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Just got a 68 Commando!!!

Discussion in 'Jeepster Commando and Commando Tech' started by GreeceMonkey22, Jul 26, 2011.

  1. Jul 26, 2011
    GreeceMonkey22

    GreeceMonkey22 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
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    So I have a friend...she finds out that her brother in law sold his house and this jeep has to be gone by midnight...he can't get it running...mechanic said he would give him $500 to come pick it up...she calls me...$53 later I have it running! I gave him $500 and now I am the proud owner of a 68 Jeepster Commando!

    The engine and tranny are in perfect shape. They were rebuilt about 5 years ago when he bought it in Colorado and then drove it to Philly. Then he let it sit. It has the Dauntless V6 and an auto tranny!

    I know I need a carb rebuild kit, and the brakes need redone. So, my questions.....are there any axles that you can swap in to get disc up front? Or if I do a complete rebuild of the brakes are the 4 wheel drum brakes plenty to stop? I have access to some 84 cj7 axles...any chance those would work?

    thoughts?

    i'll be on here a lot now! not sure if you anyone is on quadratec or pirate, but i am "TheGirlfriendYJ" on there.

    Pictures are here:
    http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hpho...0590447525358_13741841_60650369_7843162_n.jpg
    http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hpho...0304191255218_13741841_58967019_7307682_n.jpg

    Thanks! Kosta
     
  2. Jul 26, 2011
    JustEnos

    JustEnos Member

    Fox Point, NS,...
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    Aug 9, 2006
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    Congrats on the new Jeep, that's a nice looking Commando, especially for the price.

    Can't help you with your questions. A late model narrow track CJ axle with discs would be a good starting point, but I don't know if its a direct swap - I'm thinking the spring perches would have to be moved. Or you could look into upgrading to 11" brakes.
     
  3. Jul 26, 2011
    GreeceMonkey22

    GreeceMonkey22 New Member

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    Jul 20, 2011
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    Thanks Enos! I thought it was great for the price. The hardtop is in great shape. The body is fairly smooth. Good tires. Rebuilt motor and tranny. Just needs some body work and new paint. Last guy did spray paint everywhere and didn't tape anything off!

    11" brakes...drums still I am guessing? I think mine are 10". Is it really that much of an upgrade to get 1" more of drums?

    When you saw late model narrow track, can you tell me what year you are thinking and what makes a narrow track? Sorry, I am primarily a YJ/TJ guy. Has anyone on here did an axle swap with a CJ? Or anything else with disc front brakes?
     
  4. Jul 26, 2011
    JustEnos

    JustEnos Member

    Fox Point, NS,...
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    I'm no expert, but a bit of googling says 72-81 CJ5 Dana 30 axles are narrow track and disc brakes. Narrow track is, well, narrower in overall width 53" vs 56" from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface. 11" brakes are supposed to be a big improvement over the stock 10".

    I know the rears of Commandos have the springs mounted on the outside of the frame vs CJs having them under the frame, but I can't remember for sure on the front and its raining way too hard to go out and look LOL
     
  5. Jul 26, 2011
    Pack Rat

    Pack Rat Old Timer

    I live in a...
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    First off welcome to the wonderful world of Jeepsters and Commandos. :coffee:
    Two reasons to go 11" brakes- better braking and you can actually find new hardware for the 11". 10" hardware is getting to the point of being non existent. That extra one inch in size does make a big difference,
    CJ axles are your best bet for diffs. 72/73 Commando are also a good choice if you can find them. In stock form you would however have drum brakes up front but being a D30 they're easy enough to upgrade to disc.
    Being a 68 you may want to consider upgrading to Saginaw steering also although you can get away with the Ross, a couple of guys have done it when swapping out the D27 for a 30. The major problem with Ross is there's a lot of pivot points in the steering linkage and they tend to get sloppy loose over time. There are some other things you'll need to do to install the 30 but I won't burden you with that now.
    If you want to spend a couple of hours(days) reading up on these things you'll want to head over to the JCCA to. Between this site and the JCCA you'll find everything you could ever want to know, probably some stuff you don't want to know too R).

    The front diff will be a direct bolt in, not 100% on the rear being a later model but I'm currently converting a 72 commando over to Quadratrac and the rear diff bolted right up. The reason the rear hangers on a Jeepter/Commando are outboard is because they are straight frame, same width front to back. CJ, at least up to 79ish are wider in the rear than the front which is why the spring mounts are under the frame. Don't have any frame specs handy for 80 and up.
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2011
  6. Jul 26, 2011
    JustEnos

    JustEnos Member

    Fox Point, NS,...
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    I knew Pack Rat would be in soon to give us the right information.
     
  7. Jul 26, 2011
    IndyClassic

    IndyClassic New Member

    Kingman, AZ
    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2011
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    Congrats! I just picked up a 67 Jeepster convertible a few weeks ago. Can't help with your questions as I am cramming in the learning curve myself but it should be a blast "getting there."
     
  8. Jul 27, 2011
    gotago1

    gotago1 New Member

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    Congrats, I just bought a 71 hurst (manual tran) that I will be bringing home next week. I've been looking at commando's for the last few months and you got a great deal on your 68. If this thing wasn't a hurst I would put in a t400 and qt transfer that I have on my garage shelf, love it in my J10, it'll climb trees.
     
  9. Jul 27, 2011
    Pack Rat

    Pack Rat Old Timer

    I live in a...
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    You need to buy another Jeepster and do that, then I wouldn't be the only one R).
     
  10. Aug 4, 2011
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Unless you really really really like the Quadratrac, I would advise against converting to it today. The main maintenance item, the chain, has been discontinued by Borg-Warner. Lack of a source for the quality Morse chain (by B-W) is a real problem for these cases.

    The guys on ifsja.org are looking into paying for a run of Morse chains, and that will be the only remaining source aside from any NOS out there. You might want to throw your marker in there in case something comes of it. BJ's FSJ has a very limited supply of new Morse chains, at a very inflated price - but they are a source. I suggest you put a chain or two away for a rainy day, if you can get them.

    The TH400 Jeepsters are really cool. They just beg for a Buick V8 swap... the 300-340-350 Buick fits so well. :coffee:
     
  11. Aug 4, 2011
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    That's a great looking Jeepster - I'd be all over it for $500.

    I'd skip the '84 CJ-7 axles, since they have a wider track than the originals, and use the dreaded AMC 20 rear axle. The M20 from a CJ has some significant issues that can be dealt with, but by the time you buy one piece axles and truss the housing, you may as well start with something better. The only advantage to the M20 is that the pads might already be in the right place, as mentioned above.

    Axles from a '72-73 Commando should bolt in, and would give you a Dana 44 rear and open knuckle Dana 30 front, with 11" drums all around. Same for axles from a '72-75 CJ, but you'd have to relocate the rear spring pads. If you want wide-track axles, a '74-79 Wagoneer would be a good donor, with Dana 44 F/R and open knuckles, and front disk brakes. You'd have to outboard the front spring hangers, and relocate the rear pads.

    Personally, I'd just clean it up and drive it for a wile, before I made any big plans. These are fun cars, and you might like it as it is.
     
  12. Aug 25, 2011
    DWayrynen

    DWayrynen New Member

    Sebastopol, CA
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    For my '70 I went with the bolt-on front disk conversion from jeepsterpartsdude.com. It uses disks from 79-81 CJ5, and mid-90s Plymouth/Dodge calipers. Straight-forward installation took about two hours and made all the difference in drivability.
     
  13. Aug 28, 2011
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
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    Way cool!!. I'd try to make that my DD.
     
  14. Aug 28, 2011
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    If you decide to go 11" brakes or disc brakes check out the technical section here. The same rules apply to the front for CJ's, Jeepster Commando's, and Commando's. If you want to upgrade the rear you need to idendify which rear axle you have as there are differences in brake parts bolt ups.
     
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