what would you do different on ur build?

You Really need to know what you want out of your Jeep or you will rebuild.

I am really glad I did the 420 4 speed, and powersteering, but really regret the 3.73's gears I left in.

The minute I pulled out of the driveway I knew they had to go real bummer..

I tried hard not to buy bling for it.
You can always do that stuff after your driving it...

 

Could you explain please.......?

 

3.73s are great for a auto, but too tall of a gear for a stick with anything above 31" tires. If going bigger on the tires, ya gotta go lower on the gears. It also depends if its a street driver 99% of the time, or if its never gonna touch pavement. 5.38s are great for trails, but totally useless on the road.

 

5.38s are great for trails, but totally useless on the road.


Xtwelvevity2billion!

 

Re: what would you do differenton ur build?

Or have an airconditioned place to work on it.

 

First thing is gear lower than you think for your tires, I had 4.56 gears and should have gone 5.38, the 225 doesn't mind reving (36" Irocks). It was ok on the flat, but climbing was slow if I had to drop out of 4th gear (SM420)

Know what you want! That only works so well though, what I wanted changed over the years, my friends changed as I moved and the Jeeps use changed too. Looking back I would have been just fine running the stock axles with lockers, 31 or 33" tires and a granny 4 speed with 1" lift at the most. It would have been more fun to drive overall and just fine for going a lot of areas.

I am trying to build the 68 Jeepster with what I think I should have done on the last one, but I am sure I will screw up and do something I would like to change some day anyway......

OH YAH..... I will never run fenderwell headers if I have any choice to the matter, I smashed, beat and fought leaks for too many years.....

 

Re: what would you do differenton ur build?

Where Bill lives, the air has plenty of "condition" to it! R) Need a heated garage to "de-condition it" to a comfortable level. I put a Hot Dawg heater in my garage last year, wish I'd gone with a higher BTU model.

 

Re: what would you do differenton ur build?

We're finally getting cool enough weather where you would want to work on something.

I'm starting my first jeep this winter and using what I learned on my '58 chevy truck. Keep it a reasonable enough project to finish it in a timely manner. (My truck took longer than I care to admit.) Being able to start it as often as possible makes a great motivator, as does being able to drive it occaisionally. These keep it a vehicle and not just a project. Keep how you intend to use it into perspective, show piece or something usable, and be consistan in the build. Stare at it often while enjoying a beer.

good luck

 

pretty late in the game but here goes

Don't scrap anything until you are done!

I did early and regret every time I think about it. Its a good thing that I have a parts jeepster about the same age to swap parts with. KEEP YOUR SEATS no matter what. If you have to rent a storage shed, it is money well spent in the long term. After market parts are too expensive when you already had them sitting there that needed TLC.

If the unit is drive able make small projects, and enjoy it. Mine was questionable and I just jumped into a full deal, 4 years before I met my wife, and now 4 weeks away from being with her for 4 years. She knew what she was getting into though, its a great thing to have her on your side from the start. If she was not I have a good feeling that it would have been gone by now. I feel that if she has a project the she calls her own it is a lot easier!

 

I would have done the YJ spring conversion. I would have boxed the entire frame and fixed the small bad spot on the rear of frame. I would have kept the cage instead of cutting it off(Old man couldn't get in easily with the cage). I would have rewired the entire Jeep instead of Dad and I using the already 30 year old wiring. I would have gone with a 4+ inch lift.

I should have bought the parts Jeep I saw on Craigslist that was in Iowa here last spring no matter what anyone else(the wife) said. Dana 44's out of a scout with 4 inch YJ springs, 360 and a host of other goodies. Too bad she talked me out of it!!!!!!

But, it's still a work in progess so maybe most of that will happen someday. Only drove it a handful of times this summer due to shoulder surgery this spring. Now it's time to put the top on already!!!!

 

Is there a writeup anywhere on the YJ conversion?

 

As far as buying parts goes, who feels it is best to:
1) concentrate on one section (axles,trani,etc.) at a time by buying all parts needed and finish before moving on to the next big item.
OR
2) Purchase items (roll bar, tank, tc) as they come along if they are too good to pass up.

Seems I see alot of regret on this site for not snatching things up as they come...
but I also know that I am distracted easily by newly aquired items (ok, just about anything).

Sorry, what was I saying I just saw a shiny object on the floor.
See what I mean?R)

thanks again

 

You need a plan, granted, and need to know what you REALLY want to use it for. That said, if you own a Jeep long enough, that plan WILL CHANGE. My best advice is to build it with change in mind as Chuck indicated. Try not to do anything that will severly limit your future options. New aftermarket adapters and new crops of potential components arrive continuously. Would I put together a Jeep the same way I did 35 years ago? Absolutely not unless it was to be very stock.

 

Set the goal, Know What You Want It To Be When You Finish,
then plan, be flexible and go for it. Sometimes it's helpful to do a project is sections,,, as in ge tit running then drive it a while, then put the axles in it and drive it for a while. If you prefer to totally tear it down, then go that rout and enjoy.

Leave PLENTY cushion in the budget for it,, things always cost more and you will also wind up buying more odds & ends that you thought you'd need. Figure out what you can do yourself and what work you will farm out,, factor into this that sometimes it is more conducive to keeping your sanity to spend an extra hundred bucks having a shop do some work instead of you doing it.

Build toward your goal, BUILD WHAT YOU WANT!!! be open to good advice,,, but if you waqnt a supercharged Hudson straight-8 engine with a powerglide 2-speed auto and purple paint,,, do what makes you happy.

Then,,,,,,,,

wheel it,, break it,, fix it,,, repeat!!!!

 

I might have mentioned this... but the biggest thing I'd do over is stick with the Swamper 34x10.50's. The 35x12.50's are to big on my CJ5 in my opinion.

 

luckily i spent about 100 hours reading everything i could find about my jeep and what needed to be done.
(almost all of it here)
i figured stopping was more important than going.
so i did brakes 1st.
and i agree about keeping everything you take off until you are positive you wont need it.
and then keep it anyway for a while longer.