New 74 Build Have Some Questions

FIRST POST........Just picked up this CJ5 and wish to bring it back to near stock. (semi m38a1 look) Previous owner had other ideas so some of the original parts were sold off.


1: Current car has a 4" lift. I want to go back to a thin tire/steel wheel and was wondering if I can just switch back to stock shackles and keep the lifted springs. It would get me closer to where I want to be.

2: Previous owner purchased a flaming river polished column and I prefer to go with the stock simple shaft and 3 spoke wheel. Any source for the early style steering column and turn stalk?





More questions to follow.

D

 

1. Sure. Check you caster, but it should be better with the stock shackles.
2. Junkyard or parts car.

Welcome from Boston!

 

welcome from Tennessee!

 

Speedway motors has some really nice and cheap columns. Flaming River stuff is spendy so you may be able to get some money for it. Welcome.

 

Thanks guys...Still looking for an all stock column and shaft. Wheel is available new so no problem there....

OS

 

welcome from va . a postal jeep will also have what you want

 

Is the Postal column the right length for an Intermediate? I undertsand it's the same type of column, but I've heard here that it's a good source for a replacement column with Saginaw upgrade in an Early CJ. I've never heard that it is identical to an Intermediate column.

I went to car-part.com and it does not show any cross-over to postals. Shows a few dozen columns available nation-wide, but no specifically in postal Jeeps. Depending on where you are in California, you could try J&W in Antelope (near Sacramento) ... very likely they will have one, but prices are typically high.

 

I'm also seeing the steering tubes available new. Is it as simple as the 2 outer bearings, tube and a steering shaft? Original looking is all I am after.

 

Still trying to figure out the suspension. Confused with what is different from the earlier models. Looking to get back to stock....

This retailer says 62-75 so intermediate and early share the same leafs????
Running a 258 and have no idea on 7 or 9 leafs for the front and what its differences are. Also what on the rear? Only see 1 option with 9 leafs for the rear.

 

Yes. Same width and length.

No difference between the V8 and six. There was a standard and heavy duty option. Exact number of leaves depends on the year, and there can be more than one leaf count each year.

1974 standard was 5 leaf rear, 7 or 9 leaf front. Heavy duty was 10 leaf, front and rear.

These are the standard springs from my '75, 9 front and 5 rear.This would be the same as that combination (9 and 5) in 1974.

 

Thanks guys.....

 

Not seeing any 9 fronts. Was referred to this site. Any reviews or thoughts? Their leafs do include bushings...

1945 - 1975 Jeep CJ Leaf Springs

 

Unlikely you will get an exact reproduction of the factory springs unless you have a custom spring shop make them, and they have samples to work from. Realize that Jeep changed the specs of the spring packs at their discretion, so many different yet functionally identical configurations existed.

General Spring has come up at least once in earlier posts. Search - site:earlycj5.net general spring - Bing

 

Making headway with the leafs. General Spring has been very helpful finding the right combination for the type of driving I plan to do. Great service!

Pulled the rear diff cover, added a lubelocker. Looks like a standard open diff to me or it this a locker? I apologize as I am FULL of stupid questions.
Can you guys recommend an oil for it based on locker or not?


Thanks...

 

It is a limited slip Tracklock. Pretty much functions as an open case after about 500 miles on a set of new clutches. Can be handy if you drag the brakes slightly it will give a tiny amount of extra traction. It was very common in intermediates and all postals had them.

 

Use a regular 85W90 gear oil with limited slip additive.

They work better than Daryl describes. However, they have two main faults - the clutches wear out rather quickly (not 500 miles though) and they can break with severe impact load. They can be rebuilt with new clutch plates to tighten them up. Even when new, they are not aggressive and do not noticeably affect driving characteristics on the street. This is actually a benefit in many cases - an aggressive LSD or locker can make driving in slippery (icy) conditions unpredictable.

If you want the ultimate, get a selectable locker. But that's expensive.

 

From 73 FSM

 

Pretty confused after trying to put an order together. Jon at Kaiser Willys has been great and suggests front 10 and 9 rear. Is there any reason not to go this way? Not going to be towing and don't want to be too stiff. Can anyone give input on how the 10 spring cars ride? This build will be a 6 inch rim with thin, stock tires...

Thanks again

OLD

 

stiff and bouncy with the stock ten and ten in my 74 the bds 2.5 springs arent really that much taller after setteling some and ride ten times better.

 

Any new springs will likely be an improvement. When leaf springs get old, they sag and lose a lot of their height. I expect the bouncy ride comes from hitting the stops on most bumps, and the ride will be improved by more ride height.

Regarding the General Spring offerings, it seems you will be one of the early adopters, so you'll have to place your bets and take your chances. If you aren't comfortable with that, and you don't want the BDS springs (or another set of lift springs like Skyjacker), you could contact one of the custom shops like Alcan or Deaver and have springs made to your specification. AFAIK the only other off-the-shelf solution is springs from Omix, and experience with them here has been negative.

Here is my CJ-6 with brand-new BDS springs and 1" extended shackles.



Looks high, but these are 33" tires and the extended shackles give a little more height. Plus this is new and completely empty. The distance from the wheel hubs to the fenders will give you an idea of the ride height you would have with the BDS springs.