Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives CJ-5

Always wanted one. I know many of them are now shot, or have wrecked frames from being wrecked (naturally) or used as snow plows. Any ideas of what problems to look out for? What parts are hardest to get and most likely to crap out?

Thanks,

Sycamore

CHECK THE FRAME! Rust on/through the frame will kill any CJ. Check the frame closest, first, and often.

After that, look for one with the 258 I-6 engine; those things are just tanks - HARD to hurt. Don't mind the oil leak from under the valve cover; it's inherent to the I-6 design and impossible to avoid.

Then, check for serious body rust. If the frame checks out, the body is most likely okay - but check the corners, fender wells and lips, and bumper arms, and where the seats bolt in. Oh, and esp. the windshield frame - they rust out and are a B!TCH to fix.

Other than that, as long as its got a good 3 or 4 speed stick, and a solid (pretty leakless) rear-end, anything else is fixable.

The best years of CJ's are the 77-78 they have better frames than the early years the 76 is ok but they didn�t come with disc brakes. Look for one with the straight six in it and four speed this trans is a t-18 truck transmission and its bombproof. The 79 and up had weaker front hubs, and the best rear end to get is one out of a 72-75 these are Dana forty fours and are thirty splined flanged axles.

I'm trying to find one myself. The wife thinks two 4X4s are enough. What does she know? Pre 1973 cj-5s have a rather interesting steering setup. Means nothing on the trail but can be interesting on the highway.

Remember that these are popular vehicles. Anything on them can be replaced. The windshield frames are good for rusting away. They can be replaced with a fiberglass one. You can get a steel one too, but it will just start rusting again.

When you first drive one it will feel funny. You are sitting right on top of the rear wheels. It takes some getting used to.

I think the info you have allready recieved is a good starting point, other than the engine choice, I am a long term Jeep fanatic, with nothing but good to say about my 304v8's.

Having had 304 V8's in my last 5 Jeeps I could never go back to a 258 6 banger. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Drop by my Jeep'n homepage for a visit when you get a chance... I am slowly building my personal version of the Ultimate CJ-7.

--Ken

Ken;

Ya ought see what a 401 V8 squeezed into a CJ-7, straight pipes (no cat, no muffler) and lifted with 38s underneath will do. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Actually I have been there... back in '82 a buddy & I squeezed a 401v8 into a CJ-8 Scrambler. I have a line on a 401v8 that may someday reside in my CJ-7... . I have resolved not to go back to 38" or bigger rubber, I have rolled too many 4wd's and know that the extra few inchs in tire can make the Jeep tippy even on the full size axles I am now using.

--Ken <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />