Help Me ID My CJ6

I scored this CJ6 a few years ago and would appreciate any help with detailed ID. I have seen several references to "intermediate" series, which implies there are also "early" and "late" series too. And this is the Early CJ5 forum, after all.

It's titled as a '66, has the F134 and a D18 with a PTO that goes nowhere. I don't know about the transmission (3 spd) or the axles, but they're all OE. It came with a metal half cab that had been shortened from a full cab (dammit), and a roll bar, er bed protector.

So far I have stripped out the entire bird's nest wiring disaster and created a basic new harness, rebuilt the carb, installed Sterwart Warner gauges in the hacked-up dash board, replaced the windshield frame (Walck's) and glass, rebuilt the bell crank and pivot, replaced all the tie rod ends and drag link joints, and a bunch of other stuff.

Unless this thing is the ultra rare "Flaming 6" model, I'm not interested in a 100 point restoration. But I intend a body-off to replace rusted out floor panels and stiffeners. In addition to sand blasting the chassis, I figured on dipping and repainting the body, but that flame job is growing on me, so I dunno. I have a Walck's blank dash panel so I can arrange the instruments and switches any way I like. Dual circuit brakes, Saginaw conversion, blah, blah, blah.

One mystery is the fuel tank: no sign of the original under-seat tank, and the filler hole is plated over. But also no sign of of a rear tank, and the diagonal pintle braces are still back there. Only fuel tank is a plastic boat tank behind the driver's seat with an electric fuel pump under the floor. It all works fine, but I guess it just proves that there's nothing more permanent than a temporary solution.

So, anyway, what have a got here? I hope it's really a '66, because that would match my Corvette. Does the serial # (not VIN!!) indicate the build date? What transmission and axles are likely?

I have more photos to upload after i downsize them.

 

I have never owned a CJ6, and have only seen a couple of them around here, so I am not very knowledgable on the CJ6..

More photos will help. The hood looks early or may be an M38A1 hood because of the slave outlet cutout in it which was present on early CJ series, and all through the M38A1 series, but the fenders with the marker lights are later than 66. Interesting that the fuel access port is plated over, which is something that didn't show up until AMC moved the tank to the back. It may be a later tub.

 

It's not an intermediate. The hood and fenders are too short. There were no late CJ-6s, except for export. That only leaves early.

The F134 came with the Borg-Warner T-90 3-speed transmission, or the Borg-Warner T-98 truck 4-speed.

With the CJ-5s, you can narrow down the YOM from the sequential serial number. We have a VIN document in a link somewhere - may be worth a look. There were no distinct year-by-year revisions, so the serial number continued to increase over the years they were built. VIN should be 8405 something.

You can buy a replacement under-seat tank. Realize that the seat brackets bridge where the tank goes, so if you have a driver's seat that bolts to the floor, that will have to change. Original seats and seat brackets are very scarce in the parts market.

 

Ewillys has a database of CJ6 photos he has collected over the years if you want something to compare.

CJ-6 | eWillys

 

Thanks for clearing up the nomenclature. "Early" it is. "Intermediate" I understand, but what is "late"?
Serial #: 8405 27587. Tub and frame numbers match.
Original driver's seat in place, attached to the gunwale.

 

Sorry, I should have been more specific. The fuel filler port is plated over with aluminum diamond plate, matching the tub corners and quarter panels.

 

There were 3 generations of the CJ-5 and CJ-6, early '54-71, intermediate '72-75 and late '76-83. Significant mechanical changes with each.

Early is the CJ-5/6 that came from the military vehicles M38A1 and M170. Willys then Kaiser-Willys then Kaiser. AMC bought Jeep in 1970. Intermediate is the first AMC revision using AMC passenger car engines. Late is the complete redesign by AMC, retaining little but the outward appearance (the early Wrangler ).

There's an expression - DSPO. Why would they eliminate the gas tank? Get that tank and install it - should be easy. They are vented through the cap, and the filler neck off the driver's left shoulder is not the greatest. Rear tank (used '70-up) is another option, but will take more work.

 

Walck's also has the tank and gas lines that go under the seat and along the frame. Easy fix . Take plate out like "Timgr" said and mount tank under seat. You will also need a large grommet for the filler neck and a strap to hold tank down. There will be two holes under the drivers seat for gas tank drain and gas line hook up. P.O. may have put plate over those holes as well. Walck's has all those parts as well. The pto can be used for a multitude of things, winch fore and aft, three point hook up with rear gear box and many more. Good luck and enjoy!

 

Yes, I have 2 or 3 different PTOs to fit the D18, plus a rear gearbox, PTO winch, and an overdrive unit. With a little creative fabrication I believe I could run the winch, a brush hog, sickle bar mower, and a saw mill simultaneously.

 

Yes, the under seat fuel tank is on the list. I briefly considered installing a rear tank, but I don't want to lose the hitch reinforcement braces. Anybody know the capacity of the under seat tank?

 

So it seems you're saying that paint job isn't factory original? Like maybe a COPO from Henry J. Kaiser himself? Bummer.

 

10 Gallons. Not big.

 

Sorry to be picky - I recall the official volume is 11 gallons. Still not big, but 10% larger than 10 gallons!

The later Jeeps reinforced the pintle hitch area separately from the cross-braces. You don't have to have the cross-braces if you mimic the later design.
Frame Rear Crossmember "v" Support Question

Boyink posted pictures in his blog of a rear-tank conversion which can still be seen on the Wayback -
Gas Tank Relocation.

 

Saddle tank failure isn't an uncommon issue. Bottom rot and seam splits can both happen, leaving a delicious gas smell in the cab (or worse).
When you replace it, remember to get the fuel neck grommet as well.

Looks like a fun project............................

 

Saddle tank failure isn't an uncommon issue. Bottom rot and seam splits can both happen, leaving a delicious gas smell in the cab (or worse).
When you replace it, remember to get the fuel neck grommet as well.

Looks like a fun project............................

 

Thanks for all the great information. I'm deferring the fuel tank decision while I address more urgent issues. The Jeep isn't licensed since I only use it on my property. Well, there was that one parade. Anyway, the plastic boat tank will do for now.

As I mentioned in the original post, I installed a Walck's windshield frame a few years ago. But i have a problem: I tried to install the wiper motor, but there's not enough room between the top edge of the glass and the frame. It's been a while, but I recall the motor bumping against the frame. The old frame is long gone so I don't know if the new frame is shorter in height, or if the glass is mounted higher in the frame, or if the glass is bigger. Walck's lists only one frame for '55 thru '69 CJ5, CJ6, and M38A1 with top mounted wipers. Anybody have a clue? I haven't contacted Carl yet.

 

Your CJ6 is very likely a '66 just from your photos, except the later front fenders with the marker lights. The original wipers were vacuum units that mounted above the glass. You need a fuel pump with the vacuum pump to run them. Marine/boat electric wipers are often substituted.
Put a stock replacement fuel tank back under the seat, use, and enjoy!
I see an FC170 in the background of your photo. Get that back driving and enjoy that one too!
-Donny

 

Fenders have most likely been changed out over the years for the mid 70-71 era short fenders with markers, or someone used late model postal fenders. My 66 (built 12/65) does not have the earlier hood cut out on the passenger side that this one does... But if the fenders were changed, the hood could have easily been changed as well. Being that about 50,000 or so CJ-6's were built in total, the serial number for this one falls in the middle of production. Lots of little changes happened in the mid to late 60's that are tells, but if things were swapped, and they appear to have been, it's anybody's guess until you locate a serial number database for CJ-6. My serial number won't help in this case because it has its own sequential number because of the diesel. Those were separated from regular production numbers.

 

Looks like I have a Frankenjeep. BTW, I crawled under the Jeep today and identified a D27 front diff and a D44 rear. No surprises there.