75 CJ - Help Please

[billyocup]

I'm a newbie to the jeep world, so I have lots of questions.

I have a 75 CJ5 that I'm doing a frame off rebuild on. It has a AMC 304 V8, Dana 44 in the rear and Dana 30 up front. I've already identified that it needs new brake lines and cylinders, a new wiring harness, a new steering column, tires, wheels and a bunch of other stuff. But I want to start on the frame and suspension and work up from there.

It's running 33x12.5 tires on 15" wheels. There was about 2 1/2" of body lift on it and maybe a little shackle lift. I'd like to stay with the 33's. I'm thinking I'd like to put a 2 1/2" suspension lift on it and drop the body lift to no more than 1". Will that get me enough clearance for the 33's? Any recommends on lift kits?

While I've got it down to the frame, I want to reinforce or completely box the frame. My big concern about boxing the frame is how to rust proof the inside?

Most of my previous wrench experience has been working on British sports cars, so any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance. Bill

 

[Petescj]

A 2 1/2 in suspension lift along with a 1 in body lift will clear your 33s. You could probably just due with the suspension lift actually. What are you doing with the Jeep? Need alot of flex and clearance?

 

[gert]

Welcome aboard Box the frame thats good. Check your frame for squareness prior to boxing is good. Check out Eastwood.com If memory serves me they now have a tube that you run down in the frame to spray their rustproofing in

 

[billyocup]

gert - Thanks for the tip on Eastwood.com. Will check out their rust proofing. I do plan to check the frame for square prior to boxing.

Petescj - I plan to use the Jeep mainly off road, maybe some mild rock crawling but nothing too radical. I live in the mountains so most of the trails are no more than a 1/2 hour drive on the highway. Any recommendations for lift kits or ones I should stay away from?

Thanks,
Bill

 

[73CJ]

I would recommend old Man Emu Emu Dakar Leaf Springs

Boxing is good. Just make sure you get all the nut plates right the first time.

And Welcome!

 

[BigAl77cj5]

Your jeep looks like it already has a suspension lift on it. The springs look to be millitary rapped on the end ( the top two leafs rap together at the eye). If That is the case they are already lift springs. probably not a lot of lift but it looks like they still have a good arch to them. If it was me I'd just clean them up and keep them. Then if you want to get the 1 inch body lift. We put a daystar on Dad's 78 and it is pretty nice.

 

[billyocup]

BigAl - Here are a couple of close up photos of the springs where they attach to the front and rear shackles and it looks like you're right. The question is whether these springs provide enough lift to clear the 33's without going back to the 2 1/2 in. body lift. I guess I could set the tub back on with 1 in. spacers and see?

 

[Nomad127]

Welcome aboard Box the frame thats good. Check your frame for squareness prior to boxing is good. Check out Eastwood.com If memory serves me they now have a tube that you run down in the frame to spray their rustproofing in

I believe this is what Gert is talking about.

YouTube - Eastwood's Internal Frame Coating

 

[BigAl77cj5]

BigAl - Here are a couple of close up photos of the springs where they attach to the front and rear shackles and it looks like you're right. The question is whether these springs provide enough lift to clear the 33's without going back to the 2 1/2 in. body lift. I guess I could set the tub back on with 1 in. spacers and see?

billy the lift on your jeep is probably a 2 1/2 inch so you should be able to clear your 33's just fine with the 1 inch body lift. If you don't have enough clearance after that then you would just need to get another lift. Might save you some money by trying the body lift first.

 

[cj5ben]

What are you planning on doing with the jeep. If you take it off road i wouldn't recommend boxing the frame because flex which the frame is actually designed to do....I had the same problem ordering shocks because my suspension is custom and I started with a frame so I didnt know what to base anything on. Hope that helps...

 

[billyocup]

Nomad - Thanks for the link.

Big Al - Thanks for your input. I hope you're right and the only thing I'll need to do is buy new shocks and body lift. Saving money is good.

cj5ben - I'm a bit confused about the whole boxing or not issue. I'm going to use this jeep mainly off road, forest roads and mild rock crawling. I understand your point about the flex in the frame being designed in.

I've been reading the Jeep CJ Rebuilders Manual by Moses Ludel. He recommends reinforcing the frame at the anchor ends of the springs, to help prevent cracking at those stress points. Any thoughts?

Thanks for all the input - Bill

 

[cj5ben]

What i did is weld a strip of 1/8 steel 1.5 inches wide to the bottom of the frame from front shock mount to rear bumpstop... I'm happy with the turnout...I also rewelded many of the factory for some extra security....my dad used to be a frame and suspension designer for AO Smith and Tower Automotive...so he had some imput on what to do

 

[billyocup]

cj5ben - Thanks! That sounds like a plan and is a lot less work than boxing the frame.

 

[nickgodwin1]

Hey just some extra input. Like the others said you need to find out how much lift your current springs are. I have 2.5 inch springs and with nothing else cleared 33 12.50's on 10 inch rims mo problem and with clearence. I went with 3/8 inch shackles to beef them up but I would stay away from any shackles over 1/2 inch. I have a 1" daystar bl on the way but its towering the tires as is so that should be a good setup for you, I would def ditch that big body lift and the big shackles it will drive 100% better

 

[billyocup]

Any recommendations for determining the amount of lift from the existing springs? I think I read somewhere that if you run a straight line from the spring ends and measure down to the top of the axle, that should be the amount of lift. Do I need to pull the shocks off before measuring?

 

[73CJ]

Grab a tape. These are 27-28" tires. H78 Goodyears

 

[oldguy]

Just another opinion here but in about 77 they started boxing frames from the factory and continued doing it until the demise of the CJ. The only problem I know of was, or is the fact that they collect mud and rust out a lot faster than channel frames. My last CJ was a 74 which I boxed the frame in and had no problems with it at all. Also I had 33" tires on that one and 2.5" syspension and 1" body was all I needed but I did put spacers between the front rims and wheels to move the tires out from the springs in order to maintain the tight turning radius. This is harder on the wheel bearings but with the Jeep being a rather light rig I had no problems.

 

[billyocup]

73CJ - Thanks for the picture. I did some measuring and it looks like I've got 2 1/2 in of lift from the springs and some additional lift from the shackles. The shackles measure 4 in center to center of the bolts. Will probably go back to stock shackles. I'm guessing it may be a Rancho lift, because that's the shocks that are on it.

oldguy - Thanks for the input. I'm still waffling on the best way to reinforce the frame. I like the idea of boxing, but protecting the inside from rust is still a concern. I got the engine, tranny and Transfer Case pulled out of the frame over the weekend. Hope to get the suspension and diffs pulled off this week. Then I can get the frame checked for square and decide where to go next.

I really appreciate everyone's help and input. Bill

 

[billyocup]

Haven't had much time for the CJ the last week between work and weather. 3 feet of snow here in the central Sierra's and were expecting more tonight. Been spending lots of time with the snowblower out on the driveway.

I did get the differentials off and into a local shop for some refurbishing. Bearings, seals, etc.

I've determined that the springs have a 2 1/2" lift and are in pretty good shape. No broken or cracked leafs, so I'm going to pull them apart and clean them up. Any recommendations on paint or coatings? I've read a little bit on "Slip Coat", teflon and delrin strips, but was wondering what experience anyone else has had doing this.

Thanks, Bill