Hard time finding Hardtops
Question: Hey guys. First off, great mag! I've been a loyal reader for 10 years now and a recent subscriber (yeah, I know, it took me long enough). Anyway, my '80 Jeep CJ-7 is in desperate need of a new top. The old top has seen better days and I really want a hardtop for the Oregon winters. Problem is I can't find one, new or used. Could you help me find an aftermarket hardtop?
Jeff B.
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Question: Being a lover of my CJ-5 I have found that some things are very rare. For example I have found it impossible to locate a hardtop for it, much less replace the parts for the hardtop and doors I already have. I was wondering if you know of any places that sell replacement door handles and sunroof parts or complete hardtops.
Will A.
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: I was only able to find one company that makes a hardtop for Jeep CJ-7s and that is Rally Tops (800.664.8677, www.rallytops.com). Unfortunately they do not offer a hardtop for CJ-5s. Bestop (800.845.3567, www.bestop.com) offers a hardtop for a Jeep YJ Wrangler that will fit the CJ-7, but requires some modification to the tailgate to properly seal. The best bet for repairing your door latches would be to search eBay (www.ebay.com), for a similar top, or visit an industrial supplier such as Northern Tool (www.northern tool.com), Grainger (www.grainger.com), or MSC (www.mscdirect.com), to see if they have a latch that will work for your doors. Also any local sunroof shop should be able to repair your sunroof, or cut it out and put in a slightly larger unit.
Ford Jeep Transfer case and Axle Issues
Question: I am a 19-year-old college student building a '42 Ford GPW on a budget. It has a Buick V-6 adapted to a T-90 three-speed and a Dana 18 transfer case. I have swapped in a Dana 30 and AMC 20 axle from a later Jeep CJ, but now the output of the Dana 18 doesn't line up with the pinion on the AMC 20. Can I swap a Dana 20 transfer case in place of the Dana 18?
Dan
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: Yes, you can, but you'll need to get a few parts. First a history lesson for our other readers. A Ford GPW is for the most part identical to a Willys MB, which happens to be one of the first Jeeps ever built back in the '40s for World War II. Ford made these jeeps because at that time Willys and the smaller Bantam motorcar (who built the very first jeep prototype) did not have enough production facilities to support the government's orders for vehicles. Plus, not knowing how the war may turn, there was also a concern about having all the vehicles built in one place in case it was bombed, so multiple factories were used. Thus back in the '40s Ford built jeeps, not to be confused with Jeeps (notice the capital letter "J"). Jeep is a term that refers to civilian model vehicles built after the war was over and they were never built by Ford, but rather only by Willys until later years when Kaiser, AMC, and then Chrysler all owned the Jeep brand.
Now back to your question. Yes, you can swap in a Dana 20 transfer case with a centered rear output as compared to the Dana 18 with the offset rear output. However, you will need a new bearing retainer kit to keep the back of the T-90 transfer case together. You can get this PN 90-20 from Novak Adapters (877.602.1500, www.novak-adapt.com). Also you will need to use a six-spline version Dana 20 from a Jeep or International as the Ford unit will have the output on the wrong side. However, some folks feel that the offset differentials front and rear is a benefit since they are in line and thus easier to dodge rocks and other trail obstacles. You could always look for an offset rear axle out of a '70-'71 CJ-5. These are Dana 44s but getting harder and harder to find.
Steer me Straight
Question: I have a Chevy two-wheel-drive steering box and was wondering if I could use it on a '79 Blazer 4x4. They look the same except the pitman arms are different. Can these be exchanged?
Tommy P.
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: If you want to convert your Blazer to crossover steering where the drag link goes to the passenger-side knuckle, then you want to use the two-wheel-drive box. But if you want to keep the factory four-wheel-drive steering where the drag link goes to the driver-side knuckle, then you will need a four-wheel-drive box. If you have the two-wheel-drive box, I would recommend going to the crossover steering swap such as those offered by Off Road Design (www.offroaddesign.com). Also note that there are two different-style steering boxes for your model truck-'70-'79 uses flared lines while the '80-and-newer uses O-rings. Mixing years requires adapters, so stick with the same-era box, pump, and lines if possible.