Old guy buys old Jeep

Hey all. Old guy from Indiana here. U.S. Army retired/disable, married 20+ years, we have one of each, dog lover, (have a service dog) love to go shooting and camping. Two time former CJ5 owner. (back before the internet)

Been in big trucks for many years now, but coming back to the CJ5. The one I'm buying was done up as a sand toy, and I want to run trails with it, maybe some light overlanding, so I have a lot of changes to make. However, it's very near rust free. It has a 360, & 727 with a Dana 20 t-case. Dana 44 front and 9.25 Chrysler axles are out of a full size truck, SOA swapped, and have 4.88 gears and 4 wheel disc brakes. Rear has a Detroit locker.

Looking to get back out on the trails by spring...

 

Welcome to the forum. Nice RIG!!

 

Haven't taken delivery of the Jeep yet, still paying on it. I'll have it by the end of Jan.
Here's my old truck at the Badlands off road park about an hr south of me.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBrLXxYtGd4

 

One of my favorite clips. After my son (taking the video) says "Nope, not gonna happen." I back up, hit the air lockers, and boogey on up. I am in love with lockers. The CJ5 will have lockers one day. The old beast was 9K pounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUlEC9D6brQ

 

My buddy that was with me (in a CJ) didn't have lockers. We used my truck as a winch point to get him up. Did I say how much I love lockers?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWcWjccBzr4

 

Dang! Looks like fun, and your CJ5 sounds like a very capable rig as it sits. You said it has a locker in the rear, do you know what carrier is in the front D44?

 

Nope. Don't even have the Jeep yet. Paying the guy a bit each month. I'm poor, living off my VA disability. I'll have it home by late Jan. It will have an air locker up front when I'm done with it.

 

One thing I need to change is the transfer case. Maybe it can be clocked up but right now it hangs down way too far. Fine for sand, and it has a nice strong crossmember under it, but man would it get his on rough trails. You can really see this from the passenger side but photobucket is acting up.

 

At least youtube works...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwcZm9hOp3w&feature=youtu.be

 

I have the Dana 20 in my CJ. I really like it. Gear driven and shifts well. I installed a twin stick and a Tera low gear. The skid plate that protects it is plenty strong, and I have had no problems. It is mated to a T150.

 

I'm sure it's a good case, just worried about how low it hangs. Not sure if it's designed that way, or something the builder did... Doesn't seem to be original. I do know the crossmember isn't original. Very little of the drivetrain is original, and the guy I'm buying it from was not the builder.

 

Seems like way too low. Enough to get hung up real easy on the trail. (was built for sand)

 

Just did some research. Your whole drivetrain 361,727,dana20, and axles came in dodge trucks in the late 60s and 70s. I bet that some one swapped the whole drivetrain from a dodge into your CJ5. That would explain the Dana 20 being clocked down like it is.

 

Could be. Thanks for the research idea. I've been looking at photos of Jeeps, and looking in Jeep forums, but never thought to research the truck the drivetrain came from. Really hoping there is a way to tuck it up a bit more out of harm's way.

As you can see in this internet photo, a normal CJ doesn't have the case hanging down so low.

http://www.collectorcarads.com/Picture1/Best_3.jpg

Never pied attention to my 2 other Jeeps. I was a young kid then, and just drove them. Didn't care how they were built, both were stock.

 

Nice jeep!! Thank you for your service sir.

 

Does your Dana 20 bolt directly to the 727 or does it have an adapter? If it has an adapter you might be able to get one designed for the CJ5 from advanced adapters. I know some adapters have the ability to clock up/down your Tcase. You might give advanced adapters a call, or Novak adapters for that matter.

 

Didn't look under it that good. I'll find out when it gets delivered.