[NoBrainR]

My Dad has a 66 CJ5, 225, 3spd, Spicer 18, a 44 rear and I think a 27 front, Warn overdrive, 8274, and less than 60,000 original miles. It's set behind his garage for the last 15 years. It's basically stock and he bought it new for $2,400. He wants to keep it stock width on the axles but upgrade them. What upgrades would you guys suggest? My first one was to give it to me, but he won't go there. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

 

[WillyPete]

what does he want to do to the jeep? i could tell you to swap in dana 135s with planetaries and slap some 72" harvesting tires, but i don't think that's what you have in mind...

a set of waggy 44s would probly work well. what are the tracks of a 66 5? i'm not sure, but i'd bet the spline counts on that old 44 are nonstandard.

[ 09-30-2001: Message edited by: WillyPete ]

 

[wheelinjp]

Well depending on use, If he will be doing hunting and easy to moderate wheeling I think a d30 disc brake front axle and maybe a flanged 44 rear. The tapered axles can be replaced with flanged ones in a kit I believe.With a stock 225 and model 18 t-case he might not even need to replace the rear axles until or if they break.What size tire is he going to run? For a d30 I think an aggressive 33in. tire is the limit. He can have a great time even at wheelin parks with that setup. Oh and a locker in the rear. Just those improvements are going to make it a new more capable rig.This way everything is at the same strength level, and anything more aggressive or powerful I would say d44s f/r and at least a d20 t-case, upgrade to low geared 4sp(sm465,435,t18)456 gears and 35 or bigger, I run 36 12.5s on my 74 cj5 and they are great. good luck

 

[NoBrainR]

Are waggy 44's offset both f/r for the 18. I'd definately like to get him to widen it and do a SOA. Heck it still has a Steel Kelley cab on it. Biggest tire I've seen him run was 31x10.50 XT Gates. I know he won't want to cut the body, and I've got a set of 50% 33x12.50's I'd like to convince him to put on to start with. He used to jeep all over Colorado around Silverton and Ouray, and I'd love to get him back into wheeling. He doesn't want to spend a fortune on it, but keep it reliable.

 

[WillyPete]

d'oh

my bad. i forgot bout the 18 being offset. the qtrac 44s and 20s are offset enough that you can run an 18 with 'em.