1968 dauntless cj-5 questions new to forum

Well heres my new project. A 1968 cj-5 with a 225 buick "dauntless" motor. I'm super pumped about it cuz i used to ride around in it when i was like 12 and always thought it sounded awesome cuz it was odd firing. Plus i remember it was almost impossible to stall. Anway, I'm not going to for pretty pretty much going to just fill in the holes and then get the motor running good.

Heres are some questions that i came up with.

1. Is it hard timing one of these motors since they are "odd" fireing?

2. Where is the cheapest place to get the conversion to make it so it doesnt have points anymore??? A website where to order ect part # anything like that would be really helpful.

3. Or should i leave the points cuz its not really a problem having them?

4. Heres a dumb one what is that round thingy underneight it that spins and seems to be part of the drive line. I didnt get a chance to go and look at it alot so i didnt really study undernieith it very much. Dont bust on me about it i have done 3 motor swaps i know my stuff just not to much with cj's lol.

5. One brake line is busted and i know that the master cylinder is under the floorboard. I havent had any experience with mechanical brake bleeding. How much of a task is it to bleed these lines



cant wait to get it

 

You thinking of the emergency brake drum? It's on the back of the transfer case, ahead of the rear driveshaft.

A Mitey-vac or speed bleeders will make brake bleeding a one-man job.

 

...So long as the rotor is in phase with the pickup.

 

Yeah. On an even fire, you want to move the dist you just move all the wires over a position. Not so on an odd-fire, you have to go 2 positions, and before you time it you have to make sure the wires are on the right position, not just the right firing order. It's what was causing all that pass side backfiring when I first started up the motor last spring. After that then I agree, the same.

 

If you have a Delco distributor, you will be able to use the Petronix kit, but if you are "lucky" enough to have an prestolite distributer, you will have to stick with points because i believe nobody makes a conversion kit for them.

 

Hi,
As to the brake line just get a new one the same size and install it and bleed out the brakes like you would on any other vehicle. I would start with bleeding the brakes on the wheel farthest from the master cylinder. Might as well bleed at all wheels if it has been sitting, to get the old dirty fluid out.
As to the points, for mine I converted to the newer HEI or High Energy Ignition. It starts easier and runs better. I used an Hei distributor from a '77 Firebird with a 231 V6 ($50 at a bone yard) Hei style spark plugs and wires ($30-40) and followed the instuctions in this forum under the search " HEI conversion" (Or somewhere along those search lines) and voila a better ignition system for around $100.
Just my experiences and 2 cent
Josh

 

thanks everyone for all the replies, ill keep everyone updated, i believe either tomarro or saturday im pickin it up. I gotta go get a trailer from my work.

 

i use a board to hold the brake down to help move the brake fluid easier with the vacuum bleeder.

Oh and i recommend if you replace the whole system to switch to dot5 as it doesn't remove paint or attract water like dot3 and 4.

 

ephenj, fill out your profile, another ECJ5'er might be near by. If one of the lines is broken, I'd replace all of them just to be safe, also I'd install a new master cylinder and wheel cylinders. I'd also in stall "speed bleeders" Then bleeding the brakes is a one man show. These old Jeeps have a single reservore master cylinder, so if a line blows your screwed. Herm the overdrive guy also makes a duel res. conversion which is a good idea if you want to go that route, but it's easyer to install with the body off. The Pertronix is a great upgrade and easy. Welcome aboard from PA!

 

heres the update

I got the cj5 two days ago at my house. Its awesome.

Gonna be alot of work but should be a blast.

As for figureing out what distributor i have what would you suggest. There is a metal plate in the front of it that is like a "windo" i guess which is good cuz then i can get rid of the points for like 75 bucks and thats awesome

anyway if you have some pics of which is which post them up thanks.

 

I dont't understand isn't firing order and position the same thing, providing you start with number one in the right spot?

 

anyone know where they sell headers for this motor??? Or if they even sell headers for it.

 

Hedman makes headers for them. You can get them at Summit or Jegs. You an also get them from Stans Headers. Much better headers but they will cost you. My headers have been on since 1992, have about 13k miles on them.

 

for 75 bucks you can get the pertronix unit, but do not forget the HE coil to go along with that.

 

here are some pics of the jeep so you can see what it looks like.