opinions plz- CJ2A restomod driveline

Chuckman

Chuckman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2005
Location
Huntersville
ok, so eventually, I will build another flatty specifically a 46 2A- thats the frame and tub that I have anyway. I will build it for DD duty and 'mild wheeling' when we move back up to Boone. I have a couple willys 4cyls, a T90 / D18 combo, and a 225 / T14 / D20 so far in the barns to choose from. I also have a couple 350's another 6.0 LS, a 700r, and a couple D300's but fawk that big stuff. I loooove a flatty, but in stock form, they aren't ideal for the mountains. They most certainly need a bigger motor and certainly better brakes. So keeping with the scheme of resto-mod, I'd like to keep it correct for lets say the 60's. So, Im thinking 225v6, granny low something, and twin stick something. Then stockish axles that I have with 11" brakes F&R - with a vacuum assist (my knees are shot). No need to get beefy on the sticks, they'll hold just fine with stock sized tires or maybe 1" over. very possibly narrow tracks. dunno. I do have a stock set of axles for both a 2A and a 3A.

if you were doing this and had time to find whatever, what would you use for driveline, axles, steering, tires for a resto-mod CJ2A.
 
Something light and high-revving, just for the fun potential. Honda S2000, 3800 supercharged, Mazda Miata driveline, maybe even a Wankel. I like ripping through the gears all tached out in something small and light like that. Any of those swaps could achieve 150-230hp easily, and make for a fun little nimble DD. Put a 4:1 transfer case in it to make up for the lacking low-end and you've got a decent all-arounder.
 
Chuckman said:
So keeping with the scheme of resto-mod, I'd like to keep it correct for lets say the 60's.
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catfishblues said:
Something light and high-revving, just for the fun potential. Honda S2000, 3800 supercharged, Mazda Miata driveline, maybe even a Wankel. I like ripping through the gears all tached out in something small and light like that.
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Good luck finding one of those rare 1960's S2000 or Miata swaps. ;)
 
I'd use the 6.0/700r/d300 combo with d44/9" combo.

It's not classic but you could carb the 6.0 if you really wanted that. :D


That combo would easily serve as DD duty and mild wheeling. And be really fun!
 
I have been keeping an eye open for a Kubota V2203 for my 3A. It is mostly stock now, with the exception of a T98. I think the diesel would make it a nice driver after regearing from 5.38:1.
 
I would have to go with a modern EFI engine for what you plan on using it for. Some kind of 2.0-3.0 4cyl motor. Either a Yota or Suzuki motor probably. I would keep the old axles though so it still looked old. I would probably add power steering.
 
wheel base is kinda short for modern trans/t-case to go with the new motors. I'd like to see someone put in a high performance motorcycle motor in an old jeep.
 
Black Bear said:
wheel base is kinda short for modern trans/t-case to go with the new motors. I'd like to see someone put in a high performance motorcycle motor in an old jeep.
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Samurai's have a wheel base of 80" and run a divorced TC, LOL. What is the wheelbase on those old Jeeps?
 
drkelly said:
Samurai's have a wheel base of 80" and run a divorced TC, LOL. What is the wheelbase on those old Jeeps?
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The interwebs say the CJ2A is also 80 inch wheelbase. That's really short.

Engine placement and transmission length are obviously big factors in using a divorced case.
 
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drkelly said:
Samurai's have a wheel base of 80" and run a divorced TC, LOL. What is the wheelbase on those old Jeeps?
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i forgot the sammi stuff was really short. The toy stuff, not so much. Another factor is engine height, the 2a's had the flat head so there isnt alot of room for a taller motor like a 2rz/3rz.
 
@DanStew had a suzuki 1.6 16v, 2wd trans, with sami case in one and it was a neat package. Not exactly the 60s era resto you're looking for though. I'd lean towards a built 2.3 if you wanted more old school.
 
If you must keep it more on the classic side of things, just use a 350 (or V6) with a Muncie 4spd to an appropriate divorced case or find an SM420 and appropriate transfer case to mate to it.

May not work as well for highway use but would work ok as a driver around town and on the trails.
 
I have a 3A with a TBI 350 and it fits but its ugly and shoved in there. the 225 V6 is whats will burn the liquidfied dinosaurs, but the trans/case is what Im up in arms about.

whoever said 4.0 - that would end out by the front bumper
 
ok heres what Im looking at. If I decide to keep the rear axle, its offset, and kinda cool and it lets me add a PTO something = cool. but its a D18 and yields only 2.03:1 in low. But a swap to a centered 44 allows a D20, and yields 2.46:1.
DATA on gear boxes= The T14 is 3.10:1 , a T90 is 2.79:1 a ferd T18 is 6.32:1 and a jeep T18 is 4.02:1, a 420 is 7.0:1 (!!), and a 465 is 6.55:1 and a 435 is 6.68:1.

As you can see that's a ton of options once you start talking granny 4 speeds. But my current setup is T90/D18 and its terrible final gear ratio is at 30:1. But a little shenanigans and Im into a ferd T18/D20 and were talking 84:1. The flatty gears are typically 5.38:1. If I stick with the T14/D20 that's currently behind the 225, its still only 41:1

If I do any wheeling at all, its going to be uber slow, since the death quotient is super high on a stock flatty. Hence the need for control.
 
Cosworth Vega motor...uber cool and somewhat vintage...

MM134-BUG-76CosworthVega-Eng0058.jpg
 
The 225 would be perfect, or could go a little newer with the chevy 4.3L. The 225 has the distributer in the front of the motor so there is no firewall issues with distributer. The T18 would be a good choice. I ran a buick 4.1L v6 and T18/dana 18 in my old 63 CJ5. IT was an excellent combo, only thing i would change is fuel injection. I am a junky for it. The suzuki i put in my m38a1 that LBarr mentioned was a real nice setup, it started up first time every time even in the coldest weather :) With a flatfender the 225/T18/Dana 18 and 4.27 axle gears would be great.
 
4.27 axles?
 
The 225 V-6 sounds like a winner to me! I drove a friend's CJ-5 with that engine and that was one peppy little Jeep!!!! (it surprised the heck out of me, I had expected it to be sluggish but it was far from it! Lit up the rear tires exiting my driveway, LOL!)
 
Chuckman said:
4.27 axles?
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You could get the 4.27 geared axles in the early jeeps, mainly towards the later 60s, i believe when the V6 came on board. It was a good ratio. I ran that for a long time with a 225/T90/Dana 18 combo. The axles were dana 27/Dana 44. I ended up getting rid of them after i went to wagoneer axles.
 
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