EEEEK....a Jeepster

[76zimmer]

This is my present 4x....a 68 Jeepster Commando.

My dad bought this in 93 in Colorado...Howard City area, and took it to MO. when he moved there. I bought it from him in 02, and rebuilt the drivetrain and added a D44 flanged axle to replace the D30 splined hub version. It has a Buick 225 (+.030), a stock T-86 trans....(hate it), and a D20 transfer case. The front axle is the stock D27, I converted to discs from a 1/2 ton Chevy. It is the closed knuckle type. I put a lockright in the front and back diffs, and the TSL's really make a difference off roading.

My grandaughter loves this thing, and even drives it sitting in my lap, but I know I want to have much more capability off road, so thats why I'm finally building the IronMaiden.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Cool. Those have always been slightly fascinating in a "weird" sorta way.

 

[BGKYK5]

Very cool. That is my favorite heep, after the flatfenders. It is too pretty to go rub it on the rocks, and the departure angle is less than ideal. Good call to keep it as a light duty cruiser and go beat on the Blazer.

 

[76zimmer]

a couple more pics:

 

[AJMBLAZER]

What size are the Swampers?

 

[76zimmer]

31-11.50-16, those made as big of a difference, as did the lockers in the axles.
I had some Bridgestone Dueler A/T II- Revo on it before these. Those worked good in sand, but that was about it. These tires are heavy, and I need more motor to get up test hill at Silver Lake.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Nice. What's it have for gearing?

I was surprised in the past when a friend's CJ5 had like 3.08 gears in it. I thought that BS didn't start until the late 70's.

 

[76zimmer]

this one has 3.73's. Optional was 4.27 or something like that. The 1st gear in the trans (T-86) is way to high though, its like starting out in 2nd.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Jeesh. Sounds like a good excuse for an upgrade.

 

[76zimmer]

Yep, thats why I'm starting on the IronMaiden. There was just so much more I want out of an off roader, that it would involve basically putting the body on a bigger chassis, then I still don't have the room inside it anyway.
Just better to start with a bigger truck.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Gotcha.

However surely there's a Jeep stick trans that would get you a lower gear?

 

[76zimmer]

Most guys go the SM420 or something along that line, but then it requires more mods to make that work, so I say fook it, time to move on. My grandaughter loves this thing, so we'll keep it around for her to start wheeling with. I let her drive it in the field right now, so she'll be liking to have it, in her day I hope.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Sounds like a plan.

I thought there was a trans with a low 1st they used in those things?

 

[76zimmer]

the old flat fenders had a really low 1st gear, but these Jeepsters they put a bunch of odd stuff in. driveshaft yokes are different on the D27 in front, the springs are different width, front end sheetmetal is different, on and on.

 

[resurrected_jimmy]

want the 5.38s out of an M38A1? the flatfenders had a pretty miserable 1st gear as well. There were 3 differnt 1st gear rations on the T-90 depending on what it came out of. There were also 2 different low range gear sets in the Dana 18.

First Gear
T86 = 2.79
T90A = 2.79
T90C = 3.34

The most fun I ever had with a heep was a 64 cj-5 Buick V6/T14 (3.10 first gear)/Dana 18/and 5.38s. That think would walk up tress in low gear with the 7x16 tires on it

 

[76zimmer]

After driving my Dads 48CJ-2A, I recall how low first gear felt, but i forgot that he would only do 35-40 on the road with it. I don't really want to mess with the Jeepster anymore as far as modifying things. Thats why I'm building the K5. Was the T-14 a 3 speed also?

 

[TerryD]

That's a good looking Jeepster. I've always liked the small utilitarian wheelers!

 

[76zimmer]

I'm getting a couple lengths of pipe bent for extending the rollbar back to the rear, so I can put the small bench back in, to carry more than 2 people in it. Also going to put some used BFG A/T's on it to run the dunes. They seem to go better than the Swampers....less weight to turn.
The IronMaiden isn't no where near done, so the Jeepster will serve duty again this year for my infrequent wheeling fun.

 

[sweetk30]

here is me in a super clean resto mod jeepster.

empty mike's hard drink in hand. should of seen the hill climp we did .

 

[76zimmer]

AMC type right? 304 in it?