1974 CJ5 Rookie Build

What size and type tires you gonna run on it?

 

I guess what is on there now, they seem to look proportionate. 31.5 10.5 15

 

The Rubicon is quite a challenge on less than 33's. The cost difference between 31.50 and 33" is almost 0. Just saying..........

 

I want to run the biggest tire that will fit in there!

 

33's will fit with no lift, as long as you stick to the pavement. Just as a point of reference mine has 33's and 2.5 inches of lift, if you remember how it looks.

 

ok Im sold I am going with 33's

 

As for type, I was thinking mud terrains but I am open to thoughts

 

If you can swing the cost, I highly recommend the BFG MT's. They squat out nicely at around 10 - 12 lbs of pressure. They have great grip on the rocks. I ran them for years until I came up with the money for the Krawlers. (Shhhhhhhhhhh, my wife still thinks they cost $100 apiece). There are a LOT of good tires out there, I only have personal experience with the BFG's. They always seemed to get pretty good tread life on the pavement as well.

 

I have about 30,000 miles on my bfg mt's and they still have decent tread left. I have had good luck with them and will buy another set if I decide against the krawlers in the semi distant future.

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk

 

I'm not sure, but I think the smallest size you can get the Krawlers in is 35 x 13.50 x 15

 

That's the smallest I've seen, fender trimming required.

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I agree with the BFG's. I have km1 muds on the truck (daily driver) and the jeep, and I love them. They are great in snow, mud, and are reasonably quiet on the road for a mud terrain. Ive run swampers, goodyear mtr, wildcat ext, baja claws, and bfg all terrain, and these bfg mud terrain are hands down the best Ive had. Id like to get a set of KM2's on both when the time and funds arrive as they don't make the KM1's anymore, or at least not in 33-35's.

 

Well the 33x10.5s are on backorder so I will have to wait...
but in the mean time:

copper204 TOTALLY HOOKED IT UP!

I have been looking for a tilt column, and power steering but funds were prohibiting me... and copper204 proved once again why ECJ5.com is the greatest forum ever! He saw it fit to donate the whole setup to my build! A decision for which I am very, very grateful, Thanks copper!

I just picked it all up today and now starts the process of figuring out what I have and how to get it in the jeep!
Here are the centerfolds:

Everything in the photo was a sweet donation, (well not the mason jar of whiskey... that's mine).

So from what I understand I should be able to bolt the power steering right up:

Then I need to pull out the hardly used harmonic balancer and throw in one that is set up for double V belts.
Then Find a Power steering bracket for the passenger side (Or swap the alt?) of the motor to mount this:


Finally figure out what I need to cut off of this to get it to fit, figure out how to mount it securely, and then everything should bolt right up!


Beginning research now, and as always, any tips for the Rookie here are always appreciated!

Thanks again copper, I owe you!

 

I have an extra alternator bracket for ya if interested for swapping it to the passenger side. It will need to be modified to fit the passenger side. I just did mine last month and it wasnt too hard. I also have an extra PS pump bracket for the drivers side. Its not the entire bracket, just the bracket from the pump to the water pump (which you will need to swap out if used for a 76 and later water pump w/ps.

 

You might be able to keep your stock steering column if you order a custom steering shaft from someplace like Flaming River or Borgeson. And with the correct pitman arm you can use the stock drag link. That way it is just a mater of mounting the steering box and pump, while keeping the stock appearance. Might save you some time and headaches trying to mount the new column.

 

Nice parts you got there buddy... No lets see some more progress....LOL
chainsawguy

 

Im working on the progress, problem is that once again I am in over my head. Here is what I am working on;
The power steering box bolts right in to my old 3 bolt mount, but the clearance for the hydraulic hoses out of the top is only about 1 1/4"


So now I am wondering if there is some sort of setup I could have made that would be similar to how my brake lines mount on my calipers, where the bolt itself transfers some hydraulic oil. I'm just not sure if this type of setup would allow for the needed flow to have the power steering functioning properly.
I suppose another fix would be to put spacers on the radiator to move it 1" closer to the engine and have the hydraulic hoses I have now just rise up in front of it.
Maybe there is a trick fix I am not thinking of?

I have already sourced a double V harmonic balancer and fan pulley, so now I just need to figure out some sort of passenger side mount for the pump.

Last but not least is the column. I have never really messed with one of these before, and already I noted I am missing parts (now all) of a bearing located just below where the steering wheel should mount:

Are these bearings something standard that I should be able to track down at my FLAPS? And what retains the bearing when it is put in place? Am I missing a clip or something? The ball bearings out of the last one are not scattered all around my garage never to be found again.

And one other thing, while trying to figure out how I will fit the new column into my old dash, I started thinking, would this be easier if I used a '76 and later dash? I already need the proper holes up top for the later windshield, if it would make the column mounting easier then I can just order one for pretty cheap. The one in there got hacked pretty bad by the PO anyway.

As of now, the PS gear and the column are off to the sandblaster while I try and figure this out. If I need to order that new dash I would like to get on it ASAP.

What say you ECJ5ers?

 

Boy you sure are clickin right along aint you? Well done so far by the way, the jeep is lookin purdy spiffy. So as they are both finished (mainly mine since you flew past me) we will have to set a jeep day.

 

OK OK I have another column.. When ya gonna be down my way? I have one from and early Camaro? U want it? It is yours.....LOL... One way of getting rid of some of my OCD collection.... Oh yeah it is fully complete with a Camaro steering wheel....LOL

 

Ha Ha... this column seems like it will work, I just need to track down that bearing and whatever it is that holds it in. I already sent to to be blasted so I can paint 'er up all pretty. Aren't these columns pretty standard when it comes to the connections at the steering wheel? I am trying to track down a diagram right now. This is out of a Cherokee correct?