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Looking For Your Opinion.

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Tom_Hartz, Jul 23, 2022.

  1. Jul 24, 2022
    SFaulken

    SFaulken Active Member

    Bellevue, WA
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    Driving a CJ around in rural Montana in the late eighties, is a *completely* different ball of wax than driving one around in Seattle Traffic in 2022. (Just using my own situation as an example.)
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  2. Jul 24, 2022
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I did not drive my car to high school. I owned a car, but my Dad would not allow it. Bought my first Jeep at 19 though; still a teenager.

    Sorta guess your customer wants some discussion of this, which is why you brought it up.

    I'd say brakes are first priority. Seems like the 11" drums, which used to be more plentiful, are not so plentiful now. And the parts, which used to be cheap, aren't so cheap now. I presume the Suzuki parts are not expensive, and you can buy custom brackets. Should be ok, especially at the boulevard speeds a Jeep like this cruises comfortably at. This should be a point of discussion.

    I would discourage big tires and wheels, given that it's a F134 Jeep and it might be driven by a young driver. Oversize tires will hurt performance. He wants a roll bar, so the thought has crossed his mind. As mentioned above, least likely to roll with stiff springs, factory height, narrow-ish tires.

    Dunno about the steering. I know that friends of mine, back in the day, daily drove CJs with Ross steering. Saginaw steering seems like a great upgrade, but I don't know if it's warranted given the description of use.
     
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  3. Jul 24, 2022
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    I really don't understand why anyone shouldn't drive a jeep.
    Age of jeep or driver, gender of jeep or driver, size of legs of jeep or driver. I say give every teen an older vehicle that forces them to have a hand on the wheel and set the godforsaken phone down to shift. Take it slow and enjoy the drive.

    Just stay away from rush hour.

    They will learn what it is to drive. There are way too many people that don't understand they are still operating vehicles that can kill themselves or others. Should new drivers have 400hp vehicles because it has a 5 star crash test rating and you don't care if you wreck it.

    If the operator wants to drive it and take care of it then they will more likely respect it.
     
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2022
    Dwins1, givemethewillys and Tom_Hartz like this.
  4. Jul 24, 2022
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
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    ....... I did.....
    [​IMG]
     
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  5. Jul 24, 2022
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    It'll be interesting to see what Mrs Jw60's opinion on this is, in 10 years or so....
     
    dozerjim likes this.
  6. Jul 24, 2022
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    I was one of several that drove a CJ5 when I was a junior in high school. Senior year I had a wagon. No one thought twice about wondering if it was safe. Parents never talked about seat belts....didn't have any in the back and several kids, including girls, rode with me to school and back. They knew I wasn't a careless driver though, and of course back then traffic was nothing compared to today.
     
  7. Jul 24, 2022
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    They ain't driving mine that's for sure.

    They can get there own.
     
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2022
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  8. Jul 24, 2022
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    I didn't get my CJ until I was 18. Good thing. I wrecked three cars between 16-18....and I was't the most agressive of my bunch.
     
  9. Jul 24, 2022
    Tom_Hartz

    Tom_Hartz Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    North Carolina
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    I drove my dad's 73 lifted, 31" tires with a 401. It was fun.
     
  10. Jul 24, 2022
    Tom_Hartz

    Tom_Hartz Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    North Carolina
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    Do you remember what the box is from?
     
  11. Jul 24, 2022
    Tom_Hartz

    Tom_Hartz Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    North Carolina
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    You nailed it on the head. I am trying to get opinions from you all that have been there done that. I don't want to waste his money and my time. I have a 67 Jeepster Commando and a CJ5 wanting my attention. I truly appreciate the input from everyone.
     
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  12. Jul 24, 2022
    Tom_Hartz

    Tom_Hartz Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    North Carolina
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    Wow glad you made it. At 18 I built a Scout 800B with a big block Chevy and turbo 400 in it. I should have left the 304 and 4 speed. Oh to be young and dumb.
     
  13. Jul 24, 2022
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    That's the rig that took out one of my cars....best friend rear ended me in my '71 Dart...;)
     
  14. Jul 24, 2022
    Sierra Bum

    Sierra Bum Member

    The High Sierra
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    Wow, this thread has gotten lots of input.

    I’m one of those that drove a jeep as a teenager. My first (really second) car was a 68 cj5. I drove it throughout and after high school. Tore it apart a couple times and turned it into a four wheeling jeep. I never wrecked it, and it was lifted and all that. Good thing I had my dads old truck to drive too. The jeep was down a lot. I wanna say I was careful, but I probably did some stupid stuff. I remember the HS parking lot was sketchy. I was pretty independent and my parents trusted me.

    I agree that it was different back then…late 80s- early 90s for me. Things moved more slowly. An old jeep… As a DD in a rural area with a short drive, maybe it’s an ok choice with the right upgrades like we’ve been talking about (brakes, steering etc). But really, it’s a good fit for a young person with an interest in learning about cars and working on them, and then as an occasional driver. My old jeep spent a lot of nights in the HS auto shop. It would be smart for that kid to have regular access to a modern car (and maybe not the nicest one). Learn to drive the jeep slowly, learning from her folks, take it for easy cruises at first. It could be a wonderful opportunity for some real family fun for them as the kids get older.
     
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  15. Jul 25, 2022
    dozerjim

    dozerjim Member

    western New York
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    The saginaw box, linkage,and column was out of a lefthand drive '79 DJ,11" brakes too
     
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  16. Jul 25, 2022
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Something else I'd mention - this is a '55, which is the first year of production. Maybe only marginally collectible, but at least historic. To me. it would be important that the Jeep look like its historic origin. I'd stay original wheels with more modern tires, since the modern radial tires ride so much better than the period-correct bias ply types. This topic has been covered a lot in previous threads. To me, the Ross steering is a historic aspect of this Jeep, and I'd keep it and do whatever is needed to spif it up.
     
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  17. Jul 26, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    My first car was a CJ-2a with a cracked/booger welded frame, a small block Ford, and 9" brakes in Seattle area traffic in the 80's.

    I think my parents were trying to get rid of me.

    .....It didn't work though.
     
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  18. Jul 26, 2022
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    While I didn't drive a CJ in HS, I did drive a fiberglass Meyers Manx dune buggy fairly regularly. It was of course only 4 miles to school via 2 lane country road. I had a lot of racing experience by then and my parents knew I had excellent car control skill. My sisters on the other hand ended up driving Chevy Tahoe's, my dad wanted them to survive the crash.
    Driving today is a real :censored: show. Even on 55 mph roads you need to be prepared to encounter vehicles going 70.
    The minimum equipment I would outfit a jeep with for daily duty would include:
    Disc brakes up front, 10" or 11" drums out back.
    Radial tires in the 27"-31" range, all terrain tread.
    Saginaw steering, Preferably power for ease of evasive action.
    Gearing appropriate for desired speed.
    Roll bar with front cage.
    Bright LED taillights and turn signals.
    Good quality headlights, preferably LED
     
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  19. Jul 26, 2022
    Primer Coat

    Primer Coat New Member

    Ohio
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    Jul 17, 2017
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    I used the Advanced Adapters kit on my F 134. Required some work arounds. The biggest issue was making a power steering pump bracket. Mine is not very pretty or perfectly lined up, but it has worked well for several years. Power steering is a great upgrade. Now I need to do some brake work, still with 9" and single reservoir. It stops ok for my kind of driving but still a worry. Good luck and remember young drivers have not had the experience some of us long in the tooth guys have had.
     
    Tom_Hartz likes this.
  20. Jul 26, 2022
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    I drove my ‘59-5 in high school when it was stock. I’d highly recommend steering and brake upgrades and make darn sure it is dependable mechanically. The light upgrades mentioned would be an excellent immediate conversion for safety and do the headlight relay conversion.
     
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