Rescued Grandfathers Scrapyard 79 CJ Rebuild - Steering/Suspension/Drivetrain

[PHFarm]

IT RUNS!!!! So lots of progress on the jeep. Got most of the body mocked up, but it runs! Sounds really good, 28-32 psi hot oil pressure. Fans kick on at 180 and 195 respectively. Idles a little high, but I think it needs to learn some. Holley sniper was super easy to get started. I need to verify and adjust timing a touch, I think it’s a tad retarded. I have the base timing in the sniper set at 15, but it runs!

So now the next thing, my fat <-BAD WORD-> is never going to fit in it without tilt. I’ve scoured the web and it looks like repop tilt columns are 8-1500 bucks, way out of my price range. I see lots of people say this column or that column, but I’m a little confused. I plan on converting to power steering, but that another story.

I can weld pretty much anything, so I’m not scared of having to modify a column, I’m just not sure which one to start with. I don’t have a steering shaft of gearbox so I’ll have to address that, but it looks that building a steering shaft with the various adapters available shouldn’t be too big of an issue. I plan on using a reman factory gearbox, and fabbing a ps pump bracket. The column seems like the reasonable place to start, if anyone has a post, I tried searching, about adapting a column and what was needed that would be super cool. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[PHFarm]

It rolls! Found a set of 15x10 wheels on facespace for 100 bucks. They are pretty dirty, but I should be able to clean them up. Took advantage of discount tires price match and ordered a set of 33x12.50s right at 200 a tire. The shop called me and said they would be about a week and asked me if I was interested in 35s I hadn’t really thought about it too much, but with the SOA I figured they would fit. He offered them to me for the same price as the 33s. I think it looks pretty good. They clear well and I think fill out the wheel wells better than 33s would.

Started working on the PS bracket, have a mock up that I don’t see why it won’t work, using three mounting points on the head. Cut in an adjustment slider and it seems pretty solid. The steering box gets here friday. Wound up finding a tilt column from an XJ that’s is almost the same dimensions as the stock non-tilt factory column. I’ll need to fab a steering shaft, but was going to have to do that anyways. Getting closer for sure.

 

[buzz54]

IT RUNS!!!! So lots of progress on the jeep. Got most of the body mocked up, but it runs! Sounds really good, 28-32 psi hot oil pressure. Fans kick on at 180 and 195 respectively. Idles a little high, but I think it needs to learn some. Holley sniper was super easy to get started. I need to verify and adjust timing a touch, I think it’s a tad retarded. I have the base timing in the sniper set at 15, but it runs!

So now the next thing, my fat <-BAD WORD-> is never going to fit in it without tilt. I’ve scoured the web and it looks like repop tilt columns are 8-1500 bucks, way out of my price range. I see lots of people say this column or that column, but I’m a little confused. I plan on converting to power steering, but that another story.

I can weld pretty much anything, so I’m not scared of having to modify a column, I’m just not sure which one to start with. I don’t have a steering shaft of gearbox so I’ll have to address that, but it looks that building a steering shaft with the various adapters available shouldn’t be too big of an issue. I plan on using a reman factory gearbox, and fabbing a ps pump bracket. The column seems like the reasonable place to start, if anyone has a post, I tried searching, about adapting a column and what was needed that would be super cool. Thanks again for all the help.

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steering column from a S10 or S10 blazer and the GMC counter parts from the late 80s to early 90s will work. You just have to use a different steering shaft coupler to the steering column and a couple of changes on where it mounts inside the tub. The wiring is plug and play.

another thing to do for a big guy to fit in the CJ5 is to notch the front of the rear wheel well so you can move the seat back further. on YT there are a couple of videos from WFO that show a CJ5 with the notch to help you with ideas.

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[Belizean]

steering column from a S10 or S10 blazer and the GMC counter parts from the late 80s to early 90s will work. You just have to use a different steering shaft coupler to the steering column and a couple of changes on where it mounts inside the tub. The wiring is plug and play.

another thing to do for a big guy to fit in the CJ5 is to notch the front of the rear wheel well so you can move the seat back further. on YT there are a couple of videos from WFO that show a CJ5 with the notch to help you with ideas.

There’s a thread right here all about doing it. Up at the top right is a magnifine glass. Do an advance search.

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[PHFarm]

I thought about that, super easy to do it looks. I’m going to try and lower the seat bracket a bit, then find some seats that aren’t as fluffy. With the tilt column I got from the XJ it’s not horrible once I’m in it. If I still need more I’ll notch the wheel wells. Thanks for the input on the column, the XJ one is gonna work great I think. Waiting on the gearbox before I start measuring for the shaft fab up.

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