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DJ5 with a softtop,... but I need a hardtop

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by GTLTS, Jun 23, 2006.

  1. Jun 23, 2006
    GTLTS

    GTLTS New Member

    Amsterdam
    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2006
    Messages:
    4
    Hello,

    First of all I want to say hello to you all because this is my first post here. I live in the Netherlands and a few months ago i bought one of a few DJ5's riding over here. The few things I know about my Jeep is that it is from '78, has the L6 and was probably restored by Safari Kar International on Woodruff avenue in California in 1996. The odd thing about my Jeep is that it has a softtop (by Kayline). I found out that Safari Kar did or still does the conversion. But I can't seem to find what type the softtop was made for (maybe an other brand?). If I knew that, maybe it would make searching for a hardtop easier (If they came up with a fitting softtop, there must be a fitting hardtop also). Could you guys help me out?

    Furthermore, I would like some hard doors instead of these softtop amsterdam-criminal-attracting soft doors. I already thought about maybe cutting some bigger doors. But I can't seem to find real info since the Jeep cj's are not really common cars around here.
    Do you have any ideas or input?

    here some pics of my car (the MT's where allready on it when I bought the car. You got to have some capable tires for dutch rough terrain;) )

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Jun 23, 2006
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,193
    Howdy from the other Holland...(Michigan, USA)..

    I seem to remember reading about those conversions in the Four Wheeler "Jeep for Cheap" series where they built up a postal Jeep. If they're the ones I read about, the conversion involved cuting off the integral hardtop that the postals were made with (vs. a removeable one), and the soft top is a custom deal (which seems to be confirmed by the door shape on your Jeep).

    Anyone else remember that writeup?
     
  3. Jun 23, 2006
    Mudweiserjeep

    Mudweiserjeep JEEP: Bouncy and Fun

    tipp city, ohio
    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2004
    Messages:
    718
    Cool looking Jeep. I didn't know you could get a soft top for a DJ:?
    Very nice.

    Welcome from Ohio!
     
  4. Jun 23, 2006
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    Welcome from Boston!

    Don't know about the softtop version, but I'm pretty sure you have a postal model that's been converted to a soft top. There are some pictures of the original hard tops here: http://www.postal-jeep.com/postal-jeep-pictures.htm
    There's also model info on that site, and if it's a '78, that would make it a DJ-5F with either a 3.8L (232 cid) or 4.2L (258) engine and a Chrysler Torqueflight automatic transmission (TF727 probably).

    Your chances of putting it back to a hard top are not good IMO (in my opinion). The modifications to change it to a soft top would have been significant, and the hard top is not meant to be removable on a postal Jeep.

    BTW, in the states, L6 generally means a valve-in-block or flathead engine. An overhead valve inline 6 is usually referred to as an I6.
     
  5. Jun 23, 2006
    GTLTS

    GTLTS New Member

    Amsterdam
    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2006
    Messages:
    4
    Thanks!

    I have not figured out yet about the cubic inches. Is there something simple to identify a 232 or 258?

    And from now on I will call it an I6 (In Europe most of the 6 cylinders are V6 or the "I" refers to injection).

    Anyone any thoughts about doors?
     
  6. Jun 23, 2006
    pickin'n'jeepin

    pickin'n'jeepin NICE!!

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2006
    Messages:
    52
    NICE...............lookin jeep ya got there. That thing is pretty sweet! I think your lookin at a custom job for that hardtop though. And welcome from Tulsa, Oklahoma
     
  7. Jun 23, 2006
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
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    Re the displacement, yeah that's easy. The build date and displacement code is stamped into the engine block beneath and between the #2 and #3 spark plugs. Here's an example "2 03 E 18" which would be 2=1978, 03=March, E=232 cid 1V, and 18=the day of the month. If it says E or C, that's a 258 block, 1V and 2V resp.
     
  8. Jun 23, 2006
    BlueFlu

    BlueFlu past owner of some ecj5's

    Hermitage, TN
    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2004
    Messages:
    1,552

    I have that issue some where.

    Welcome from the Music City USA.
    Cool looking Jeep.
     
  9. Jun 24, 2006
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    9,221
    I could equal the valve train/piston arrangement in this case or Inline as well.

    L, F, I are common designators for the arrangement of the valves and piston for cam-in-block engines.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-head#L-head
     
  10. Jun 25, 2006
    GTLTS

    GTLTS New Member

    Amsterdam
    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2006
    Messages:
    4
    thanx guys!

    @McDavid: could you tell me some more about the article?

    And maybe a little offtopic but, if I want to install other bumpers, do I need the ones for the earlier cj's?
     
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