One more question???

So I told you folks that I have been searching for another project. I have looked at a bunch (CJ2a+3a's). I always have wanted to stay close to original on my projects, but I have seen several with V-8 / automatic transmission conversions and I wonder what I need to know when I see these incredibly short rear drive shafts. It seems to me that these very short shafts might be problematic. I just do not have any experiance with these. Any wisdom out there on this? Thanks. Tony L.

 

You could call Tom Wood's Custom Driveshafts. They know a lot about this stuff, including for Jeeps.

http://www.4xshaft.com/

 

Thank you. Tony L.

 

I would expect they would be hard on the U joints?

 

It's not the length so much as the angle of the shaft that is hard on the u-joints. Big lift + short shaft = steep angle.

 

Not all --- but most radical modifications are more cobbled up units that the seller is eager to dispose of ---- quickly. The ones that have been done well are generally priced astronomically -- just so's the seller can get most of his 'investment' back.

Many times they start with available low cost parts rather than plan. Why would anyone put a big engine and auto trans in a jeep anyway? Probably 'cause they had an engine they could get for near free -- since that engine doesn't have readily available manual trans components, the jeep ends up being an automatic; not necessarily by choice, but by low cost part availablility.

When I look for an old jeep I consider radically modified units as scrap -- Over priced, under engineered, and (for me anyway) without value.

 

X2 Kamel, and sometimes they can snag a sucker.

 

Not at all a fan of an automatic trans in either an 80 or 81" wheelbase Jeep but that is just my preference. Short rear driveshafts can cause problems but if properly engineered, only minimal problems. My 3B rear driveshaft is 14.188" fully extended and perhaps the u-joint wear is a bit more than normal, but not so much as I actually notice it. That shaft has been in there since 1975.

As to modified Jeeps, you just need to go over everything to see what was used and how it was installed. You need to do your homework to see what works. I would agree that there are way more bubba jobs than what I would consider well engineered and executed but if one is inclined to want a modified version, it will always be cheaper to buy one someone else lost their shirt on. Sometimes you can find such projects for less than the cost of the adapter kits. Personally, I like gobs of low end torque and there was never a stock Jeep engine offering that really provided that.

 

Thank you all! You are confirming my thoughts entirely, I appreciate the input.