71 Wheeling Rig

[Rozcoking23]

I'd vary curious to hear if they're working on aluminum radiators. I asked/begged my way into convincing an industrial radiator shop to do the 68 radiator. When I went back with the armchair wheeler the owner told me he didn't do the aluminum ones, said in his experience they were too fragile once they started leaking.

Talking with our local radiator shop they said the aluminum radiators are throw always, not worth their time to cut open and re weld.

 

[Rozcoking23]

Roy what are the dementions on that radiator I have a brand new aluminum one in the shed for a cj5 v8 conversion.

 

[Fireball]

Roy what are the dementions on that radiator I have a brand new aluminum one in the shed for a cj5 v8 conversion.

26x19x3. It's this one: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/GRI-1-25222-X

The grill and my shroud mount to the top and bottom rails and will require fab work if the rails aren't in the same place and the same thickness front-to-back,

 

[Fireball]

Swapped the radiator out on Saturday night/Sunday morning:

The old one is leaking around here somewhere. I'm not going to bother pressure testing it though. I'm just glad the Jeep is running again:

 

[colojeepguy]

My wife is back home and we went for a ride to the Post Office over some frost-heaved roads. Consensus is that it's quite a bit better. You still get bumped around, but the hard edge seems to be smoothed off.

Later I took it for a drive around the property on one of the really bumpy trails:

That trail might look smooth from a photo, but it's the equivalent of a Colorado mountain trail with loads of rocks sticking through the surface. Again, it an't no Cadillac, but it's definitely taken the edge off. I do think it's as good as the '69 with it's ProComp springs and that was the goal of all this.

I'm curious if the shocks will make a noticeable difference when they show up on Wednesday. I'm also think about removing the smallest bottom leaf from the springs.

My wife likes the SmittyBilt low-back seat I stole out the the '69 so the '71 is going to get a set of those and the high-backs are out:

I love the Smittybilt seats and have already put them in two other Jeeps. Horror of horrors, Smitty Bilt has discontinued them. That's a serious bummer they are the best replacement seat for these old CJ-5s.

Luckily a couple vendors on e-bay still had new stock and I've got a couple on the way. Soon they won't be available anymore.

So, over a year later, are you still happy with the de-leafed BDS springs? Have they sagged any?

 

[Fireball]

So, over a year later, are you still happy with the de-leafed BDS springs? Have they sagged any?

Absolutely happy. It doesn't seem to have sagged at all, and it rides a little better than even the TJ on really rocky bumpy stuff.

I haven't done any real challenging rock crawling, so there may be issues with axle wrap I haven't ran into yet. I still need to tighten the camps to take out the space of the missing leaf. That would definitely help with any wrap issues.

 

[blalp!]

it rides a little better than even the TJ on really rocky bumpy stuff.

How does it compare to the TJ on road?

 

[Fireball]

How does it compare to the TJ on road?

Pretty similar.

 

[Fireball]

Pretty similar.

That said, the TJ has unknown brand 4 inch lift springs that seem stiffer than necessary.

 

[Fireball]

Adding to previous ride quality stuff. I stole the Monroe shocks of this Jeep to put on the DJ-3A because they were smaller diameter. I put the BDS shocks back the '71 because I didn't think it made much difference, but it definitely rides a little rougher over choppy stuff.

So I ordered more Monroe shocks to put back on the '71.

When I was under the Jeep swapping them out, I noticed this:

That's a missing nut and an eighth in gap between the crossframe and frame. The drivetrain is trying to leave the Jeep!

Stupid useless lock washers.

The other side was loose too, but hadn't lost any nuts yet:

Friction nuts installed on both sides. Hopefully that solves this problem:

 

[68BuickV6]

Adding to previous ride quality stuff. I stole the Monroe shocks of this Jeep to put on the DJ-3A because they were smaller diameter. I put the BDS shocks back the '71 because I didn't think it made much difference, but it definitely rides a little rougher over choppy stuff.

So I ordered more Monroe shocks to put back on the '71.

When I was under the Jeep swapping them out, I noticed this:

That's a missing nut and an eighth in gap between the crossframe and frame. The drivetrain is trying to leave the Jeep!

Stupid useless lock washers.

The other side was loose too, but hadn't lost any nuts yet:

Friction nuts installed on both sides. Hopefully that solves this problem:

Had enough of those that now I locktight everything!

 

[givemethewillys]

Are the Monroe shocks stock size or for a lifted jeep? I also have BDS springs (2.5") and the shocks that I had on the Jeep previously are now too short. Do you have a part number?

 

[Fireball]

Are the Monroe shocks stock size or for a lifted jeep? I also have BDS springs (2.5") and the shocks that I had on the Jeep previously are now too short. Do you have a part number?

Yes, these are on a BDS 2.5" lifted Jeep. They are almost identical in total length and travel to the shocks BDS sells with the springs. I measured my BDS ones and found the closest Monroe match. Monromatic 31000.

Here's the Amazon link I used, but it looks like they only have one left at the moment: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000COO3PM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

 

[Fireball]

I haven't done anything lately with this Jeep except drive it all over the property and neighborhood. It gets drive 3-5 times a week. It's been doing everything we want it to do.

Just for fun, I ran it across a grain truck scale when we were out on our Sunday drive yesterday. Minus dogs and people, but with around 10 gallons of gas, it weighs 3080 lbs.

That seems about right from experience.

Interestingly, the 1971 owner's manual says the following:

• GVW: 3750 lbs
• Curb weight V6 engine: 2351 lbs
• For Canvas half-top model, add: 38 lbs
• For canvas full-top model, add: 56 lbs
• For hard top model, add: 340 lbs

The 2351 lbs curb weight the manual lists seems impossibly light. It's not clear if a spare tire, jack, lug wrench, heater, ...etc. is even included in that. I would guess most stock V6 Cj-5s weight more like 2600lbs.

In the case of my '71 I have the following weight added from stock (with educated guessing at the weights):

• Buick 350 V8 vs 225 V6: 75 lbs
• Dual exhaust: 15 lbs
• T-18 4spd vs T14 3spd: 100 lbs
• Warn overdrive: 10lbs
• Power saginaw steering/GM column: 20 lbs
• Bestop Supertop: 60 lbs
• 11.5x32" tires on 15x7 wheels: 100 lbs
• Fender flares: 10 lbs
• Roll bar: 80 lbs
• Horse stall floor mats: 15 lbs
• Factory heater: 20 lbs
• Jack, lug wrench, jumper cables: 15 lbs
• Misc. like bed lined interior, radio, ...etc: 20 lbs

That totals out to about 540 lbs which would say it was around 2560 when it was new (without a top, but with a heater). A spare tire would put it right at 2600. That's more inline with what I've seen in practice than what the manual says.

Interesting Note: This Jeep has no spare, no winch, just a roll bar not a cage, and no rear rack and it's at 3100lbs. If it had all that, a couple people, tools, camping gear, cooler, and gas can, it would be basically impossible not to be over the 3750 GVW. I would guess most CJ-5s ready for a few days on the Rubicon weigh in over 4000 lbs with passengers. Technically overloaded, but they live there fine.

Now I'm curious to run the DJ-3A and TJ over the scale. I bet the DJ is about 3000 lbs and the TJ is at 4600 lbs with the toolbox and spares kit in it.

 

[colojeepguy]

I haven't done anything lately with this Jeep except drive it all over the property and neighborhood. It gets drive 3-5 times a week. It's been doing everything we want it to do.

Just for fun, I ran it across a grain truck scale when we were out on our Sunday drive yesterday. Minus dogs and people, but with around 10 gallons of gas, it weighs 3080 lbs.

That seems about right from experience.

Interestingly, the 1971 owner's manual says the following:

• GVW: 3750 lbs
• Curb weight V6 engine: 2351 lbs
• For Canvas half-top model, add: 38 lbs
• For canvas full-top model, add: 56 lbs
• For hard top model, add: 340 lbs

The 2351 lbs curb weight the manual lists seems impossibly light. It's not clear if a spare tire, jack, lug wrench, heater, ...etc. is even included in that. I would guess most stock V6 Cj-5s weight more like 2600lbs.

In the case of my '71 I have the following weight added from stock (with educated guessing at the weights):

• Buick 350 V8 vs 225 V6: 75 lbs
• Dual exhaust: 15 lbs
• T-18 4spd vs T14 3spd: 100 lbs
• Warn overdrive: 10lbs
• Power saginaw steering/GM column: 20 lbs
• Bestop Supertop: 60 lbs
• 11.5x32" tires on 15x7 wheels: 100 lbs
• Fender flares: 10 lbs
• Roll bar: 80 lbs
• Horse stall floor mats: 15 lbs
• Factory heater: 20 lbs
• Jack, lug wrench, jumper cables: 15 lbs
• Misc. like bed lined interior, radio, ...etc: 20 lbs

That totals out to about 540 lbs which would say it was around 2560 when it was new (without a top, but with a heater). A spare tire would put it right at 2600. That's more inline with what I've seen in practice than what the manual says.

Interesting Note: This Jeep has no spare, no winch, just a roll bar not a cage, and no rear rack and it's at 3100lbs. If it had all that, a couple people, tools, camping gear, cooler, and gas can, it would be basically impossible not to be over the 3750 GVW. I would guess most CJ-5s ready for a few days on the Rubicon weigh in over 4000 lbs with passengers. Technically overloaded, but they live there fine.

Now I'm curious to run the DJ-3A and TJ over the scale. I bet the DJ is about 3000 lbs and the TJ is at 4600 lbs with the toolbox and spares kit in it.

I weighed mine at 3175 on a certified scale. Pretty much equipped as yours, but still a 225 and I think that ws before the T18 swap.

 

[3b a runnin]

My 73 cj5 was 3820lbs I think with 1 tote of tools/parts, full cage, and me (bout 180). No winch at the time.
I'm sure its above max weight.

 

[Jw60]

Mine's a pig. Road sign floor boards, corner guards, winch, snowplow, hard top, heavy wheels and tires, About 200lbs of steel and gym weights, Tool box, gas in the tank. My winch plate alone is heavy then there is 14lbs of steel just between my manual saginaw box and the frame rail (6x6x1" plate).

I think the big difference folks will find are wheels and tires, flanged vs tapered axles (d30 is also a lot heavier tube) early drums are very light weight. Corner guards and added tubework. Winches.

I'ld like to build a little flat fender DJ with a 2.5l 5 speed, manual steering, heated seats, and a powr-lok in the rear. Something like a solstice or 86 or brz. Tilt the windshield forward and wear a motorcycle helmet.

 

[Norcal69]

I haven't done anything lately with this Jeep except drive it all over the property and neighborhood. It gets drive 3-5 times a week. It's been doing everything we want it to do.

Just for fun, I ran it across a grain truck scale when we were out on our Sunday drive yesterday. Minus dogs and people, but with around 10 gallons of gas, it weighs 3080 lbs.

That seems about right from experience.

Interestingly, the 1971 owner's manual says the following:

• GVW: 3750 lbs
• Curb weight V6 engine: 2351 lbs
• For Canvas half-top model, add: 38 lbs
• For canvas full-top model, add: 56 lbs
• For hard top model, add: 340 lbs

The 2351 lbs curb weight the manual lists seems impossibly light. It's not clear if a spare tire, jack, lug wrench, heater, ...etc. is even included in that. I would guess most stock V6 Cj-5s weight more like 2600lbs.

In the case of my '71 I have the following weight added from stock (with educated guessing at the weights):

• Buick 350 V8 vs 225 V6: 75 lbs
• Dual exhaust: 15 lbs
• T-18 4spd vs T14 3spd: 100 lbs
• Warn overdrive: 10lbs
• Power saginaw steering/GM column: 20 lbs
• Bestop Supertop: 60 lbs
• 11.5x32" tires on 15x7 wheels: 100 lbs
• Fender flares: 10 lbs
• Roll bar: 80 lbs
• Horse stall floor mats: 15 lbs
• Factory heater: 20 lbs
• Jack, lug wrench, jumper cables: 15 lbs
• Misc. like bed lined interior, radio, ...etc: 20 lbs

That totals out to about 540 lbs which would say it was around 2560 when it was new (without a top, but with a heater). A spare tire would put it right at 2600. That's more inline with what I've seen in practice than what the manual says.

Interesting Note: This Jeep has no spare, no winch, just a roll bar not a cage, and no rear rack and it's at 3100lbs. If it had all that, a couple people, tools, camping gear, cooler, and gas can, it would be basically impossible not to be over the 3750 GVW. I would guess most CJ-5s ready for a few days on the Rubicon weigh in over 4000 lbs with passengers. Technically overloaded, but they live there fine.

Now I'm curious to run the DJ-3A and TJ over the scale. I bet the DJ is about 3000 lbs and the TJ is at 4600 lbs with the toolbox and spares kit in it.

Mine is 3250 without camping gear, cooler or Rubicon spares.....
Two passengers and a full Rubicon loadout is easily over 4k rolling down the road.

 

[Fireball]

I haven't really done anything with this Jeep because the DJ is the hardcore offroad Jeep I don't mind abusing, and the '71 does everything we need it to do as is. It goes for multiple drives around the neighborhood and around the property every week.

I had torn a D30 all apart on for a refresh to put in this Jeep a year and a half ago. Then I bought the DJ-3A and starting working on it. This stupid axle has been taking up space on my bench the ever since. I finally put the outers back together last week and moved it off the bench (using the tractor to save my back):

It may still get the D30 some day in the future, or I may just sell the axle since I'm considering selling this Jeep after I get the DJ-3A prepped for next year's Rubicon trip.

One thing I did notice however when, I was under the Jeep to inspect things, was this broken motor mount:

That's probably why the shifter likes to smack me in the knee on big bumps.

I pulled it out and cleaned it up:

Classic fatigue failure:

I should have time to weld it back together and add some gussets tonight:

 

[FinoCJ]

was this broken motor mount:

or is that the D18 snubber/torque mount?