First Jeep

[stickandtin]

I'm new to the forum and just traded for my first Jeep, a 1970 CJ5 . Let me give you some details. I traded a Honda 4 wheeler for it. It has a Dauntless Buick 225 V6 in it, but I don't think the original 235. I think it's a newer model V6, it has the HEI distributor. PO jacked up the wiring harness. toggle switch to engage electric fuel pump, push button to engage starter. Has at least one short somewhere because have to remove battery cable or battery runs down overnight. No guages work, windshield busted out. No lights work. Crappy job of cutting and rolling front fenders. Fuel tank still under drivers seat. Has aftermarket full roll cage that goes through the body and attaches to frame. No exhaust system, just straight pipe comming out side of vehicle. "southern engineered" 4 inch lift, not a kit. Rediculous rims with 35 inch tires that won't allow steering wheel to go all the way to the right. Brakes are weak, missing shocks on front, back shocks worn out. I won't drive it over 30 mph because very unstable. Front axle has International Harvester locking hubs.

The good part...it runs and it's not a rust bucket. It's ugly but I've become attached.

Where do I start?

 

[BusaDave9]

You have quite a project on your hands.
Where to start? Good question. I would concentrate on getting it drivable. Give it a brake job.
It sounds like it's not even license-able. Take it to an exhaust shop and have mufflers put on it. You will also need a windshield to get it licensed.
Then work on the electrical issues. I would remove all fuses to help track down the short.
Throw on some shocks.

 

[IOPort51]

the brakes may be overpowered by the tires?

 

[stickandtin]

Yeah, it's definitely not street legal. I didn't think about the 35 inch tires overpowering the brakes, good tip. Was this jeep set up for 15 inch tires originally? I am definitley taking off the "southern engineered" lift and starting over on the suspension.

By the way, after I wrote this e-mail, I saw the "where to start" post at teh top of this sub forum. Sorry for bewing redundantly redundant.

 

[BusaDave9]

You'll have to post some pictures. What are the plans? Are you going to make it street legal or just an off-roader to be trailered? Can't make plans until that decision is made.
Yes 15 inch rims were OEM.

 

[stickandtin]

I'm thinking street legal/off road combo so it doesn't have to be trailered. I've got a hell of a lot to learn about the drive train on this little beast I traded for. Are the IH locking hubs original equipment? Is the front axle a Dana or IH. I'm still trying to figure out the Transfer Case . It seems to have a high low range(lever with red knob?) and another lever to engage/disengage...is that correct? Also, the front axle has some kind of knuckle joints I've never seen. Looks like a ball and socket. What the heck is that? V6 gives this witch a lot of kick. I think if I popped the clutch the front wheels would come off the ground.

I'll get pics posted as soon as I can. Every vehicle I've ever owned, first thing I did was buy an original shop manual...no chiltons or haynes. Can't seem to find anything out there for a 1970 Jeep. Any suggestions where I can can get a real shop manual? Tag in engine compartment says manufactured by Kaiser Willys Ohio. What year did AMC take over?

 

[BusaDave9]

normally I would expect a Dana 30 under a CJ5 but a PO may have installed a Dana 44 from a Scout. It's a common swap.

I think you have a Dana 20 Transfer Case . If you have a twin shift one lever is for the front and one for the rear.

[FONT=FreeSans, Arial Unicode MS, sans-serif]American Motors bought the Jeep company in 1971[/FONT]

 

[73CJ]

I'm thinking it's a Dana 18 Transfer Case . . .




AMC put some CJs out mid 1970. 1970 is a mess as far as figuring things out. They were using up the Kaiser parts.

 

[BusaDave9]

I'm thinking it's a Dana 18 Transfer Case . . .

AMC put some CJs out mid 1970. 1970 is a mess as far as figuring things out. They were using up the Kaiser parts.

That should be easy to tell. stickandtin look at your rear differential. If the differential is in the middle of the Axle you might have a Dana 20 TCase. If the differential is closer to the right side you have a Dana 18 TCase

 

[JR74CJ5]

A common overnight battery drainer is a radio install with both red and orange hooked up to the 12v power, instead of 12v and ignition...

If it has aftermarket radio installed check that.

Obviously it could be a number of things, just sounds like that's the type of wiring the PO did



Good Luck ~ JR

 

[gert]

Welcome aboard from Dallas sounds like you have figured out the true first step..... What do I really have? and the next one to......get it driveable sounds like a heck of a project, we are hear to help you all we can

 

[woooter61]

Congrats on joining the Jeep crew! You will have a blast with it.