Jeep Safari-Kar
Printed From: TheAMCForum.com
Category: Competition
Forum Name: Jeeps and Eagle 4x4 fun.
Forum Description: Rock crawling events or results, Muddin' it through the riverbed with your Eagle
URL: https://theamcforum.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=100857
Printed Date: Apr/19/2024 at 4:21pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Jeep Safari-Kar
Posted By: typhooner
Subject: Jeep Safari-Kar
Date Posted: Jul/05/2019 at 10:00am
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I recently picked up a Jeep DJ5 former postal vehicle called the Safari-Kar and am trying to decipher some of it's mysteries. I know it was altered somewhere between 1992 and 1995 when the Safari-Kar company re-manufactured old surplus postal jeeps. It is still 2WD. It has a soft top and rear seat, and high back buckets. It is left hand steer. The back of the body was altered to have no tailgate, but does have a fixed spare mount on back. It is supposed to be a 1970 Model Jeep that was converted. It has an automatic on the floor. It is SUPPOSED to have a 258 engine according to the tag. It seems to have a lot of gumption in that respect, very peppy. Although the engine has an E on the block number which i take it is a 232. The transmission appears to be a later bell (v8) style M11 Borg Warner 3 speed automatic. I haven't brought it home yet, as i'll be picking it up shortly. I'm a little confused about the engine/ trans combo as it looks all original and kosher and it's a pretty low mileage vehicle. How would an M11 mate up to a 232 if its the big V8 bell housing? How could it be a 258 with an E in the block number? It has a shortened tailshaft on the trans. Can that tailshaft section be transferred to an M11B, or M12 for more strength.? ------------- 1969 Hurst SC/Rambler A Scheme 1969 Rebel Raider Electric Green 1962 IH/AMC SC/out |
Replies:
Posted By: Jmerican
Date Posted: Jul/05/2019 at 11:18am
| pics of the Safari-kar please. |
Posted By: typhooner
Date Posted: Jul/06/2019 at 5:21pm
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Soon as i get it home this week. ------------- 1969 Hurst SC/Rambler A Scheme 1969 Rebel Raider Electric Green 1962 IH/AMC SC/out |
Posted By: Budwisr
Date Posted: Jul/06/2019 at 5:37pm
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This site has a brochure posted. http://www.ewillys.com/tag/safari-kar/" rel="nofollow - http://www.ewillys.com/tag/safari-kar/ ------------- 1970 AMX 1980 AMX <br |
Posted By: typhooner
Date Posted: Jul/14/2019 at 10:17am
          Turns out the information is incorrect that i was given on the Safari Kar. It definitely has a 232 engine with the small bell BW35 T43 model aluminum transmission. It runs great and goes pretty peppy, mostly because i can not detect it shifting gears. 60MPH is winding out pretty good, but i would say i'm probably in low 2. I'm assuming the linkage hasn't been adjusted correctly or the vacuum modulator isn't set right. I did obtain a couple of service manuals. The Engine code says its a 1971 232. The Safari Ker re-manufacture tag says 1971. But the Title says 1970 even though the VIN matches the Safari Kar VIN tag. I do know that the postal Jeeps went from Kaiser to AM General in 1971 so it is appropriate the year of the Jeep should be 1971. It seemed to handle well, but people tell me they can be squirrels going down the road. It has a straight axle 2wd front end. I would like to know if i can do any popular mods to this as i would like to use it as a summer driver. I have a line on a 258 engine, and i have a nice 290/BW-35 M-11 setup also. Anything can be done with the steering to make it work better? It works pretty well now but down the line it might be sloppy. Can the short tail shaft from this trans be transplanted to a bigger stouter Borg Warner 3 speed like the M11/M11B? And where does a person find a tail light like the one on this Jeep if you need a replacement lens?
------------- 1969 Hurst SC/Rambler A Scheme 1969 Rebel Raider Electric Green 1962 IH/AMC SC/out |
Posted By: Jmerican
Date Posted: Jul/14/2019 at 12:52pm
| steers well you say, but might not in the future? Lol. The geometry looks good, even springs look ok. Some inexpensive fresh bushings and then alignment with eye toward higher castor settings, more toe in, along the guidelines of the “preferred” settings. Maybe a degree higher than that on castor. Steering effort will rise but so will stability. This is done with steel shims at the axle. That and good shocks will make it safer. Other things WILL be - sticky ball joints, binding or worn steering damper. Do not underestimate these as dangerous Jeep makers. It’s likely 88 inch wheelbase an all... there is more that could be done, but that’s a start. |
Posted By: Jmerican
Date Posted: Jul/14/2019 at 12:54pm
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does it have a limited slip rear Dana 44 axle? That’d be cool. Also that Driveshaft is begging for a proper rebuild, given the joint type.
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Posted By: typhooner
Date Posted: Jul/14/2019 at 9:35pm
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It is a Dana 44, and as a matter of fact the front axle is a Dana 44 straight axle with kingpin type spindles. Where can you find that universal joint at the back of the trans? I'm not familiar with that type. I'm guessing it's needed because of the short driveshaft. ------------- 1969 Hurst SC/Rambler A Scheme 1969 Rebel Raider Electric Green 1962 IH/AMC SC/out |
Posted By: Jmerican
Date Posted: Jul/15/2019 at 9:05pm
| The rear joint appears to be a tri lobe type cv joint. Nothing really wrong with it. Spicer did actually make some of these parts, but don’t hold me to it. Likely it is suited for the job. Im sure it needs maintenance and that may include complete disassemble and clean, new seals or boots and packing with a top quality moly grease meant for CV joints. Swepco brand #101 is top tier. Probably a better set up than a cj5. Cool on the Dana 44. |
Posted By: Jmerican
Date Posted: Jul/15/2019 at 9:08pm
| when I said good shocks, I meant bilstein. Shoot for a stock Jeep application (yellow body) as it will be valved specifically. There are others, but ... |
Posted By: 1982AMCConcord
Date Posted: Jul/16/2019 at 9:05am
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This must be the Jeep you want to put my 258 in? (The one I have for sale on Facebook.) It's pretty cool!!!!!!!
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Posted By: typhooner
Date Posted: Jul/30/2019 at 4:27pm
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I checked the Dana 44 and it has a tag on it that says limited slip and another tag that says 41-11 3.73 gear . It was low on ATF so i put a quart in that brought it up to the add mark. I took it down the road and tested it and it seems like it has 1st gear and 2nd gear but doesn't upshift into drive. It gets up to about 60 in a hurry but by then it's winding up the 232 pretty good. But maybe it IS in 3rd i'm not certain. Should it go faster than 60 with the 232? I'll try adding some more ATF and see if i can't get it to upshift into 3rd. ------------- 1969 Hurst SC/Rambler A Scheme 1969 Rebel Raider Electric Green 1962 IH/AMC SC/out |
Posted By: typhooner
Date Posted: Aug/06/2019 at 11:37am
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I pretty much figured it out. The shift quadrants need some slight adjustment, and the detents might be a little worn on either the shifter or trans as it is too easy to move the shifter past the quadrant if you are trying to run it through the quadrants. Right now it actually has to be close to neutral on the lever to actually hit drive. I believe it usually starts out driving in second during normal acceleration in drive. While in second if i move the lever to 1st it does go down a gear if going slow enough. During normal driving acceleration is good and it gets up to 60 pretty easy. It has 235/75/15 tires on it with a tire diameter of 28.9. I believe the 3.73 rear gear is responsible for the higher RPM's at 60 MPH. That, along with the tire height is why you really don't want to go past 60MPH. There is no sound insulation in the cab or engine compartment so engine noise transfers right back to the cab. It's pretty noisy at 60 MPH, but it handles well on gravel or highway. I'm thinking of possible sound insulation, bigger diameter tires and/or gear ratio change to the 3.55 ratio area to get the RPM's down to 2200 at 60 MPH . Any comments? ------------- 1969 Hurst SC/Rambler A Scheme 1969 Rebel Raider Electric Green 1962 IH/AMC SC/out |
Posted By: nolanfla
Date Posted: Jan/16/2020 at 12:47pm
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Hello I have a 1978 Safari-Kar If you like to talk email me ibookhp@gmail.com
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