74 CJ5 Project

[sams88]

Another project build. This one is using a 74 CJ5 for starters. Sitting in my garage I have a 350 Throttle Body small block, also a turbo 350 trans and a 205 transfer case. Sitting in the storage unit is a 700R4 with an adapter kit to rebuild it so that it can be mated to a Toyota transfer case. Both options use a passenger side differential which the cj5 has. The cheaper way is to go the turbo 350 with the 205, however the trans has no O/D. Going with the 700R4 the engine rpm on the freeway would be lower.

As for running the Toyota transfer case, and hopefully being able to squeeze in two of them, there is some good low hearing. Plus shifting in and out of 2/4-wd low on the trail as a lot of the time it would be nice to run in 2-low vice being in 4-low. Also with the double transfer cases, 4.7 gears could be installed in one and the other retaining the standard low range for better speed in standard low before doubling down to really crawl where needed. I also think it would be easier to keep a nice "tummy tuck" running the Toyota cases than doing the chevy 205 method.

What I have no experience with at this point is whether I'd be better off to spend the bucks for a custom harness for mating the brain box, and engine to the jeep wiring harness, or modifying a chevy harness to mate to the jeep wiring. Has anyone done this wiring and have comments or suggestions??? I guess it boils down to whether I'd be wiser to spend the bucks for the commercial kit to plug the engine, computer, jeep wiring together?

I've pretty much convinced myself that I'd prefer the 700R4/ Toyota transfer case arrangement over the turbo350/205 setup. I anticipate running 33" tires, staying with the 3.73 gears.

Comments/thoughts from those that have been down this road before please.

[White trash]

The 700r4 and th350 have the same output splines. The output shaft on the 700 is about 2" longer so you can either cut the splines off or buy a spacer from GM that takes up the extra space. Either one will do the trick.

[bobracing]

As for running the Toyota transfer case, and hopefully being able to squeeze in two of them

Good luck with this, 84" isn't enough for 2 cases and an auto of any kind kind without lots of stretching. A V-8 and auto of any kind is going to be tight.
The 205 is also a large case, seen them in 5s but a 74 has the narrow rails all the ways back, very tight.

[Phantom 309]

[quote="sams88"] I also think it would be easier to keep a nice "tummy tuck" running the Toyota cases than doing the chevy 205 method.

quote]

If you're worried about belly clearance on the 205 you could run a clocking ring. I think NWFab makes one for the 205. Wether or not you have room between the frames rails to spin it is another story (like Bob said.)

[sams88]

As for running the Toyota transfer case, and hopefully being able to squeeze in two of them

Good luck with this, 84" isn't enough for 2 cases and an auto of any kind kind without lots of stretching. A V-8 and auto of any kind is going to be tight.
The 205 is also a large case, seen them in 5s but a 74 has the narrow rails all the ways back, very tight.

Yeah, a major concern, so we are looking at doing a 4.3 vice the 350. But will still be really snug. We got the cj5 over to the shop last night along with both tranny/transfer cases and a 4.3 and a 350 engine and started measuring.

The thing with using a cj5 is for the really tight switchbacks in the mountains in North Idaho where we do a lot of wheeling. Other options I have handy are a Cherokee, where there is plenty of room, but it's a unibody, and Jeepster Commando, which would require a 4.3 as a 350 is too long for the pre-bullnose '73/74 Commandos.

As for the XJ unibody, the subframe can be reiforced, and the switchbacks would just be tight and take a bit more turns to get through.

Another thought was to stretch the cj5 frame a bit to make room and put a aftermarket cj6 tub on it. But that's starting the climb to more and more bucks.

@trashy -- I've got the output shaft and adapter plate for the 700R4 to Toyota transfer case. I've pretty much decided that I'll do that combination rather than messing with the th350/205. I definitely want the dual stick. After having that on my 3rd gen Toyota truck, I sorta fell in love with it.

Another problem to deal with now is that my daughter's S.O. (who I bought the CJ5 from) is really crushed at selling the cj5. He sold it to help add cash to the pile for their down payment on a new house. And the CJ had been in his family for years and he was/is quite attched to the rig. So he was doing his best on keeping a cool pose last night, but Jerry and I both could tell he was ready to start crying. So it sorta has caused me a bit of angst as I really feel for the guy. So now with the very snug space issue, it's back to the drawing board and doing some rethinking I'm afraid. But it's all just part of the game. There's always options.

[tobyw]

Jeepster Commando, which would require a 4.3 as a 350 is too long for the pre-bullnose '73/74 Commandos.

Definetly NOT true... You can easily drop a SBC into a C-101, I have one to prove it

As for making the CJ-5 into a decent tight trail runner, my money would be on the 4.3 coupled to an SM-420 and then the t-case of your choice. You don't need OD with 3.73's and 33's unless you plan to run a diesel or cruise at 90mph

[bobracing]

A 4.3 makes an excellent trail engine. The trans, it's what you prefer but as for a 4.3, 700r4, and D300 combo, both of these Jeeps (in the link) run this combo with ~84" wheelbases.
http://www.peakputters.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1425

The yellow "Jeep" was just switched from a toy case this year, mainly to clock it up but believe he said there was a clocking ring out for the toys now too.

If you're going to stretch the rear, about 2.5-3" is the max before the gas tank becomes a problem.

[White trash]

I'd run a 700 to a factory 208 adapter mated to a 300. Don't mess with yota junk if you need to turn tight. The 300 will give you front dig.

[sams88]

I'd run a 700 to a factory 208 adapter mated to a 300. Don't mess with yota junk if you need to turn tight. The 300 will give you front dig.

What you talking about???? The Toyota transfer cases have nothing to do with the turning radiius, not running Toyota axles/diffs. ????? Am I missing something here?

When are you in the area, like this weekend? If so I'll stop by and shoot the breeze with you.

[sams88]

Jeepster Commando, which would require a 4.3 as a 350 is too long for the pre-bullnose '73/74 Commandos.

Definetly NOT true... You can easily drop a SBC into a C-101, I have one to prove it

As for making the CJ-5 into a decent tight trail runner, my money would be on the 4.3 coupled to an SM-420 and then the t-case of your choice. You don't need OD with 3.73's and 33's unless you plan to run a diesel or cruise at 90mph

Interesting, I haven't seen one installed in the C-101. I was looking in it, and it looked like it might be a snug fit, where the 4.3 would give more room. Is your's in the local area here Toby? If so, could I take a look at it?

[sams88]

A 4.3 makes an excellent trail engine. The trans, it's what you prefer but as for a 4.3, 700r4, and D300 combo, both of these Jeeps (in the link) run this combo with ~84" wheelbases.
http://www.peakputters.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1425

The yellow "Jeep" was just switched from a toy case this year, mainly to clock it up but believe he said there was a clocking ring out for the toys now too.

If you're going to stretch the rear, about 2.5-3" is the max before the gas tank becomes a problem.

Thank you for the url.

[White trash]

The 300 will give you front dig. :D

When are you in the area, like this weekend? If so I'll stop by and shoot the breeze with you.

If you want to turn SHARP front drive only will make a limo like mine work good in the hills.


I'm home now, I got in last night. If you want to bs I'll be home pretty much until monday, if the shop is open feel free to swing in.

[sams88]

Okay, thanks Trash, I will.

[sams88]

All the grand plans for the cj5 are gonna die... As mentioned above in Jerry and I's talks about just fixing the problems that the daughter's S.O. couldn't fix, the plan now is to fix those, and return the cj5 to him for Christmas. The spouse and I went out to dinner Thursday night past, and I was telling her about Jerry and I picking up the cj5, and before I even finished the story, she just looked at me and said that we should just fix the things on it he couldn't fix, and give it back to him for a Christmas present. So that's what's gonna happen.

As for my engines and parts sitting around, they will go into another vehicle. As it turns out, last night I was over helping the youngest son put siding on his place, and the discussions turned to what was he going to do with the 72 Jeepster Commando he had picked up from me. That was the one that I had picked up from the acquaintance of Colemand Cooler outside of Yakima. And as it pans out, I will be inheriting that vehicle again as he said he just doesn't have the time or pesos to do anything with it for a long long time.

So the Jeepster will be a go, as I don't have any qualms at all about digging into that one. I have always regretfully looked at it sitting in the field every time I've stopped by Mikey's place.

[sams88]

Well Jerry got the 258 6banger back together this weekend past. All new guts in the engine and punched it out .030. Really running nice now. Now oildcloud behind now. Only have 82 miles on the new engine so far, hopefully if the weather holds then I'll get more on it tomorrow. Need to get that first 500 on it and get the oil changed. While the engine was apart, the front clip was pulled off, and the frame cleaned up and painted. Also shot the engine compartment and fender innarts with hammered grey paint. Looks really nice. Did the engine in the hammered grey and black.

The other big issue on it was electrical stuff as the left rear brake light was really an intermittant thing. That ended up requiring pulling the wiring harness out of it and repairing that thing. At one point in it's life it had gotten a little too warm and there were some melted wires in there.

I also got the stuff rounded up to put power steering on it, but I think that is going to wait until spring. I've got to clean up the shop and turn that back over to the landlord in about six weeks and I have some work I need to get done on one of my cherokee's.

This was the first 258 that we rebuilt. the other stuff has been chevy engines. Was a fun exercise in learning. As always though in learning, there are a couple little lessons in expenses............... LOL But all in all, it went well. So the daughter's S.O. will get his jeep back in much much much better shape that it was when I bought it. They moved into their new house this weekend past, and it has a 3 car garage, so there is a nice spot there for the CJ.

[sams88]

Finished off the first 500 miles on the engine today. Changed the oil. The thing is running great. I have really had a ton of fun cruising the countty roads and stuff putting the break-in miles on the engine. Fell in love with the little thing. However, it goes back to the daughter's house tomorrow or the next day, as soon as she makes room in the garage for it, as the Christmas present for her S.O. And that closes out a project. I really need to learn how to post pictures. I took pictures of this project, before and after. Maybe I'll even manage to get some uploaded one of these months.

[sams88]

Okay, first try at stuffing some pictures into this thing...... This first shot is just the cj5 with the hood open showing the original vehicle color on the underside of the hood.

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/zz26 ... /cj5-1.jpg

The second one is a close up of the engine compartment before we cleaned it up and repainted it.

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/zz26 ... /cj5-2.jpg

The third is with the front clip removed.

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/zz26 ... /cj5-3.jpg

Fourth is with the front clip removed and after cleaning up and repainting.

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/zz26 ... /cj5-4.jpg

Fifth -- a frontal shot of the cleanup and repainting.

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/zz26 ... /cj5-5.jpg

The last one is with the front clip reinstalled, and the rebuilt engine installed.

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/zz26 ... /cj5-7.jpg


I know these aren't fancy pictures as they were shot with my iPhone, and I don't know how yet to get the pictures to load automagically. But anyway, at least there are some pictures now to show something anyway. And the hard physical labor here was accomplished by Jerry. I just furnished the peso's and played go-fer.

[TJDave]

Okay, first try at stuffing some pictures into this thing...... This first shot is just the cj5 with the hood open showing the original vehicle color on the underside of the hood.



The second one is a close up of the engine compartment before we cleaned it up and repainted it.



The third is with the front clip removed.



Fourth is with the front clip removed and after cleaning up and repainting.



Fifth -- a frontal shot of the cleanup and repainting.



The last one is with the front clip reinstalled, and the rebuilt engine installed.




I know these aren't fancy pictures as they were shot with my iPhone, and I don't know how yet to get the pictures to load automagically. But anyway, at least there are some pictures now to show something anyway. And the hard physical labor here was accomplished by Jerry. I just furnished the peso's and played go-fer.

Wow! Nice job. I want an old Jeep. As for the pics you just need to include the img code. Or copy and paste the bottom choice on photobucket pics.

[sams88]

Thankyou!!

[Grumpy]

That is lookin' good. Saw it sitting at your place the other day when I was taking a client home on Cimmeron. Shiny!

[sams88]

Well this project finally came to a close. Jerry and I gave this back to Mike for his Christmas present. Mike was absolutely thrilled to have the short jeep back. Really brought a smile to his face as he climbed in to drive it. So he told me I could drive it any time I wanted to, which I may have to take him up on that at some point. I sort of fell in love with the cj5 while I was driving it around getting the break-in miles on the rebuilt engine.

[OldGreen]

Very cool!!!!