decisions decisions

help me decide because I dont want to spend 1500$ for something I dont like. I am torn between 30x9.50 on stock wheels and stock ride height with a 30% OD from herm or 235x85r16 32x9.50 on new wheels 2.5in lift and a 25% OD. What would you do given the circumstances. I have a 1960 cj5 willys with f134. I will be getting an OD regardless because 60 with 235x75r15s at 3700rpms last I remember seems extreme even though I heared all the stories of people run 4k rpms constantly but I dont feel comfortable doing so.

 

Stay with the 25% OD.
30% O.D. will not split the T90 gears as evenly as 25% O.D..
Run no taller than 31" actual tire diameter.
That's all that a Hurricane can handle.
That's exactly what I run.
It's my one and only vehicle.

http://z4.invisionfree.com/CJ3B_Bulletin_Board/index.php?showtopic=4317

 

so a 7r15 yokahama or a 30-31x9.5 from interco is what im looking at

 

60 mph IS extreme in an early CJ, regardless of rpms....

I've been very pleased with BFG T/A tires. Good traction and many miles of life.

 

I think it really depends where you live, here in Ohio most of where I run my JEEP it's pretty flat. I run 33x12.50's and don't have any issues. But the 33" tires do pull allot of power. If you run allot of hills I agree with oldtime and go no bigger than a 31's and 25% OD

 

@ 60 MPH I would worry more about the ability to stop in time than my motor @ 3700 RPM
stick with the 31" tires and traditional overdrive.

 

I've been driving old CJ's many miles and for a very long time so my opinions may not be typical.
I don't feel that 60 is extreme in any way for an O.D. equipped Willys.
In fast traffic I often run 65 MPH on the local stretches of interstate.
I don't like to run faster because the fuel consumption begins to go way up.
Besides that the handling characteristic of the stock early CJ is shaky when beyond 65 MPH.
Anymore I prefer 55 to 60 MPH sustained speed on interstate.
For my rig the crankshaft velocity is 2600 to 2800 RPM.
My current driver is a 100% stock optional 1962 CJ-3B in VGC.
Optional basically meaning that it has an O.D. and a factory type fuel filter.
Hurricane/T90A/25% Warn O.D./5.38 final drive/6.50 x 16"
The Canadian Iltis Michilin radial military tires are 29.5" tall.
Very skinny yet very aggressive.
Yes the brakes are stock standard 9" Bendix with genuine NOS linings. (rivotted asbestos)

 

Mine feels stable at 55, that's as hard as ever push it. I think it would be fine at 60 65

 

"I don't feel that 60 is extreme in any way."

Oldtime, I'm not knocking the ability of a well maintained early jeep to go 60mph. I too have had them as "only daily drivers" and have never been without one for 40 years. But you are more experienced than most.

Today's drivers are only used to vehicles with all kinds of sophisticated handling improvements. Jeeps have no meaningful (stock) safety equipment in the case of a accident.

You vehicle is doubtlessly regularly and well maintained. Realistically, as I know you know, many may have death wobble steering, poor brakes, worn out shocks, off-road tires, non-stock parts, lift kits, etc.

Even new, handling by design is more appropriate to a beach landing on D-Day than a crowded high speed interstate. Jeeps are "stable" until they aren't, if a sudden avoidance maneuver is required. (The previous owner of mine rolled one, avoiding an animal at fairly low speed.)

A tired F-head engine or drivetrain could be destroyed by such speed. (Don't ask me how I know.)

But I certainly respect, share, and applaud your pride in speaking up for the Jeep's enduring capabilities in the modern world. And hey, I didn't say "extreme" was a bad thing...

 

i dont know if its an issue of the mechanics of the vehicle, but rather the environment its driven in..

like you always tell your kids.. "its not you i worried about, just all the other people on the road.."

the jeep itself and 9" brakes are just dandy to pull 60 mph and stop.. but compared to whats on the road today the danger I feel is more environmental than mechanical..

just my opinion..