Converting a DJ5 to 4WD and a few other questions

I found a good deal on a '75 DJ5. I wasn't really looking for a DJ, but they are unique and not something you see every day. It caught my attention. I was wondering how hard it is to convert one to 4x4?

Does anyone have any info on the DJs? Do they share a lot of parts with the CJ5s? ARe parts for these things hard to come by? Is there much of a market for DJs? Just trying to figure out what I might be getting myself into.

Thanks

 

If it's really a DJ-5, and not a postal, it'll be very close to a CJ-5 except for the front axle. There were a lot of postal Jeeps made, DJ-5A,B,C... which have many significant differences from the CJ-5. If it's a postal body, I'd keep looking.

There are a couple of good pictures of a DJ-6 here http://www.civilianjeeps.com/sale.html - notice that the body is the same as the CJ and that almost all the details are the same.

 

So a a postal Jeep isn't a DJ5? It's a DJ5A or something? Wow, you learn something every day. Yes, the one I was looking at has the postal Jeep body (big box with sliding doors). Are the postal bodies bad news?

 

I am actually in process of doing exactly what you are thinking about doing. I have a 73 commando running gear going into a 74 DJ-5 Postal Jeep. It's quite a project, especially since the DJ is a RHD and I'm going to switch it over to LHD. However, the left and right side frame rails have the same bolt holes and the fire wall has the correct cut outs. The hard top of the postal jeep has been cut off, a roll bar added and it now resembles a CJ. MY DJ frame is almost fully boxed, i believe most CJ's of that era were just C-channel except for certain spots. I've read somewhere, probably on this site, that DJ frames were desirable for that reason. My DJ came out of NV, frame is like brand new. If you keep the doors, you'll have to keep your tires inside the wheel well openings or you won't be able to slide the doors. Limits you to a bikini style top unless you take the time to locate all your snaps and stuff for a soft top. Probably could make an after market hard top fit but it would be a project to get it to seal correctly. Windshield does not fold down, not a big deal to me. Haven't got into the suspension and axle swap yet, but it looks like after acquiring a set of springs for an intermediate CJ, everything esle is relatively straight forward, alot of time, not a lot of fabbing though. Most of the fab will come from repositioning/adding the Commandos brake master cylinder and new lines along with hanging the pedals on what should be the drivers side. My DJ has the brake set up mounted to the inside of the right hand frame rail. No idea why they did that back then, but I'm planning on changing it over to the more conventional set up and putting disks on the front. Overall, it's quite a project and I'm just getting into it. It could also get quite expensive if you don't have the axles and stuff you need lying around like I do. If have the time and money and you enjoy getting dirty and turning wrenches, it's probably at the least a fun project. I know Peteson's 4 Wheel Drive magazine did this project a long while back, I have a mag at home to use as a reference. You might want to Google them to see if it's archived on their site. I haven't yet since I haven't tackled anything I needed help on. Sorry for the long post. Good luck and have fun. P.S. Sorry, I got away from you original ?. The postal body not only limits your tire and lift options, it makes a narrow, somewhat tippy platform even more so, they make the jeep very top heavy. Thats why mine got cut off in favor of the roll bar and bikini top. Pete

 

Seems like a lot of effort and potential expense. I would just find a nice CJ and there you go! Tons of them on Ebay!

You could then put your time and effort into fixin or modifying the CJ.

 

My CJ-5 started out with nothing but V-8 and tub. $4736 later She's getting close to done, no more anticipated major expenses except for body paint. Just something to think about when shopping around for jeeps in various stages of 'readiness'.

 

Do yourself a favor now. Look up Four Wheeler Magazines "project jeep for cheap" from the late eighties to early nineties. I think there were probably 12 issues or so where they built a dj5 into a sweet little trail ride. They even converted to left hand drive and installed a soft top if memory serves me right. Hope it helps you out.