Unimog parts in an early CJ?

I'm just curious and don't know anything about unimogs. I'm starting up a build of a CJ-6. I see someone selling unimog axles, transmission, & transfer case. I'm looking at doing some mild rock climbing with my CJ-6, and would love to have the 14.93 first gear as well as the strong axles. Are there any other engine choices besides the diesel that came in the unimog? Would any of these engines fit in an early CJ?

I am not too seriously looking at it, but if it is a viable option, then perhaps I will.

Thanks

 

I've never understood the fascination with portal axles, half the tractors built for the last 70 years have had them and they break just like everything else but cost way more to fix and are grossly oveweight compared to a dana 60 or something like that.

 

Not a good idea. There are way too many other ways to go and get a good Jeep without as much orgional fabrication.

 

There's some precedent for using Moggie axles in CJs. However, they are portal axles with gearboxes at each wheel, and unusual in that respect. I expect they would be mostly favored by rock buggy builders - do a Google search for "siteirate4x4.com unimog axles" and you'll find a lot to look at and read. If you want to build a buggy (ie off-road only and trailer it to the trailhead), Unimog axles might be for you. Browse the Pirate articles, but be forewarned that Pirate is not a friendly, family-oriented site like here. Be sure to search before you ask any questions there...

 

Tim I've never see a portal axle that didn't have a gear box at the end of them. There not changeable like a transmission only a reduction from my understanding. My dads 1953 John Deere tractor has Portal axles 1.4:1 gear reduction. I have seen John Deere's from the 30's that had them also. They give you ground clearance, full floating axles always, a lot of extra weight, gear reduction and lots of extra maintenance headaches. They have there uses but not on a jeep for the average guy and the cost is very hi for what little you gain. For the average wheeler they would be a money pit. IMHO

 

My question about portals is wouldn't they cause a sort of axle wrap when you hit something? I mean that much leverage when you nose into a rock has to cause some kinda of bending force.

 

Getting parts on the fly will be a problem too and if you rock crawl you will break something.:v6:

 

UNimogs are quite common here in Africa, and I gotta say, they are pretty dang cool.. But I tend to agree witht he rest of the guys here, the Unimog driveline is just to big and overdone for an early 5/6.. maybe in an overbuilt 8 or something but the frame in a 6 would never be able to handle to mods and stress froma unimog driveline. The frame on a unimog looks like that of a tractor trailer....

BUBBA

 

Don't know about moggies specifically, but I know that the portal axle on a swing-axle VW bus has some odd effects on acceleration. On a bug, the axle rotation direction makes the car squat down toward the pavement on acceleration. On a bus, it's the opposite - the body rises on acceleration... don't know how much practical difference this makes, but it is quite interesting to see.

 

I am not going to look further into them. I don't want to have to trailer my jeep to the trails. I'd rather drive it. Thanks!
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