Diggerjeep Help

I'm new here, and have some questions. I've had jeeps since I was 14 back in 64. Learned to drive on a 42 in the woods. Have owned a 59, 64, 71, 78 and 81. Currently have a Diggerjeep, what once had a grader blade and backhoe, now gone. Jeep is in excellent shape. Jeep has a Dana 70 rear with dual 760-15 tires and 12 leaf springs on each side. The frame is reinforced with 1/2' plate bolted to the side. Oh, and it only has 5000 miles on it.

Have to pull some of the leafs out for a better ride. How many springs should I take out of the back?

I have a question on brakes. Has anyone ever changed out the below floor single reservoir master cylinder out to a dual reservoir type, or relocated the master cylinder someplace else in the engine compartment?

The brakes the way they are currently don't barely stop those large dualies on the back. Can't even skid the 42 year old rubber most of the time.

Here's some pix




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Your jeep has a very high cool factor. Search the tech section. Many brake options. Check with Herm the Overdrive Guy (hermtheoverdriveguy.com). He has a dual master setup like the one that was used from 68 to 71.

 

i really like that jeep!

 

your jeep is awsome! I love it.

 

I've been toying with the idea of putting dualies on the front to,to make it really hard to steer. If I use two different size tires, the outer ones an inch shorter than the intter ones, it shouldn't steer band on hard ground and woudl double the front traction in soft ground. I've seen this done on the back, but never on the front. Sounds crazy, but why not?

 

Hmm.

The dually Jeeps are collectible, in the right market. I'd be reluctant to change it much. Especially considering its condition and odometer.

11" drum brakes, at least on the front axle, would be a sensible upgrade. The rears don't provide much braking force under normal conditions, and you'd have to look at the D70 (sure it's not a D60?) to see if it's easily changed to larger brakes. I suspect that the D70 already has drums larger than the usual 9'x2" drums on a CJ (from the pictures, the drums fill the wheels already). I wonder if you have a hard time locking up the rears, just because of the tire size/momentum and the big footprint.

 

No its not a Dana 60, its definately a dana 70 . 5.87 ratio.

 

that jeep is FREEKING AWESOME!!!!! i wold leave it as is with maybe a dual MC conversion and either the bigger drums or disc conversion up front

 

x2!!!

 

The FC 170's that used the D70 rear axle had 12 5/8 x 2 1/2" rear brakes, but used 16" Bud wheels which may have a bit more clearence. There may already be 11x2's on the front.

I do not think Willys/Kaiser/AMC used any 60 axles before the ones in J trucks. If the Jeep was mine, it would remain exactly as you have it. Very nice, maybe tooooooo nice. Certainly not something I would want to modify.

 

Not saying the D70 is wrong, but I'm slightly surprised - I knew these Jeeps have a heavy axle in the rear, but a D70 is quite a step up from a the original D44.

Yes, I'd keep it as is, or try to sell it to a collector - if I really wanted a vehicle to modify. It's great the way it is - really neato. If I kept it, I'd try to find the proper trencher or back-hoe and show it.

 

if i did anything to it .
i would figure out what the original paint color was and set it up like tim said.
take it to car shows and be the coolest cat on your block.

 

tehe,,,,timgr said: "really neato"

 

I would buy a set of 1" to 2" aftermarket lift springs, and replace them all around, that will most likely give you a better ride than even a stock regular cj5. but be sure to SAVE the old springs in case you want to go resto later on.

Looks like an awesome ride!

 

Brakes: the guys over at Jeeps Unlimited are very high on the Vanco Hydro Boost system.

http://www.vancopbs.com/category_s/66.htm

A cheaper way to get the same thing is scavenge from military CUCV’s or old GM Diesels. They used a very similar hydro boost power brake setup.