[Snowsk5054]

Hi everyone,
I wanna get a CJ5 and fix one up to make it a daily driver, and use for mudding. I am gonna start with a paint job, then seats. The CJ I might get already has a 304 V8, so I got plenty of power, but what mods should I do first? It already has 4wd (Well, not sure, but I am sure it has it), I dont have the slightest clue of what the Dana 44? axle is....and does anyone know how fast a 258 Strait 6 with 3 speed manual will go? Also, does anyone know where to get parts, such as a body tub and such....


Thanks everyone!!


P.S. Does anyone have a CJ for sale? It dosent hafta be perfect, but, I would like the body to be in good condition, with minimumal rust...thanks!

[supersly_jones]

a dana 44 is the size of housing the rear end is...if your wanting to go fast stay away from a cj...cj's aren't meant to go fast...so don't plan on ripping around at high speeds...the outcome is horrific...if your planning on putting large tires on it...look into lifts cv driveshafts gears 1 piece axles new clutch new steering wheels are always nice so the grip feels better replace rubber bushings with polyurathane...lasts a long time...wheels are always a nice thing to buy....

try these places
www.4wd.com
www.quadratec.com
and always ofcourse www.ebay.com

[jadams68]

A dana 44 is not the housing size, but a size and model of axle that came only on CJ-7's from 1986. Other jeep models and various other trucks had them standard.

A 258 with a 3spd manual will drive you crazy on the highway. It'll be even more intolerable once you regear your axles ring and pinion which is inevitable if you plan on wheeling larger tires.

Oh and yes, I have a perfect CJ-7 for sale.
www.ec4x4e.com/jeep.html

[Snowsk5054]

Did I mention I want to spend less then $1000? I wanna fix it up myself and call it my own. I reason I want to know how fast a 258 Strait 6 goes is because I am gonna use this as a daily driver going to and from school and go mudding, and theres highway, I hafta drive on to get to school that the speed limit is 60, and my friends jeep goes 55, max....so, I just wanted to know, because I also want alot of power....

Thanks!!!

[djfuzzy]

Umm...perhaps you are looking at the wrong reasons on owning a Jeep. Even if the speed limit is 60, when you have the top and doors off, a nice 50MPH will feel real comfortable. Don't worry about speed too much, your larger tires and suspension upgrades will diminish that anyhow. 258 with a 3 speed will be annoying at "high" speeds anyhow. I recommend looking for one with a 4 speed.

Anyway, good luck with your search...once you start driving one you will realize that the compromise of speed for sturdiness is way worth it.

[Snowsk5054]

Would the 304 V8 work good? I am not sure about the transmission and stuff, but that should do good on speed and such right?

[djfuzzy]

Won't do much for your speed, AMC motors are torquers not revvers. It will be great power for you to mud in, but seriously, stop worrying about speed. If your foot is too heavy, that 304 will suck the gas right out of your tank in no time.

[Snowsk5054]

Okay then, thanks everyone for the inputs...I gues I will get a Strait 6, or put a diffrent motor in, I guess I wont use it to go to Cape COd in the Summer, I will just use it for the winter...But really, how fast can a 258 Strait 6 go? 60? Maybe 65?

[jadams68]

I can do 80mph in mine... but that's on a straight road or downhill... 258's suffer going up hill speed-wise...especially when you're pushing 35"s... like I am.

Originally Posted by Snowsk5054

Okay then, thanks everyone for the inputs...I gues I will get a Strait 6, or put a diffrent motor in, I guess I wont use it to go to Cape COd in the Summer, I will just use it for the winter...But really, how fast can a 258 Strait 6 go? 60? Maybe 65?

[supersly_jones]

correct me if i'm wrong..but doesn't the I6 get worse mileage then the v8...least i know my 6 gets terrible mileage...has lots ofpower though...anyone else experiance this

[liver156]

i get 16mpg plus in my 258. i have headers, intake, TBI, and HEI though. i can go 80 plus, but that takes a toll on gas.

[spedray106]

I had a 77 cj7 with the 258 and the four speed manual. It would go 80 on the highway, Montana for a while didn't have a legal speed limit I now have a 77 cj5 with a 401 and a three speed. It will probably go atleast 90 but I wouldn't recomemend it. I have had four jeeps and they all got about 15 miles to the gallon, I had a 150, 2 258's and the 401. The 401 gets only 8 miles to the galloon but I always have it in 4 wheel low.

[gosupes]

Originally Posted by Snowsk5054

Okay then, thanks everyone for the inputs...I gues I will get a Strait 6, or put a diffrent motor in, I guess I wont use it to go to Cape COd in the Summer, I will just use it for the winter...But really, how fast can a 258 Strait 6 go? 60? Maybe 65?

I run at between 70 and 75+ on the way into work, but I am only running 31" tires. Gas mileage about the same as everyone else's, about 15 depending on my foot.