Universal CJ-5
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Foreign (to the US) CJ-5s
- Willys Overland do Brasil
- Ford do Brasil CJ-5?
- Do you know by any chance what things to watch out when buying a Ford CJ-5?
- How are they off-road?
- Foreign Jeep resources elsewhere on the web
This is a timeline as related by Marcos, a member of our
forum from Brasil.
- 1954 -1957 - Willys - CJ-5 (CKD) engine F-134
- 1958 -Willys CJ-5 (65% nationalized parts) engine 6L BF 161 (Hurricane made in Brasil) 90 HP
- 1959 -100% national parts
- 1967 -Ford buys Willys Overland do Brasil- the same vehicle
- 1976 -Ford new engine: 2.3L OHC (4 cylinder, see below for more on this) 91 HP
- 1982 -End production
- 1983 -last sale.
This information comes from Dinarte Santos, a Willys Tech member who resides in Brazil.
Their transmission was a modified T-90, full synchro 4 speed built by Clark, now Eaton. The transmission output gear was a 29 teeth which external dimensions were the same of a T-90 gear, but internally it had 21 splines. Main input gear and housing dimensions were the same as the T-90. Transmission ratios were:
| Transmission Ratios | |
|---|---|
| Gear | Ratio |
| 1 | 3.569 |
| 2 | 2.398 |
| 3 | 1.531 |
| 4 | 1.000 |
Their transfer case was a Dana 18. Their differentials were Dana 44 front and rear, front was a closed knuckle design, some parts of it will interchange with the older Dana 25 and 27's, their ratio was 4.89:1 or 9:44.
Their engine was a Ford 2.3L OHC 4 cylinder, the same used in the North American Pinto Power could be 90 or 114 HP, depending on the carb used - single or double barrel. Carbs were made by Solex, H34SEIE was the double barrel type and H40DEIS was the single barrel unit. These Jeeps could cruise nicely at 55 mph, stock, and would get about 19 to 23 mpg on the highway, 16 mpg on rough roads.
Do you know by any chance what things to watch out when buying a Ford CJ-5?
Look for cracks in the chassis and rust in the body, also watch for a smoking engine, Ford 2.3L's were prone to cylinder wall and camshaft wear, mainly caused by a low gear ratio and leadfoot drivers combined with the poor quality oils sold some years ago in Brazil. "boy this surely sounds like a bullet-proof driveline..." And it is! Its weak point, however, is the front axle closed knuckle design, like the older 25 and 27, in which the higher knuckle bearing doesn't get enough lube and wears with time, leading to a sloppy steering wheel and possible shimmy at higher speeds. The rear axles are a one piece forged flange design, featuring roller bearings at the shaft ends, which eliminate the need for adjusting radial axle play with shims, and are virtually indestructible with the stock engine.
Back to topTheir engines are much more powerful than the L and F 134's, although their power band is located at higher RPM, their torque peaks at 3200 rpm as compared to the L4-134, F4-134 and F6-161 that all peak at 2000 rpm. As the 2.3L runs happily at these higher RPM, and also vibrates much less than any of the 134's, the driver is invited to keep the engine revolutions at a higher value, which can be great in mud and sand but is surely not so good on rock, rough terrain and so. The 2.3L OHC's are smooth running engines, due to their short stroke, hydraulic lifters and OHC construction, being specially nice to be driven on-road.