1974 CJ5 Build

Hello everyone, I have been perusing through this forum for the last couple months at great length. There are a lot of great build s here, so I thought I would share my build. All comments are welcome.
I currently own a 1979 CJ7 that I built from a bare frame. It has an AMC 360 with Edelbrock intake and cam, bored over 30, running Howel FI, on board air, full MSD ignition (distributor, coil, wires and 6AL) running the stock D30 and AMC 20 with 4:10. one piece shafts in the rear, flat tops up front with high steer with 3.5" BDS sprung over with 2" body lift running on 15/35/15 Boggers. Dual batteries and a Warn 8000Xi. It has a 91 YJ body with 87 YJ hood grill and fenders. Half doors with a half door top that has not been on in the last 4 years. I am very proud of this buils, it took me a year to build up and I have been tweeking it for the last 10 years.
Everytime I took it off road, my but would clench up as I did not want to damage it after all the money and hard work, hence where my current project comes in. I have been looking at this Jeep for the last 7 years. It was free but I was not sure if I wanted to take on the task to build it. As you can guess, I finally did. It is a 74 CJ5 with a 258. It had been sitting in a field for at least 15 years. Surprisingly the frame looks pretty solid, the body however, not so much. I have purchased the tub hat supports from classic and a floor pan for the passenger side as the hats are almost non existant along with the passenger floor pan. I scored a great deal on a set of new BDS 5" lift springs. I will be ordering the rock road conversion kit to place them under the Jeep. I will be keeping it spring under. I also picked up a set of factory axles from an 86 CJ7 so I could have disc brakes up front and a wider stance. I will be putting in power steering and a one wire alternator and an HEI distributor.
My current dilemma is I can get my hands on a set of D44's from a wagoner, but they too have been in this field for 15 years. I would probably need to rebuild the axle completely. A buddy is building a 47 CJ2A and I can get my hands on his carriers and gears which are 5:38 to put in them, but as I want to keep costs down, I would have for sure have change all the steering components up front.
I am not sure if the motor runs, it is not seized cause you can turn it by hand. I want to see if I can get it running, if it does not then I was thinking maybe 91 and newer 4.0 for the fuel injection and easy bolt in.
This Jeep will be for offroad fun only, I will not be bothered if it gets damaged, that is why I would like to keep the costs down, and then just enjoy it.
I will keep posting my progress but will not have much going on as it is cold and snowy here now and the garage it is in has no heat.
I cannot for some reason post picks so here is a link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/113140064@N02/

 

Welcome Aboard from Northern California...................Looks like you have your hands full on that Red 1974.........If the body is that ruff the inside of that motor may also be rough especially the cylinder walls.........some that have pitted are next to impossible to clean up............I would look for that 4.0 or 4.3 with FI and not look back!

 

The 74 will be a great trail romper .

Dose a 47 2a have a dana 44?

What is wrong with the 74 axle guts? Should be a centered flanged 30 spline dana 44 ? the guts should fit in the waggy rear end. What gears are in the 74 rear end?

But tim or nick would be way way better qualified to answer that.

 

Have not got around to cracking the pots to see what ratio are in there.
The CJ2A got D44 under it when my buddy was building it.

The oil in the motor looks good. The cylinder walls I hope will be ok but with my luck probably not. I guess I will cross that road when the body and suspension are done. My goal for completion is spring/summer 2015

 

Got the body off today, went well except I did not pull the tranny shifter, got the body high enough but the ball on the shifter caught the tub and pushed the shifter forward, not I cannot shift gears, the stick just moves freely around. I broke something inside. I would say either the shifter itself, or the forks. What do you guys think. Can I get replacements or does anybody have an extra lying around. I didn't have time to take off the top cap to see.
On a brighter note, got the rocky road YJ spring kit ordered, just awaiting for shipping confirmation. Hopefully it will not be much longer, have been waiting a week now.

 

Talked to Rocky Road today, as the kit has not shipped yet as they told me it would have arrived by now. Aparently they have a back order from their bushing manufactuer. Hopefully this does not turn into a 4 month delivery as I have read on some of the forums. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and since the one member her ordered from them and was happy, I thought I would also. Hope this does not go sour.

 

Here is an update to my build. I received my kit from Rocky road last week. The rear axle was finally removed today and the rear brackets to the kit were installed. It was a little more tedious than I thought. I had to grind down quite a bit of the original hanger to get the bracket to fit over them. All in all it was a good tight fit. The quality of the kit is great. The gas tank has been removed also, and while doing so, I dropped the skid plate for the tanks and the bottom of the tank stayed with the skid plate. So I ordered a tank from Rock Auto. Price was not bad at $100.
The wide track axle is positioned underneath the frame and I will be installing the rear YJ leafs next week. I need to purchase U bolts and rear frame shackle bushings as I had to cut one of them out as the bolt was welded to the bushing.
A couple weeks ago I came a friend of mine came across a 98 TJ with a 4.0 that was destroyed but the motor was in good shape. I have acquired the TJ for free and will be pulling the motor and it will be the new powerplant in the 5. I figured for free, I can't go wrong.
Once the axles are in, I will then tackle the drive train and install the 4.0, and then on to the body. Progress is slow but I only get to work on it on the weekends as it is not at my house. It is about half hour away at my mother in laws.
I am excited to get the axles and leafs finished up to see what the final stance will be with 5" YJ leafs sprung under.

 

Since I cannot post pics on here yet, here is a link to some pics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/113140064@N02/

 

Here is an update on the build. I have stripped the frame, the 98 TJ motor is out of the donor vehicle and on a stand ready to go in. Just ordered the motor mounts and tranny mount from Energy Suspension. Awaiting return of my bell housing from Novak from machining for the CPS. New body I picked up from Willys Overland is sitting beside the frame waiting to go on. New gas tank is in. I can hardly wait to get the body on and see how it sits on these 5" YJ BDS springs.

 

Well it has been a while since I have posted progress. I am happy to say that the Jeep is almost done. I have a few odds to clean up and it is ready for the trails.
Took it out for a spin this past weekend and it was very exciting to drive. I am very happy with the overall outcome so far. I am already thinking about upgrades for next year.
I have posted a link to the pics if anyone is interested in looking.
Cheers

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