Some questions on direction of build

[jeepn4evr]

Hey there, I was on here a couple years ago when I started the refurbishing of my 74 CJ5 but then it got put on hold. Now I am itching to get it going again but am Limited like everyone else with time & money. Have a couple questions to help me figure out what exactly I want to do that I hope you all can help me with.

First of all vehicle specs just so everyone is on same page. Will see if I can't upload pics at some point
1974 CJ5
AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l - out of 85 CJ7 - Unknown mileage
T-18 - installed 15+ years ago
Stock axles & gears - D30F, D44R - Believe I ahve 3.73 but not 100% sure (need to check again)
Approx 4 in lift - 2.5 in suspension, .5 in shackle,2in body
35 in BFG mud terrains on Hurricane wheels. Slightly used when I bought them but haven't left the yard in 2 years
20 gal plastic gas tank
Power drum brakes
Body & paint redone in 2004
Front Roll cage added in 2004

Hopeful upgrades & refurbishment
Make more family & weather friendly (since I got married & as of 2 weeks ago now have 3 kids)
- Install rear seat, belts & family style cage - Have rear seat & belts already
- Install heater - Have Mojave heater & ducts ready to install
- Install soft top - Need to buy
- Fix any mistakes I made in 2004 as well as issues I have ignored since build
- Install new steering box - Already have

Now the reason for this thread - questions about
- Disc brakes on at least front axle
- Possible lockers?
- Adding Fuel Injection

 

[jeepn4evr]

Ok saving this one for possible pictures

 

[gert]

I believe that the knuckles out and short axle shaft from a later Dana 30 will swap over and give you the discs you want, junk yard TBI swap is what I have been wanting to do as well as installing TBI fuel pump in tank. Lockers are pretty easy just decide what you want to do and how much money you have to do it with Howell makes the complete TBI kit ready to bolt in plenty of kits for rear disc


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[gert]

Sounds like a pretty cool jeep btw


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[jeepn4evr]

I am at work & "working" so can't make these posts too long as I am afraid they will get lost if I have to close the page.

At any rate on to the questions

First - Disc brakes on front axle.

As I mentioned I am severely Limited by time & money. Most likely a common occurrence here. I have the stock Dana 30 & REALLY want disc brakes up front at least if not also on the rear Dana 44 also. I have seen kits online that run in the $800 range for a disc brake conversion.

Option 2 - I have also seen on the local Craigslist whole Dana 30 narrow track front axles with disc brakes for $400 - $500. Obviously cheaper but does buying a whole axle save me any time? Figured I would have a couple options if I bought the whole axle

1 - Could sell current axle possible & recoup some money
2 - Could take the best parts off both axles for 1 good one & have a few spare parts left over. For instance I like the warn hubs on my axle but not the hubs currently on the ones I am looking at.
3 - Questions - Can I remove the brakes from the axle I buy & install them on my axle? Would that be easier? Since my axle is in good condition I hate to put something I don't know anything about under there

Option 3 - Source parts from junkyards to build my own brakes. I am assuming this would take more time & possibly more $$ than buying a complete axle

SO question is what would you all do? While I am looking for the cheapest & most time saving option I also have to keep in mind safety & not wanting to do it 2x if something breaks. Also keep in mind good chance I will want to re-gear it & possibly put in a locker which will be addressed in another question

 

[jeepn4evr]

I believe that the knuckles out and short axle shaft from a later Dana 30 will swap over and give you the discs you want,

You answered my question on brakes before I really asked it. Thanks. Just to be on the safe side can anyone confirm this? That way I can tell my wife that at least 2 other people said I could do it.

Lockers are pretty easy just decide what you want to do and how much money you have to do it with

For the lockers I am wondering about driveability as well as putting too much $$ into a Dana 30 .

To be honest while I dream of conquering some sweet trails & eventually going to Moab I know for the time being at least the Jeep will be regulated to street use ALOT more than even seeing a dirt trail unfortunately. While my wife loves the idea of exploring back country, since we now have more people than seats in the Jeep it wont happen alot. Also not sure if she can handle the fun suspension that is involved in a 4 wheeling. All that to say is putting a locker in the front going to mess anything up while on the street. I would assume I need an ARB or some sort of selectable locker. At this point don't think I can afford F & R lockers & don't want a full time in the rear as I would do doughnuts too much on purpose & on accident.

I also don't want to put something in there that would destroy the Dana 30 if I try something semi stupid. I have always heard that 35s are pretty much the limit for the 30 & while it would be sweet to have a Dana 44 front its just not going to happen.

 

[Torxhead]

Well, I try to give you a start on some of your questions, jeepn4ever. Driveability with lockers is something you will get used to whatever you install. If you are planning running over trails with slickrock like what Moab has to offer, I would suggest a switchable as cruising over that stuff with a full on locker is a bit tough to steer on unless you like switching your hubs a lot. From what I have seen 35s are a bit much for a Dana 30 unless you have aftermarket axles. From what Moab and Colo. has to offer, you will have lots of fun even with a stock CJ5 . You might want to consider joining a Jeep Club to really get into this stuff.

 

[Peanut Butter]

The really big questions to ponder on is: What do you want to do with your Jeep, and What type of driving will you be doing. You have a pretty good handle on answering those questions, but you need to apply them to your modifications. By that I mean, if you are going to use 35" tires, then you need better brakes before you need a locker. You also need to beef up you axles or at a minimum make sure you have good bearings and seals. Family roll cage, very important. You may not be taking the whole family right now, but on down the road, part of your family will always want to go with you.

So the ideas that you have are good ideas, you just need to prioritize them. Don't just look at the application, but apply what you want to do to your usage.

Personally I think you can get the parts you need for front disc brakes rather than deal with a complete axle. Don't worry about rear discs right now. Put a brake booster in first.

Hope this helps some.

 

[IOPort51]

nothing is ever as easy as it first looks. Axles are expensive, try to end up with the axles you really want. If you want wide tracks, do it now.

Make a plan, break it up into bite sized pieces, it's easy to get overwhelmed.

there will be plenty of chances to spend money, be sure you have what you want at the best price possible. know the fair value of what you want.

Welcome to the path to enlightenment.

 

[EVERYUSERNAMEISTAKEN]

I know you said that you are Limited on time but I would keep an eye on Craigslist for jeep parts. You can usually find some axles for pretty cheap. Just get the parts off of them you want and replace those parts with your old parts. Then sell them.

I recently acquired a rear Dana 44 with an Eaton E-Locker (Craigslist $800) and installed an E-Locker in the front. No they aren't cheap but you could do the rear first and then maybe the front at a later date. Selectable lockers seem to be the way to go for us Mall Crawler guys!

 

[jeepn4evr]

Well, I try to give you a start on some of your questions, jeepn4ever. Driveability with lockers is something you will get used to whatever you install. If you are planning running over trails with slickrock like what Moab has to offer, I would suggest a switchable as cruising over that stuff with a full on locker is a bit tough to steer on unless you like switching your hubs a lot. From what I have seen 35s are a bit much for a Dana 30 unless you have aftermarket axles. From what Moab and Colo. has to offer, you will have lots of fun even with a stock CJ5 . You might want to consider joining a Jeep Club to really get into this stuff.

I have been a member of a club in the past, unfortunately that club died due to a couple people moving away & I haven't joined another. I have a couple hesitations about joining. One is time, as in I don't have much if any extra. Between work & family I barely have time to work on my jeep let alone go to meetings or trail runs. I hate to join up then never be at anything. Another thing is while I know clubs are usually pretty good about helping members out I hate to join & be the needy guy just to get my Jeep back on the road. So while I wouldn't mind joining one I don't want to be the member everyone hates cause he is always asking for help or kicked out because I am never at a meeting. Which is why I ask my questions here & then take 4 days to respond to comments

 

[Hedgehog]

Hmm ... is 4 days arbitrary or is it somehow in your contract? In 4 days your problem could be either dead or better while we keep on posting about a non-subject.

 

[jeepn4evr]

The really big questions to ponder on is: What do you want to do with your Jeep, and What type of driving will you be doing. You have a pretty good handle on answering those questions, but you need to apply them to your modifications. By that I mean, if you are going to use 35" tires, then you need better brakes before you need a locker. You also need to beef up you axles or at a minimum make sure you have good bearings and seals. Family roll cage, very important. You may not be taking the whole family right now, but on down the road, part of your family will always want to go with you.

So the ideas that you have are good ideas, you just need to prioritize them. Don't just look at the application, but apply what you want to do to your usage.

Personally I think you can get the parts you need for front disc brakes rather than deal with a complete axle. Don't worry about rear discs right now. Put a brake booster in first.

Hope this helps some.

nothing is ever as easy as it first looks. Axles are expensive, try to end up with the axles you really want. If you want wide tracks, do it now.

Make a plan, break it up into bite sized pieces, it's easy to get overwhelmed.

there will be plenty of chances to spend money, be sure you have what you want at the best price possible. know the fair value of what you want.

Welcome to the path to enlightenment.

Thanks to both of you. While I don't think I will ever get too crazy I want some capability to save myself if needed. After thinking a bit I am going to hold off on lockers until getting things like family cage, brakes etc done. I already have a brake booster installed. At this point I don't really want wide track axles, but if I end up keeping the 35s might have to go to them. I have always heard having a rear Dana 44 was better than the AMC20 , so in a perfect world finding a front 44 that would fit the jeep would be sweet

I know you said that you are Limited on time but I would keep an eye on Craigslist for jeep parts. You can usually find some axles for pretty cheap. Just get the parts off of them you want and replace those parts with your old parts. Then sell them.

I recently acquired a rear Dana 44 with an Eaton E-Locker (Craigslist $800) and installed an E-Locker in the front. No they aren't cheap but you could do the rear first and then maybe the front at a later date. Selectable lockers seem to be the way to go for us Mall Crawler guys!

Yeah I have been looking at Clist quite a bit. Not surprising that there isn't a lot of stuff for CJs that I can use since the newest one is still 30 years old.

I did find a 79 that a guy was parting out. Almost ended up with what was left, which wasn't much & my wife would kill me as I didn't need most of it. However most likely am getting the front axles off of it which I hope to either use parts for disc brakes on mine or a straight swap. He also happened to have a dual exhaust manifold for the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l which I am hoping to get. Not sure if I will actually use it, but better than it going to the crusher.

 

[jeepn4evr]

So my Final questions was about fuel injection. I know Howell has a kit, however had heard about putting a 4.0 head on my AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l block & getting injected that way. I did see in the classifieds looks like someone has the parts needed.

I also have a complete 4.0 from a 96 Cherokee that I was planning on putting in, however after talking to a few people found out that it ALOT more work than either getting a kit from Howell or putting the 4.0 head on my engine.

Anyone done either of these? Things you like or didn't like? Is one better than the other & why? Any other questions I forgot to ask?

 

[gert]

I feel ya on the not having time part, I have a very active 2 year old that I have to chase all over the place and a new born that still tries to not sleep through the night, keep asking questions and using google that's the wonderful part about the Internet it's open for business 24/7


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[Torxhead]

I installed a Howell California smog legal kit about 10 years ago, and it is a whole new can of worms compared to a carbed system. I think it took me about 3 nights after work to fire it up, PM me for any details. If you can get a 4.0 setup, then by all means go for it, providing you want to spend the time.