-rU

I certainly don't plan on it seeing any "air time" while pulling a little cannon as they do in the video. Are they all this strong? If that is my base line, bone stock is more than I will ever need. Those things were awesome!!!!

Thanks for you input

 

the intermediate cj's drivelines and chassis are significantly stronger than their military brethren. IMO the intermediate cjs have one of the most bullet proof drivelines ever offered in the CJ series. Any jeep can perform those stunts once!

From your description, you would be fine with a stock height CJ5 with some 30 or 31" tires. You could also go with 1" of lift if you like the look better. Maybe a mild re-gearing to help pull the bigger tires, but its not necessarry,

We could be more help if you gave more specs for your jeep. What engine do you have? What lind of condition is it in?

 

It is a stock 73 cj5.258 I-6, D30 front/D44 rear w/3.73. The tub was removed and the PO bought a fiberglass replacement. It has never been installed on the frame. I plan to go through and rebuild if necessary the driveline. The frame is very straight and nothing more than some surface rust. Would I need to address anything with a 1" body lift? How much lift can I get without needing to change drive shafts and steering geometry?

 

Welcome from Michigan!

 

Should be fine with 10.5 15 or 12.5 15 tires, except for extra-deep mud or rock climbing. Try it stock - if it won't do what you want, add the lift & big tires. A lot of how a jeep goes is the operator.

 

Thanks for your responses, I think I am going to do a mostly stock rebuild with a little lift, nothing crazy

 

I take a stock one everywhere I want to go....and some places I shouldn't

 

I wouldnt do a body lift with a glass body.

a 1" spring lift should require nothing more than an alignment.

 

Definitely don't do a body lift on a glass body. The PO of mine did (4") and I am still undoing it. Screws up everything...steering column, clutch linkage, firewall, holes in trans tunnel, t-case shifter, etc. Terrible idea all around, for any vehicle, not just fiberglass bodies. Problem is compounded with the glass body due to flexibility of glass over steel body.

 

If you want it to go and go and go offroad the most important upgrade you can make is to put decient tires on it and add some sort of traction adding device: Limited slip, Locker and selectable locker in that order from least diserable to most diserable.

A stock jeep wtih good tires and lockers will go anywhere you point it.

Oh, and get a good winch because when you get stuck wtih lockers, you are really stuck!

 

Where are you in Florida? If you are anywhere near Coral Springs, I'd be willing to help with the fiberglass body installation...

 

Mugzilla- I just moved from Sunrise. I am currently in Jacksonville, but moving to Melbourne by the end of the year.Thanks, I appreciate the offer.

 

If you lock the front end you might want to upgrade the axle shafts, too. Wouldn't be too risky with limited slip but a true locker might strain the shafts if you have one wheel in the air and give it a lot of pedal. I have a lockright and Alloy USA shafts in my D30 but haven't used it enough to comment on whether it was a good choice.

I haven't locked the rear yet because I haven't needed to pull the axles. When I do I'll install another Lockright because they're inexpensive, easy to install, and durable (probably limited by the carrier case strength). I can't afford selectable lockers.

With 2-1/2" lift I MIGHT have a little bit of u-joint clicking. I just got mine on the road so it's on the short list of things to maybe fix...or not. Parking brake cables are a little short now, too. With 1" of lift you'd have no problems at all and could fit 31, maybe 32 if you don't go nuts with articulation.