So I am thinking about getting back into wheeling again and have the opportunity to pick up an early 80's CJ5. I have a vision of what i want to do with it but can't seem to find anyone else that has done the same and would love some pics/feedback on it. Basically, I am thinking about slinging some Dana 44's under it and mounting up a set of 37" MTR's or something. Want to comp cut the rear wells and stretch the rear axle back a foot or so. Remove the front fenders and replace with some tubing so that I can keep this thing as low as possible. Hopefully be able to drive it on the street. No idea about the drivetrain. Probably 4.3-T400-D300 or something. Opinions? Pics?

This will be done on a budget. Trying to get the entire Jeep built for less than $3,000 :eek: I'll be doing all the work myself of course...

I have a 82' CJ-5 that I have stretched 10" and is sitting on full width axles. The only problem is it is not as low as I would like. I did a spring over and have 37s, it will easily fit larger tires when I want to go bigger. But I would like to bring it back down a bit. I have xj springs in the rear for 6" and moved dakota springs forward 4" in the front. If you mounted the dakota springs in the rear you could get ~10" of stretch from them.

If you stay spring under you could probably get 37s to fit with a small lift and comp cut and high line tube fenders.

A foot in the back is a lot to stretch. Are you going to link the suspension? You would have to add to the frame, for the shackle mounts, to get that much stretch with leaves. Even with links you would have to do something different with the back half of the frame for clearances. Then you would have to check interference between the differential and the gas tank. Pushing the axle back that far would move the dif under the gas tank.

Up front if you are going to push things forward I would look into using a chevy astro van steering box. This has the pitman arm mounted in front of the box and will let you stretch several inches with out relocating the steering box, if the cj has power steering.

It won't take long to blow through that budget so plan wisely. All the little shit ads up fast.


You might move this to the non hardcore section or prepare for the flame.

My bro and I have built at leasta dozen different wheelers, ranging from mild to wild. I think we'll be able to keep the budget low and still accomplish what we need to accomplish.

I would have put this in the soft-core section but its not a soft-core topic. I'm not bolting on a suspension or chroming out a TJ. This will all be custom fab, so its hard-core :flipoff2:

Good Lord Man!!!! You would think that with that many posts you would have been able to search. Or at least look at the threads that are on this page. You asked, I answered. :flipoff2:

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=596398

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=846514

To keep it low with Dakota springs you'll need to french the springs into the hangers or go spring under.

My CJ5 is SOA with Dakota leaves in the rear and Waggies in front. It's too tall for my liking with 37s and there's room for 39.5's.

My 5 is slammed and stretched. The build thread is in my sig.

http://bbaxter51.smugmug.com/Other/jeep/IMG1500/684687097_8Zf4N-L.jpg

I have a 82' CJ-5 that I have stretched 10" and is sitting on full width axles.



Do you have any pics of this rig?



My 5 is slammed and stretched. The build thread is in my sig.

http://bbaxter51.smugmug.com/Other/jeep/IMG1500/684687097_8Zf4N-L.jpg



Hands down, this is one of the best looking built CJ5'S I have ever seen!!! The stance is :smokin:...

if you build it they will come!!!! lol sorry it in a corn field I had to say it. great looking 5 bbaxter51

if you build it they will come!!!! lol sorry it in a corn field I had to say it. great looking 5 bbaxter51

:laughing::laughing:
thanks, that was the "parking lot" for the tow rigs and trailers.