CJ5: VooDoo's LS1 Project

[VooDoo2]

Bought this and happen to have a spare LS1, Supercharger, 4L65e Auto and some other bits laying around



I had a CJ7 years ago with a 350 chev and T400 in it that was great fun (other than the unstable suspension over 80kmh) so hope to relive some of my mis-spent youth building up a fun weekend truck. Rego isnt really important but helpful but safety is on the top of the list so it has to be built right.

Some questions for you jeep folk.

Diff's: IM told the D33/D44 is a weak link. How weak is it really? Ill have around 500hp at the engine but can wind that back in the tune pretty easy. Are the Diff's going to hold up or is the weakness in other areas? Looking at a D60 conversion or maybe GU or Toyota diff's instead.

Suspension: Last Jeep i owned i did mostly sand work with so never really flexed it up might. It had twin shocks up front and single rears and due to the narrow springs used to walk the front diff sideways badly. Options include a coil spring conversion. Fox long travel shocks etc.

Transfer case: Is the D20 transfer any good? I don't have the funds for a 4k Atlas so what other options can i look at?

Wheels/Tyres: Im looking at some 35's at the very least (and i have a set) but what offset are the jeep rims? I have a set of 16x10 6 stud that i can use with the toyo diff's. Might look at going bigger later but hopefully i can get away with some 35's for now.

[murray]

i had a blue printed 327chev t400 dana20
the 30 and the44 held up ok but i had power lok diffs

[Brick]

i have heard its a real tight fit with a auto in a CJ5 They are a little short apparently

cheers

[murray]

mine was in a cj6

[VooDoo2]

Originally Posted by Brick

i have heard its a real tight fit with a auto in a CJ5 They are a little short apparently

cheers

The Holden 4L65e is pretty short anyway. Novak do a kit for the box to transfer case

http://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/kit_4l62.htm

If it doesnt fit ill throw a T400 in there instead.

[AussieCJ7]

The D44 will be ok if your not driving with little mechanical respect but at 500HP it will be well in its upper range depending on tyre size

The D30 will not like 500HP and any kind of abuse but will stand up to it ok with some care on the skinny pedal

If looking at swapping axles I would use Nissan GQ/GU purely because they are dirt cheap for the strength and the drop is the right side for a CJ

The D20 is ok or you can use a D300 and load it with bigger input/output shafts and 4:1's if you want a cheaper atlas style strength check out http://www.jbconversions.com/index2.php?pc=2


I am watching to see how you deal with the wheel base and an auto can be done but aint easy

[DomenicP]

Hi, this reminds me of where i was at about 18 months ago. You are going to have fun and a headache all at the same time! If i could go back in time i would do something like get a tj chassis make up some body mounts and drop the Cj 5 body on it, then get a set of GU/GQ diffs add that engine and you should have a very cool car.
It all depends on what you want to with the jeep, if you are not going to register it then there are so many options. ow and the reason i would dich the original chassis is because it is very weak and prone to cracking also you would get the tj suspension and you could choose from a heap of suspension kits from the states.