As the title says I just got this thing, it runs and has no brakes at the moment. But I do want to build it. At this point just looking for some advice for a starting point

A good starting point would be for you to tell us what you want to do with it.
How big do you want to go on the tires, what type of trails, ...............etc.

I have a few things to do first like getting it to run right and make it streetworthy again so it can be moved. I live in LA and would have to move it at least once a week at this point. But I wanted to make it alittle more freeway worthy. I also wanted to be be able to tackle some medium difficulty trails with it when got to that point.

I am going to put a bigger motor in and also a 4 or 5 speed trans of some kind.

Its going to talk some $$$ and some serious work to get a flat fender freeway worthy.

I'm wokring on restoring my 47 2A right now, I started with doing a basic rebuild of the engine, getting new fluids in everything, replaceing all the rubber lines and hoses, just cleaning everything up.

Whats wrong with the brakes? Are you going to do axle upgrades? That could help too.

For a bigger motor I would recommend a Buick 3.8 or 4.1 liter V6 or a Chevy 4.3 liter V6. You can put a Chevy or Ford V8 in a flatty, but it can be a tight fit.

For a better transmission I would recommend a GM SM-420, GM SM-435, Ford/Jeep T-18 or Jeep T-98. All are 4 speeds with compound low 1st gears. All can be adapted to your current Dana model 18 transfer case or pretty much any other transfer case you might want to swap in.

For axle upgrades there are lots of options but front and rear Dana 44s from a Wagoneer or Scout are very popular choices. Depending on which transfer case you use, you'll want to keep your rear axle offset or center it to match.

One way to help with freeway driving is to get a Warn/Saturn overdrive. It would require you to keep the Dana model 18 but it doesn't add to the drivetrain length so you retain some rear driveshaft.

My CJ-2A (when I get it done) will have the following:
Buick 4.1 liter even-fire V6 with TBI injection
Ford T-18 transmission
Jeep Dana Model 18 transfer case with Tera 3.15:1 gears
Warn overdrive
Wagoneer front Dana 44, narrowed 4" to align the spring perches to the CJ frame, with Ford Bronco hub/rotors/bearings to ratain the 5 on 5.5" bolt pattern
J-10 offset rear Dana 44, narrowed to match front, with detroit and Explorer SVO discs
Both axles have 4.27:1 gears

thanks for the info. I was thinking about an axle swap but I just want to get it to the point right now where I can at least run accross town it.

The brakes at this point needs new lines( previous owner cut them for some reason). the only way to stop it right now is to hit something or shut it off in gear. I got a new masterh cylinder with it so I am going to install that in short order. I will look at the rest once I am at a point when I actually get some pressure in the lines.

Also while I was reading through several sites today, I pretty much decided that it will get a bigger motor at some point but not as soon as I would like. Well I might as well say I am looking at an eventual entire drivetrain swap. I am concerned with the steering at this point since it wasn't designed for freeway use so I could use some info on that as well. This going to be a toy. Something I get to break and fix over and over again.

You aren't gon'na get more than 55mph out of it with stock engine and gears. Do not waste your time/money on the stock front brakes. Get a 11" brake kit (discs are better) for the front at least and some 10" rears are a good idea. The steering bellcrank will need a new kit every few years (chevy steering swap makes a big difference). Just for fun I but a ford ranger v6 in a flat fender I had. It fit nice and could run at enough rpm to go down the road all day at 70 with the stock 5.38 gears.:smokin:

At this point in time I am still deciding on hardware and just want to ge the thing moving and stopping under its own power. I think I want to play with the front axle first after that point to mess with the brakes and get a better steering system in there. I have the time but no decision yet or enough money to play. But it is a work in progress