New guy needs some advice

Okay so I have been on the forum reading and learning a lot. I have a few questions for you guys and understand this is my first jeep. I inherited a 66 cj5 with the 225V6. I sold my motorcycle to have some money to put into the jeep and so far have ordered the 3" Black diamond lift because I want to clear 33's. So a have a few g's to play with and want to updreade the brakes and lock up atlast the rear to do some trail riding and light rock crawling. I will pass the jeep to my son so I want to do it right. I got it running but it needs new tires bad as the ones on it are over 20 years old. My question is should I try and upgrade to disc brakes or will my oem axles need to be swapped out for something that will last? What would you guys do? What else would you suggest in first updgrades? Thanks in advance!

 

There are some disk brake kits available for both the front and rear. TSM has a good rear kit that I have actually used. http://www.tsmmfg.com/2580.htm there are several options for the front brakes including swapping with wrecking yard parts from jeeps as well as other vehicles. I believe the are some tech articles on the internet including this webpage. You could also swap a complete narrow track disk brake front end from a cj5 or early cj7. There are also kits available from brake conversion companies such as Stainless Steel Brakes. http://www.ssbrakes.com/products/detail/981/?make=Jeep&model=CJ-5&year=1970 Even though it lists it's products for 1970 dana 30, I believe the kit will still fit your Dana 27. If it were me I would swap the front end out to a disk brake Dana 30 as it should bolt in with little difficulty. That is the route I am going with my cj2a. I hope that helps you out some.
Greg

 

If it were me being budget minded, I would put discs on the front and 11" on the rear. R&P and a few other companies offer both 11" brake kits for the front and rear and disc brake kits for the front as well. I Haven't used the TSM kits so can't comment on those but have used the SS disk brake kits and was not real impressed. While functional I found many things that were a little cheasy for the money spent.

You could easily upgrade the front to a 30 with discs but depending on your existing gear ratio probably will entail a gear ratio change would could be $$$. The advantage to a 30 front is it is slightly wider and will give a better turning radius and can be had with disc or 11" drum brakes already. Having said that I ran my stock 25 for many years with a warmed up 231 and 33" tires and had few issues. When I did start breaking do to the terrain I was traveling then I upgraded to a 44. There is no stock 44 front that is a direct bolt in by the way.

I'd convert what you have and put the rest of my money into a Saginaw Power steering conversion, full cage, maybe a winch, and other safety items like Fire Extinguisher, recovery equipment, etc. I'd also thoroughly check out the running gear and make sure it is all in good shape. If for example you found the T-86 transmission had issues I'd upgrade to a stronger truck style transmission with a granny low first gear (compound low gear) that will hold up much better and be much better on the trail. Right now you have a lot of unknowns until you actually drive it.

The knuckle stud conversion on the 27 front is a worthwhile upgrade if you are upgrading the brakes anyway.

I'd do a search on this stuff as there is tons of info on this site..
Remember, you want to concentrate on safety items as well as making it a dependable trail rig..

It's easy to fall into the "that would be cool to have or I've gotta have this" excitement that many of the magazines and web sites try to sell you on. Make a plan of what you want the end result to be, how much the upgrades or changes cost, then stick to it and don't fall for the bling unless it's justified or is really needed.

 

I wouldn't do anymore till you've installed what you've ordered, already purchased.
Then take it out and use it a little to see what it will do as is.
no need to re-invent the Jeep with your first Jeep IMO.

 

Greg, great info thanks. Does it need to be a specific dana 30 like off a specific year jeep? Also when I find one with disc brakes do I upgreade the master cylinder as well and is that easy to do? Thanks for the help. I will take the advise others said and see how I like it first wtih what I have but I have driven it and the brakes scare me which is why I want to do them first. So that's why I'm trying to figure out what my best option is. My uncle said it had upgraded breaks but I haven't opened her up yet to see if she has 11" drums or what not. So breaks, the lift and tires, and go from there! Any more input would be great!

 

Great advise, thanks. I'll do some searches as I have no idea what some of that is (knuckle stud conversion)

 

Definitely do a search on it but basically the spindles and backing plates are currently held on with bolts that are threaded into the knuckles. With hard use the threads can pull out of the knuckles causing the spindle and consequently the whole wheel assembly to come off. You convert to studs that press in from the back side to keep this from happening. Later model open knuckle front axles come with this already from the factory.

 

Power steering without a doubt, do not wait on that. It helps on tight trails, and enables you to use a smaller steering wheel leaving more room dor the driver. You will also want at least front disc certainly, but since you are thinking rear locker also, I would develop a master plan for both axles, and just knock it out all at once.

 

So does anyone know whic dana 30 I should be shopping for? Specif years off of a specific vehicle? Thanks!

 

Thanks!!