CJ5 Mileage and Comfort

[bdowns]

Hello all. I have a '79 CJ5 V8 3 speed with a 4" lift, 1" shackle lift and 33's. I want to make this my daily driver and was hoping to get it a bit more "comfortable" (seats are fine). I had a YJ for 10 years and know that Jeeps are just rough rides. I'm ok with that but want (mainly for the wife's sake) to improve the ride a bit more.

I've decided so far to put stock shackles on as well as a 2.5" lift to be able to keep the 33's. What else can I do beyond that to help with things? Also, any suggestions on getting a smoother start on colder mornings?

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.

 

[tarry99]

Hello all. I have a '79 CJ5 V8 3 speed with a 4" lift, 1" shackle lift and 33's. I want to make this my daily driver and was hoping to get it a bit more "comfortable" (seats are fine). I had a YJ for 10 years and know that Jeeps are just rough rides. I'm ok with that but want (mainly for the wife's sake) to improve the ride a bit more.

I've decided so far to put stock shackles on as well as a 2.5" lift to be able to keep the 33's. What else can I do beyond that to help with things? Also, any suggestions on getting a smoother start on colder mornings?

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.

Its all about the suspension............when you add lift the springs are arched higher and made stiffer to raise the vechile thus compromising the ride......Some of the CJ5 owners have replaced the shorter narrower springs with a longer wider spring that has a lower spring rate which improves the ride.
Really tough to have the best of both Worlds IE; Height & Ride
Don't know what kind of shocks you have but a more closer to stock valving type shock is all you really need.
Also 2.5 inches lift for 33" tires is right at the minimum.

 

[C dubya]

This is pure opinion on my part, and I have nothing against alternative powertrains. I actually really dig Chevy Vortec 4.3 swaps. But unless I had a real pieced together Jeep ie, non-matching frame, tub, motor already I prefer Jeep drivetrains in Jeeps. I don't want to cross into franken-Jeep territory personally, unless the build dictated it. No offense to others who I have done so, I thinks it's cool just not for me. Numbers matching is not important to me either.

 

[BusaDave9]

Some of the CJ5 owners have replaced the shorter narrower springs with a longer wider spring that has a lower spring rate which improves the ride.

Listen to Tarry long wide springs will help the ride but as you remarked, it will never be as smooth as a sedan.

BTW I also have a '79 CJ5 with a V8 but I only use mine on the trails (and just enough highway to get to the trails)

:ww:

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Well a YJ of course is going to ride better than a CJ due to the flat, wider springs but by now you know that. I think 2-1/2” of spring lift on a CJ is the max, maybe pick up another ¾” with good aftermarket shackles but that’s it. I too subscribe to keeping your jeep, jeep.

 

[DHugg]

Hello all. I have a '79 CJ5 V8 3 speed with a 4" lift, 1" shackle lift and 33's. I want to make this my daily driver and was hoping to get it a bit more "comfortable" (seats are fine). I had a YJ for 10 years and know that Jeeps are just rough rides. I'm ok with that but want (mainly for the wife's sake) to improve the ride a bit more.

I've decided so far to put stock shackles on as well as a 2.5" lift to be able to keep the 33's. What else can I do beyond that to help with things? Also, any suggestions on getting a smoother start on colder mornings?

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.

I, too, have a "log wagon" ride in my '80 CJ7 with Procomp lift springs. I intend to drop off the bottom two of five spring leaves in the rear, and one in front for starters.

The MC2100 starts the AMC304 well and reliably, but I'd like the ignition system and fuel delivery system to be bullet-proof. I am gathering parts for a conversion to MSD ... read up on it following this link:
Ignition upgrade (Team Rush?) - JeepForum.com

 

[bdowns]

Thank you guys very much for the great feedback. I think I'm going to go with a 2.5" suspension lift and the 3/8" shackle lift. I'm also going to look into the TeamRush upgrade too. Seems pretty straight forward.

Any suggestions for a decent 2.5" lift and shackles?

 

[Rollie]

Just a little question about mileage. I have a 75 CJ5 with a AMC 232 i6 . The speedometer does not work and it hasn't since I got it. So I wonder what kind of mileage I am actually getting. I've heard that CJs get terrible mileage. Do the lockouts help that much? I've actually never seen a CJ that didn't have them. Also I have a set of Cutlass lockouts on my Jeep. I heard that was what came on CJs back in the day if you ordered one with that option. Are they any good? I've heard they are good paperweights. Would it be better to throw a set of Warn hubs on there? Warn hubs aren't that expensive.

 

[BusaDave9]

Do the lockouts help that much? ...

Also I have a set of Cutlass lockouts on my Jeep. ... Are they any good?

I don't think lockout hubs make too much difference in mileage. Now-a-days manufacturers are much more concerned about mileage than when your CJ was built and the new JK Wranglers don't have locking hubs. The front axle parts are always turning.
As for wear and tear on parts once again it makes a slight difference. When you are not in 4WD there isn't much force on those parts. That being said there is no need to keep your hubs locked unless you plan on shifting into 4WD very soon.

Cutlass Hubs. You need a tool to lock and unlock those, don't you? Well, the advantage of replacing those is any replacement you would install wouldn't need a tool to lock or unlock.

 

[BusaDave9]

I'm also going to look into the TeamRush upgrade too. Seems pretty straight forward.

Check out our link here: http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f2/teamrush-ignition-upgrade-11416/

 

[csuengr]

My CJ7 was originally a four cylinder with 4.10 gears from the factory with a SR4 tranny and 30" tires. Around town it would get in the upper 20's. It wasn't tuned that well, due to me being too lazy to pull the dizzy and rotate it so I could get more advance. (It had GM HEI) going across South Park, ~10,000 ft altitude, it could only manage 55 mph, going down hill. The speed limit was 65. It got 16-17 mpg trying to do 55.

 

[Rollie]

I don't think lockout hubs make too much difference in mileage. Now-a-days manufacturers are much more concerned about mileage than when your CJ was built and the new JK Wranglers don't have locking hubs. The front axle parts are always turning.
As for wear and tear on parts once again it makes a slight difference. When you are not in 4WD there isn't much force on those parts. That being said there is no need to keep your hubs locked unless you plan on shifting into 4WD very soon.

Cutlass Hubs. You need a tool to lock and unlock those, don't you? Well, the advantage of replacing those is any replacement you would install wouldn't need a tool to lock or unlock.

You can turn them by hand. They do have a slot in the center that you could probably stick something in there to turn them, but I've never had trouble doing it by hand. I've only locked them in three or four times since I've owned the jeep.

 

[BusaDave9]

Sounds different than what I am thinking of.

 

[Rollie]

These are my cutlass lockouts.

 

[tarry99]

These are my cutlass lockouts.

Rollie,

The Spring loaded version like you have were a great lockout hub that was just as good as the Warn back in the day...............If there working keep them...........I doubt you could still get parts for them but that is the same case for Warn...........hardly any internal parts are available anymore they just want to sell new sets.

One thing I liked about the Cutlass was this: You could engage the spring loaded hub knob to the 4 wheel position when you left your drive way at home. The hubs would remain free wheeling until you engaged the Transfer Case and sent power to the front wheel drive system.
Still have to dis-engage manually when you return to the pavement.
I still use them personally.

 

[bdowns]

Well, I finally got the work done to make my CJ5 a monster on and off the road. I took the 4" lift off and replaced it with a Rancho 2.5" lift with the 7000 shocks. They adjusted the cantor, did and alignment and took care of some other vibration issues. I also had a few pieces of the clutch replaced as well. I'm keeping the 33's on and they still have plenty of clearance. With all of the changes it's like having a new jeep. Thank you guys very much for all of the advise this far. I'm going to continue on with the upgrades.

Also, for Phoenix, 4Wheelers is by far the best and my favorite shop here. Amazing work by extremely knowedgable guys. I couldn't be happier.

 

[tinhorn]

I have a set of Cutlass lockouts on my Jeep....I've heard they are good paperweights.

Be sure to let me know if you decide to replace those Cutlas hubs. I like paperweights.

 

[tinhorn]

I intend to drop off the bottom two of five spring leaves in the rear, and one in front for starters.http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/ignition-upgrade-team-rush-990952/

What would happen if you removed the #1 leaf instead of #4 and #5?

 

[thiswontbetooexpensive]

What would happen if you removed the #1 leaf instead of #4 and #5?

You would have a hard time attaching it to the frame I think. Unless I'm counting backward? I just type sometimes to keep in practice!


This won't be too expensive Dear! That's what I keep saying. Over and over again.

 

[tinhorn]

Heh, heh. I wasn't counting the one that actually bolts to the frame. But under that one is a leaf that runs the entire length of the spring. I'm not an engineer but it seems to me that removing the full-length leaf instead of the two shortest ones would create a softer overall ride.