The Low Key Jeep

Last fall I attended the Auctions of America Fall event in Auburn Indiana (just down the road from me) and fell in love with this CJ5, which in turn has motivated me to find a early CJ project. Love the look, that it was stock, simple and clean, almost everything about it was perfect to me. If your wondering, it had a reserve of 15k and didn’t sell on the block but a deal was made later that weekend for $13,200.





Anyways, soon after I started looking for a solid project that I could tinker with and drive at the same time. Im not a real mechanical or body repair savvy guy but I think I can get by and give it a try. The Jeep would be used for good weather driving, running kids to sports, commute to work and around town driving.

Earlier in the week I made a deal with Ward (member here, baja4, great personable and honest guy) on this original 62 and will have it brought from Colorado to Northern Indiana. Im pretty excited to get the Jeep and thought Id get a jump-start on putting together a plan.

The goal is to maintain the look, patina and originality but drivable/more reliable and fun. Ascetically its almost perfect (to me), and the plan is to leave it as is, straighten out the original body a little where its needed. Over the winter Ill try and address some of the mechanicals that need attention such as brakes, steering, suspension, seat belts, etc.





Suspension. I really like how these Jeeps sit. Im not sure if some have lifts or if the suspensions are stock but I do like the height of how they look. Small shackle lift, new stock springs?

Any thoughts/recommendations on the suspension?





I was thinking of these tires, 7.00/15, 30” tall and 7.9 overall width.






Words of wisdom, first things to address are more than welcome.
Thanks for all the input and Im sure I will have a lot of questions.

 

For tires, I'd look into the Super Traxion 7.00-15s made by Specialty Tires of America. A little more expensive, but I have a set and I love them.

 

Just my 2 cents, old Jeeps drive a heck of a lot better with radials.

 

Glad the 62 is going to a good home. Sounds like he will get lots of attention. Awesome. I'm guessing that green Jeep has about a two inch lift. Has a nice look to it. Like Doug said, radials sure drive nice, but that Power King tire has a great look. Will keep in touch. Ward

 

I'd fix the patina but maybe it's just where I live. That hood would have patina holes through it in a year.

+1 on the radials too. Mine is a daily driver and it has fat radials. I can't imagine the ride being any worse but apparently with bias ply tires it is.

Thats a a super nice looking jeep. Love those hardtops!

 

What size tires are currently on it? I'm thinking of changing mine from 16" to 15" and going with a smaller diameter radial with whitewalls.

 

235/75-15. I want to go a little bigger but with 3.73 gears I don't think it would be very driveable.

 

I wonder if you could clearcoat over it. Not sure it would stick but if you did a low gloss or a flat clearcoat then you would get the protection from the elements without losing the patina look.

 

If you use an adhesion promoter it will stick

 

Ill have to do some research on how to clean up the patina enough to clear coat it. Adhesion promoter, write that down, thanks.
I think it would be great to keep it that way. I have seen a product that Eastwood sells called Patina Preserver, comes in a aerosol spray.

Right now it just has some roller tires on it, 215/75/15s. Maybe 235/75's on it unless the stock 5" rims are too narrow. Have been doing a lot of searching but not much luck with tall& skinny tires.

 

Not to be a kill joy but i have painted many vehicles and i know the car shows always clear over "patina" bottom line, that patina is rust, paint (clear) over rust and it will bubble or blister sooner than later

 

Loaded up and headed to Todd (ODBuffalo). Going to my new home in Fort Wayne.