Overdrive?

I am so stoked!! I can't believe this day has finally arrived! For those that missed my first post, I just bought a 1970 CJ-5 off Ebay a couple weeks ago. Due to the Memorial Day holiday, I have been waiting (not so patiently) for it to arrive. I must say that this is the first vehicle that I've bought off Ebay where the seller was actually honest. This purchase has been a 10yr long dream of mine, so I am very happy, to say the least.

What has me absolutely about to pee my pants, however, is a curious third shift lever that the seller did not mention. It is located forward and to the passenger side of the transfer case shifter. I know that some transfer cases from the era had twin sticks, but this one is too far forward, I think. I am wondering if by some miracle I have happened to score a two-speed overdrive. I am unable to drive this thing for a couple days until the paperwork is complete, so I am very anxious with anticipation right now. Someone please chime in and either confirm or deny my suspicions. Thanks.

 

Well it looks like you have an OD or a PTO. Not sure which as I have niether. You have them confused though. The foreward/short shifter is the TC shifter and the aft one is the OD or PTO. Chances are its an OD. You've got a great looking Jeep there. BTW the owner/administrator of the site, Sparky, lives not too far from you in Kansas. Welcome from OK.:v6:

PS Go to the top menu and click user CP and fill in the data, it helps everyone know what you have when you ask questions.

 

Wow, nice lookin' Jeep there!!

Yup, that extra stick (in the pic it's the one obscuring the view of the tranny stick) sure looks to be an Overdrive. Crawl underneath and look at the rear of the transfer case....do you see something on the rear that looks like the silver thingy in the upper left in this pic below? :



If so, SCORE!! Verify it tho because the OD may have been removed leaving the shift linkage intact.

What's your axle gearing ratio? If it's 3.73, you'll rarely even need/use the OD anyhow unless your goal is to crawl super slow or if you're wanting to go over 85 MPH on the highway. Depends on the kind of wheeling you're jonesing fer.

BTW (tangent), that gas pedal?? Feel free to toss it into the circular file. Just my experience...but that pedal caused more problems... It catches on your foot when going from brake pedal to gas, and even wore a groove where the nub rides in to where I had diminished "feel" for the gas pedal. I simply removed the pedal and just ran w/ the "nub" as my gas.....obtained a much better feel for feathering the gas when necessary. YMMV.

 

Sure looks like a Warn Overdrive lever to me.
Lucky dog!

SWEET CJ, by the way.
Looks very solid and oozes potential.
Congrats!

 

What a great looking JEEP! You bought the best year too!

 

:iagree:

 

:iagree:

 

If it is an overdrive, shift it very slowly on level ground until you get used to it. This is not a speedshift item. In fact, to start, you may want to shift it and then drive, come to a complete stop and shift it in the other direction and then drive. Just a thought, Bill

 

Did you look under the Jeep? Those overdrives are really neat because they can operate in any gear, 2WD or 4WD, providing 12 speeds forward and 4 reverse. You can even split your 1-2-3 shifts on the road if you want to, but heed Bill's advice.

 

Okay, don't tell the law, but I took her for a little spin this afternoon. It is an overdrive, and it works! I think the previous owner just didn't know what he had, because he called the 225 a 231 and never once mentioned the OD when I was negotiating with him.

I must have some pretty low gears (numerically high), because with the OD in low I was running out of gear by about 35mph (the fastest I got it up to). I imagine 45 or 50 MPH max cruise speed. With the OD in high, well I don't know because I didn't want to chance anything, but it was a significant decrease in engine speed, which by-the-way absolutey purrs; I love the sound of that 225.

I'm going to re-do a couple of odds and ends from the previous owner's suspension lift. I think I'm going to fab my own shackles to bring it down about an inch and a half front and rear (It just plain sits too high). I've already purchased new aluminum 10" wheels to replace the chrome 8", and 32" tires are on their way to replace the 33". That should put the center of gravity a little closer to the pavement, bring the pinion angles in line better, and make it a little safer all around. I've never spent any time in one of these, and I really don't want to roll it before I get used to it.

I tried to read the build tag, but it is largely undecipherable. I think the build date says either "JUN 1970" or "JUL 1970". I will try to update my profile and add to the VIN file whenever I get all the necessary info compiled.

Thanks for all the responses! I think I'm already addicted. Is there a 12-step program for Jeepers?

 

Welcome aboard, nice jeep. your vin info and build date will be greatly appreciated.:v6:

 

Welcome from central Va. And if there is a 12 step program for Jeepers I don't want to know about it. Well I guess there is, it is called buy a TJ R) Right Dennis

 

The V6 CJs had either 3.83:1 or 4.88:1 axle gears from the factory. The 4-cylinder models were either 4.27:1 or 5.38:1. Take a look at the axle cover bolts for a metal tag that will tell you the axle ratio. Even with 4.88s you should be able to drive highway speeds, but there will be a lot more engine, gear and tire noise than in a passenger car.

Enjoy!

 

3:83??? is that 3:73?

 

Typo.

 

The taller tire will lower RPM's. I would make sure your speed is correct as you may be going faster than you thought. Once you change tire size from the original factory tire the speedo will be off. You can change this and I'm sure a few gents can chime in on where to get the parts

 

You had the Jeep in Low Range if you were topping out at 35mph. With 4.88s, an overdrive, and 31s your top speed should be around 70-80mph.

The t-case lever should go all the way forward towards the firewall for 2WD. To verify, try to spin the front driveshaft by hand with the front hubs unlocked. If you're in 4WD or 4WD Low Range the front shaft won't spin.