Bignate603
Lifer
Pacfanweb mentioned in another thread that he wanted some information about my CJ5. Rather than derail the thread I've tossed it all here.
1971 CJ5, so while Jeep was then owned by AMC it was still built to the Kaiser Jeep design. In 1972 the CJ5 was redesigned with the most noticeable change being the longer nose to accomodate the straight 6 AMC engines so mine is pretty much the last of the run for what's known as the "early" CJ5s.
Here's the drivetrain:
3" black diamond lift springs
32" tires
Dana 27 front axle
Dana 44 flanged axle (came with factory one piece axle shafts, better than some of the older axles) with a detroit locker
Axle gearing is 4.88:1
SM420 transmission, it's a GM truck transmission with a 7.0:1 first gear 😱
Dana 18 transfer case, 2.46:1 low range
Locking hubs in the front
Buick 225 engine, and yes that's the factory engine
50 pound flywheel
Full cage around the passenger compartment
With the gearing I've got I have an 84:1 crawl ratio. The heavy flywheel lets the engine idle down to almost nothing. In low range in first gear I can idle over hard obstacles, barely giving it any gas at all. It rolls slower than molasses. It's so low that if I do stall on an obstacle I put it in first, let out the clutch, but my foot to the floor on the brake and start it up while giving it a little gas. The extremely low gearing lets me overpower the brakes on the starter and the engine will start right up. There's no worry about stalling on an obstacle, then rolling back while getting started.
The downside of the gearing is that I'm reving the engine like crazy on the highway, I don't like going much over 55. Of course, in a lifted short wheel base jeep with no doors going over 55 starts getting scary. High winds can make it wander around and turns at high speeds can be a bit anerving.
Offroad the thing just works. You point it where you want in low gear and you'll roll over it without trying. It's a blast to drive, it almost makes it too easy.
1971 CJ5, so while Jeep was then owned by AMC it was still built to the Kaiser Jeep design. In 1972 the CJ5 was redesigned with the most noticeable change being the longer nose to accomodate the straight 6 AMC engines so mine is pretty much the last of the run for what's known as the "early" CJ5s.
Here's the drivetrain:
3" black diamond lift springs
32" tires
Dana 27 front axle
Dana 44 flanged axle (came with factory one piece axle shafts, better than some of the older axles) with a detroit locker
Axle gearing is 4.88:1
SM420 transmission, it's a GM truck transmission with a 7.0:1 first gear 😱
Dana 18 transfer case, 2.46:1 low range
Locking hubs in the front
Buick 225 engine, and yes that's the factory engine
50 pound flywheel
Full cage around the passenger compartment
With the gearing I've got I have an 84:1 crawl ratio. The heavy flywheel lets the engine idle down to almost nothing. In low range in first gear I can idle over hard obstacles, barely giving it any gas at all. It rolls slower than molasses. It's so low that if I do stall on an obstacle I put it in first, let out the clutch, but my foot to the floor on the brake and start it up while giving it a little gas. The extremely low gearing lets me overpower the brakes on the starter and the engine will start right up. There's no worry about stalling on an obstacle, then rolling back while getting started.
The downside of the gearing is that I'm reving the engine like crazy on the highway, I don't like going much over 55. Of course, in a lifted short wheel base jeep with no doors going over 55 starts getting scary. High winds can make it wander around and turns at high speeds can be a bit anerving.
Offroad the thing just works. You point it where you want in low gear and you'll roll over it without trying. It's a blast to drive, it almost makes it too easy.
