Buying a CJ5 and need to input.

Greetings to all from a Newbie to this site. Been reading and I really enjoy seeing what y'all have to say and talk about. I would like anybody and everybody's opinion on this Jeep I found. We have been offered this CJ5 for $2500 and I wanted know if y'all think it's a good deal. This vehicle is going to be used as a "get around vehicle" on our farm for now and starting next spring I am going to be cleaning and strengthening it up.

What is the stock gearing in the axles: 3.73 in both?

FYI, the front (D30) has a Detroit Locker.

Also, the mileage is unknown and the engine is from a '76 or '77, though the original engine was also the 258.

Vehicle Description

This is a 1975 Jeep CJ-5 it has a strong Inline 6 258 c.i. engine and T15 3 speed tranny. Dana 44 rear axle and AMC model 30 front axle. I put new clutch and pressure plates in last november and a new battery last month. The 33x13.50x15 Super Swamper TSL's with 80% tread left were new in december along with the black Cragar 10x15 wheels. It has a 3500 lb. winch mounted on the front and Rock Crawler polyurethane gas tank with 3/8" skidplate. There is no rust on this jeep anywhere. All gauges work, this jeep needs nothing but a speedometer cable and gas gauge. This was my daily driver all summer and winter long I love driving this jeep and do not want to sell it but the time has come for me to pass it on to someone that will take care of it and have fun with it. This jeep is capable of going anywhere you point it. I know whoever buys this will be very happy with it.

 

Original transmission in a '75 would be a T-14 with a 258. If the transmission came with the '77 engine, then it's a T-150. The T-15 is the best of the 3, but I'd prefer the T-150 to the T-14.

Check the quality of work for the front shackle reversal. These Jeeps are prone to frame cracks at the inside corner where the frame rails meet the front crossmember. Check for cracks around the spring hangers too.

Price is hard to judge. If there's nothing seriously wrong with it, that might be a fair price in Texas. Any modifications will lower the price. Drive it, see if the steering is loose (common) and if it seems stable at highway speeds. I'd worry about breaking axles with a locker in the front axle and that size tires. Be sure to test it in 4WD, and make sure that both front wheels actually turn (had a roommate in college that bought a FS Bronco without testing 4WD - fortunate for him, his parents had money).

Axle ratios would be 3.73 std, 4.27 opt. If there's no tag, the tooth counts are stamped into the edge of the ring gears.

 

What Tim said.

Oh, and Welcome Aboard!

 

Welcome, Looks like a good jeep. If you are not sure and want a second opinon, I live in Lewisville and would be happy to go take a look at it with you.

 

I appreciate the offer. I have a friend going with me that is an able mechanic - though he is probably not as familiar with a CJ5 as you are. The Jeep is up in Denton and we are meeting with the guy selling it at 8:00 Saturday morning. Still wanna go look at it? If we buy it (I am pretty sure we will) then we are trailering it and taking to Tishomingo, OK.

 

Thank you!

 

I like it, buy it!!!:driving:

 

I do too and I want to!

 

If I did not have to work tonight I would go look at it. But 8 am is a bit early after working to 2 AM.

 

Yeah, that would be a quick turn-around.

 

Well, there was more wrong with the Jeep than he stated. The motor mounts were so bad that the oil filter was hitting the motor mount bracket and had a big dent in it that was cracked and leaking. The exhaust pipe at the manifold was hanging loose looked like it just needed to be tightened. AND, when I crawled underneath it, the frame had small bends in it in corresponding places on each side right below the seats. So, we offered less and he wouldn't take and we walked away. We are still looking...

 

How big was this dude that he bent the frame under his seat?R)

 

Take a look on Ebay. There are always nice Jeeps on there. I would pay up a bit and get a bit nicer Jeep than the one you were looking at buying. It will be worth it in the long run. I felt the price on that Jeep was high. It should have been more like $1,000.

Also look at www.ToyBoxJeeps.com or www.AustinJeeps.com