Hi all, got this ‘49 jeepster yesterday. Been in the family for years, now mine 78hp 6 banger, non overdrive 3 speed, 5:38 Dana 23. I live in Woodland. Everything we do is either freeway or at least 55mph on back roads. This thing had a top speed of 45 and really doesnt like holding at that. Its happy at 40 or below. If i putt around town, my trips will last 10 or 15 minutes at best. I want to pit in a 235 and probably a 700r4 for the overdrive. Question is, with those gears in the rear, would the overdrive be much of a benefit? I really dont want to swap rear ends. ring and pinion sets are not available other than 4:88 and 5:38 for the D23 thanks, Jason
I don't know what the 700R4 OD gear ratio is, but if its .67 (which I think was pretty common), it should drop your 5.38 gear down to around a 3.60. Probably not great, but that might put the speed up into the 60s at the same rpm it currently runs down the road with at 45 mph. I'm sure there are on line calculators that can pinpoint that rpm range at the mph, you just need to know the OD gear ratio. Past that, its rear end gear time.
I had an original black plate California Jeepster, never should have sold it. Consider keeping it original. If you go faster consider what happens when you have to stop. If you start changing the powertrain you will have to juice the brakes. Jim
Old mail jeeps 70's ish, Dana 44, Had one piece axle(flanged) 3:73 gears if I remember correctly, Also all posi.. And 5x51/2
I concur with advice from Trulyvintage. I have a 1953 Willys CJ3B. It is all original. I use it to putt putt around the neighborhood with my grandson and on some vacant lots. He loves it at age 6. We hardly ever get to 45mph and have great fun at lower speeds. The faster and more un-original you make it, the next hurdle will be getting brake system upgrades to slow it down. You may also then need to look at front suspension mods as well. I am almost certain there is an original overdrive version of the trans already in the Jeepster. www.ewillys.com is a great clearing house for technical stuff.....parts for sale.....connections to model specific forums. Have fun
Borg-Warner T-90 - Wikipedia Saturn Overdrive Kit for Dana 18, 26 Tooth, 1941-1971, Willys and Jeep – The JeepsterMan Ooops - the OD goes in the transfer case, not the transmission
Also good info available at www.oldwillysforum.com. There is an electric activated OD transmission available for the Jeepster from info I gathered in the latest Kaiser Willys catalog ......which is a must have not only for any and every part you may need but also technical and model info. Have fun
upon further digging, I'll take trulyvintage and tractorguy's advise and keep it original. The mods are too extensive. Once I open up the can, I'll be into everything. Suspension, brakes, rear end, motor,*******, etc. I am just finishing up that book on a 50 buick (2 year build) and about to do the same list on a '30 5 window. The jeepster runs and drives really well right now. If the engine blows or I loose a*******, I'll consider the build, but for now I'll enjoy it for exactly what it is. Thanks all!
Theres a jeepster near me that had a v8 60 it and was always in the local 4th of July parade it was upgraded to a ranger v6 and auto several years ago so the guys grandkids could drive it but have never seen it driven again maybe never quite finished always thought it was cool
If it is a two wheel drive a rear axle swap would be justified. Other than that if it isnn't broke I wouldn't be fixing it and just enjoy it on the slower roads. I can't see why anyone would put a 235 in it if you are talking 235 Chevy straight six., that doesn't even make sense. expecially hooked to a transmisson that calls for a thousand bucks worth of adapter pieces to hook it to that transmisson.
Tim Troutman......I am doing just the opposite.....I am leaving my 1953 Willys original and stock with 134 flathead and 3spd trans with hi-lo transfer case and rear PTO .....for my grandson....so he can learn how to use a clutch and manual transmission. Right now when we are starting up and coming up the hill from looking at the lake.....I let him make the 2-3 shift from his passenger seat because it is easy to learn. Soon he will learn all about clutch etc. We have the windshield down and wind blowing our hair at 35mph......laughing like little boys.....OK....at age 6 he really is a little boy.....but at 79 ?? I still like to feel like one. Have fun
Want to keep it a straight 6 and want to keep it somewhat period correct. When I swapped a nailhead in my buick from the straight 8, I ended up clipping the car to clear the steering. Id rather avoid going that deep in this car. I guess I could find an early 250, but like the stovebolt better.
I started building one years ago. Mounted a 4.3 chevy v6 with an automatic in it. Dropped right in. Also mounted a dual master cylinder power booster on firewall with brake pedal from a late 1980s Geo Tracker on the firewall. Fit in there perfect. Pedal location was perfect.
I like the old flatheads. a jeep OD t90 shouldn’t be a hard find. A 250 6cyl is a lot easier to hook up an auto JS
Cool Jeep . Nice score . I hauled a Willys 4x4 PU home last weekend that I think is a 51 . Its beat to***** and I got it really cheap . I was looking into the gear options and its bleak with the running gear in it and the front is not very strong . I noted a lot of guys go to Interntional Scout II axles and then there are better gear choices for the highway . I may opt to go 2wd then a Ford transverse spring and axle , 57 olds rear and 488" of BBC and leave the body rough and do the patina thing as its a $500 truck . I want to use up a lot of the parts I have laying around not good enough or wroing for my other builds . The 2WD Jeepster is a cool variation My X wife wanted one and we almost bought several but the gearing and the stuff to make it more viable at modern speeds and traffic was something I wasn't willing to tackle on a really nice original at the time . Id not go 235 chevy if I was going to modernize it but that's just me . Id change the rear end regardless its likely the easiest way to go lot of choices out there . As I recall its got about a 51" wide axle or so ?? I saw a Jeepster a few years ago with a 3.0 MerCruiser engine it . They have about 140 HP . No rocket but it went down the road well . I have seen a few with v6 engines and a bunch with SBC in them ..
Right plan! You can always get creative and open up that can of worms, but give yourself some time to slow down and appreciate the engineering of the day and the pace of life it was built for.
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