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Seeking Cj5 Expert In Tahoe/truckee/reno Area

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Mike Goodman, Apr 27, 2023.

  1. Apr 27, 2023
    Mike Goodman

    Mike Goodman New Member

    South Lake Tahoe, CA
    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2023
    Messages:
    11
    I joined for the purpose of finding some expertise. I was referred to this forum in a FB group by a guy who I think goes by Big John. I recently inherited a '69 CJ5 from my dad who passed not long ago. It's my first Jeep. I want to love it because it was my dad's. I don't know a lot about it. My dad bought it about 10 years ago in it's current condition (a pretty good restomod) only because he thought it was cool as heck and he wanted to drive it around Tahoe on sunny summer days. Since it was restored, it has been babied. I want it for driving a little more often and maybe light 4-wheeling. I know it's got a V6-225 with SM420 trans. I thought it had a Dana 20 transfer case with Dana 44 rear and Dana 25 front, but I posted pics on FB and somebody (who may or may not know what he's talking about) told me that might not be right. It runs and drives good, although there is a ton of play in the steering but that seems normal from what I have read. I am looking for a mechanical expert, somebody who lives maybe within an hour or two of me, who would come to me to inspect it and drive it and tell me what I need to know and what I need to consider. Right now I just want to pay you for your opinions and your expertise. I have an emotional attachment to the Jeep so it's worth it for me to invest some money in it. If it leads to you perhaps doing some work for me that's great, but right now I'm not asking you to come wrench on it for me. I'm just asking you to come educate me. I will pay for your time and your travel. Thanks for any ideas or referrals. Looking forward to learning a lot here.
     
  2. Apr 27, 2023
    txtoller

    txtoller Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
    Joined:
    May 28, 2014
    Messages:
    971
    Welcome and post some images, lots and lots of knowledgeable members here.
     
    Dwins1 likes this.
  3. Apr 27, 2023
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2005
    Messages:
    1,998
    Welcome to the forum! There are a few members in that area, so I'm sure someone will pipe up. We'd love to see some pictures when you get a chance, which might help us answer some questions for you virtually.
     
  4. Apr 27, 2023
    fhoehle

    fhoehle Sponsor

    Harford Township, PA
    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2012
    Messages:
    1,427
    Welcome, and post some pics. Folks here will steer you straight.
     
  5. Apr 27, 2023
    Mike Goodman

    Mike Goodman New Member

    South Lake Tahoe, CA
    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2023
    Messages:
    11
    Took me a minute to figure out how to add pics, but here are pics of the Jeep in question...
     
  6. Apr 27, 2023
    Bearskin10

    Bearskin10 New Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Lakewood,CA
    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2019
    Messages:
    48
    Welcome to the forum, that is one clean CJ....
     
    Snoopy, vtxtasy and Mike Goodman like this.
  7. Apr 27, 2023
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,627
    Wow! Nice Jeep.

    You'll need to post pictures of the axles, suspension, steering, transmission, transfer case so we can give you more info.

    A couple things that stand out from those pictures:
    • Looks like it has a Saginaw power steering conversion
    • It has a full-float conversion on the rear axle
    • I appears to have a Warn/Saturn overdrive which would imply a Dana 18 transfer case. That also implies an offset Dana 44 rear axle.
    • It looks like it has a 4" or so lift
    First appearances are it's a really well built rig. This is all good stuff.

    Condolences for the loss of your dad. He had very good taste.
     
    Dwins1, vtxtasy, Sierra Bum and 2 others like this.
  8. Apr 27, 2023
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sheboygan
    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2006
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    2,754
    o_O

    Me likey:drool;
     
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  9. Apr 27, 2023
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    Oct 25, 2006
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    5,798
    That’s a nice looking jeep. Great color blue.
     
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  10. Apr 27, 2023
    Fresbone

    Fresbone Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Fresno, California
    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2022
    Messages:
    442
    Take a look at your casting on the front differential. I bet it is a Dana 27 if it is a '69.

    Fun fact: In California, you are not allowed to have "69" on a custom license plate unless the car is a 1969 model!
     
  11. Apr 27, 2023
    Mike Goodman

    Mike Goodman New Member

    South Lake Tahoe, CA
    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2023
    Messages:
    11
    My dad had notes from the previous owner. It does have Saginaw power steering according to those notes. These notes also say Dana 20 transfer case, but you're right it is a Warn overdrive with an offset rear axle so it yeah it seems that's a Dana 18, not a 20. I've heard that elsewhere too. So yeah my goal in connecting with an expert is to figure out how to improve it, especially the steering. It runs great but steering is super sloppy going down the road. I'd like to drive it more but really want to know how to tighten that up. Plus I'm sure if somebody who knows what he is looking at could start it and drive it I'm sure he could identify things that need attention that I would never even think about.
     
  12. Apr 27, 2023
    jzeber

    jzeber Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Morgan Hill, Ca
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    Nov 15, 2003
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    3,323
    If it has a 4" lift as noted by Fireball it may not have the correct shims for the caster. I did not have the correct caster on my old 71' and it was all over the road. Check out post #230 on this thread. Also you should check your toe in. It is pretty easy to do this on a flat surface, but takes some time.
    http://earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.php?threads/123414/page-12
     
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  13. Apr 27, 2023
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Feb 9, 2018
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    Agreed. As long as the knuckle pivots,wheel bearings, tie-rod ends and steering box are tight, it probably needs some caster shims. Wouldn't hurt to check the toe-in too.
     
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  14. Apr 27, 2023
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Gulf Breeze FL...
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    Jun 5, 2007
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    3,559
    Nice looking Jeep. Welcome
     
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  15. Apr 27, 2023
    Sierra Bum

    Sierra Bum Member

    The High Sierra
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2017
    Messages:
    329
    Yeah that thing is pretty sweet. As mentioned; caster. 6-7 degrees is about right. These things don’t really have “tight” steering anyway. But it shouldn’t wander around all over the place. I bet it’s a simple fix. It looks too newish after the build to have worn out stuff. And looks built pretty well. I’m going with the typical 2.5” lift. It’s got slightly longer shackles too. Looks like 1.75” wide springs.

    Improve? Well there’s always something to do on these. Get it handling well, decide how you want use it and go from there. It already has some pretty nice components. Sm420, OD, PS, full float rear. Front disc brakes ? Might even have a Dana 30 front end already.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  16. Apr 27, 2023
    Dale Park

    Dale Park Member

    Utah
    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2021
    Messages:
    112
    That is one sweet looking CJ. Sorry to hear about your Dad, but he obviously had a passion for it and shows. Above advice about verifying/installing 6 degree shims is great advice. Mine was all over the place even with new steering gear. Once I installed the 6 degree STEEL shims, it was night/day difference. Installation of the shims is very easy to do.
     
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  17. Apr 27, 2023
    Sierra Bum

    Sierra Bum Member

    The High Sierra
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2017
    Messages:
    329
    Couple more thoughts:

    Although there are certainly folks here that are way more “expert” on building old Jeeps than myself (at least one of them is in the Tahoe area), I have put together a few over the years. Anyway I come through Tahoe a fair bit (usually for fishing or rock climbing trips, sometimes jeeping). I’d be willing to go through it with you sometime…just not sure when…I may be up there next month going for lake trout. I’m down near Mammoth/Bishop. You wouldn’t need to pay me or anything. I dig checking out and talking about these old rigs…and meeting other classic jeep enthusiasts.

    Also, as I alluded to earlier, just by what we can see, that thing is already pretty upgraded. Any more improvements, upgrades or modifications will likely be either for personal preferences or four wheeling performance. So just food for thought as you decide how you want use your new, old jeep. They’re easy to spend money on.
     
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  18. Apr 27, 2023
    Dwins1

    Dwins1 Member

    Port Richey, Florida
    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2022
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    269
    Beautiful Jeep
     
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  19. Apr 27, 2023
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

    East Tennessee
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2021
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    1,620
    Yes, a very nice looking old Jeep!

    Correcting the sloppy steering should be top priority. With a short wheel base vehicle like this it is critical to not have a problem with the steering system, and with the lift I agree with others that the issue is likely due to the caster not being correct for the angles produced by the lift.
     
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  20. Apr 28, 2023
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2009
    Messages:
    4,460
    Welcome aboard! You may have a lot of potential visitors-http://www.earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.php?threads/153722/

    That was my first thought too.
     
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