New guy here, might purchase this 1972, looking for your thoughts.

I was hoping to get some experienced eyes on this potential Jeep purchase. It's a 1972 CJ5 with an original V8. It has been sitting for at least ten years, but is now running again and I test drove it today. It idles once warm, but runs a bit rough. I think I could smell old gas so that might be part of the issue. It would certainly need new tires, exhaust, possibly brakes, and a general tune up. The only serious rust is on the back above the mud flaps in the typical jeep rust location. Given the work that will need to be done to make it really road worthy, I'm wondering what you think a fair offer would be. I'd be hesitant to offer anything over $1,000 given the work it needs. Is there anything special about this particular model that would help me decide whether to buy this thing? Any thoughts would be appreciated. I'd love to join the CJ5 club. Thanks. -Ryan

 

I can't quite say on what you would want to offer for that rig.
But I can tell you that that hard top is very hard to find.

 

Looks pretty solid to me. Plus it runs and drives. How long have you been in the market for a Jeep, and where are you located? Location makes a big difference in price. Just looking at the pictures, I'd say the rust is not significant. Plus that looks like a fiberglass top - a big plus.

You'd be stealing it for $1000 in my opinion. $2000 would be a good deal and $3000 is not out of the question. Certainly it would e-bay for that much.

<edit> Looks like a Warn winch too - that's worth nearly $1000 if it works.

 

gotta agree with Mike on that comment
it also might have 4.27 gear ratio

 

Thanks for the information. I'm in Colorado. I think the owner was thinking of a slightly sub $2,000 asking price, so he's certainly in the ball park from what I've heard here. I think the top is actually aluminum, or thin sheet metal. I'll try to post a photo of the front, so maybe someone can help identify the winch. One thing that has been added is the additional gas filler on the drivers side and gas tank under the driver seat. There is a valve on the driver's side floor to switch the tanks. How would I go about identifying the gear ratio? One item we didn't have time for during the quick test drive was locking the hubs and putting it in 4wd, so that's an unknown at this point. -Ryan

 

Good eye Chuck, that's the dam alright. Buffalo Mt. in the lastest photo post is another location give-a-way. -Ryan

 

Look for a tag on either axle, under the cover bolts. Possible ratios are 3.73 and 4.27. The rear axle might also have a smaller tag that says 'use limited slip lubricant' or some such - a rear limited slip differential was a popular option.

The tank under the drivers seat was added. That was a popular owner mod in the era, adding another 11 gal or so of fuel capacity. The tank was located there before 1970; the federal gov't made fuel tanks in the passenger cabin illegal for OEM, so the tank was moved under the rear floor. I had a tank like that in my '73 - bought the parts at the Jeep dealer parts counter and did the conversion.

 

Ryan-
Did you end up buying that Jeep? I liked it a lot.
Regards,
Mrdibbles-

 

Just remember this key thing,,,,,,,

"A Jeep is a hole in the ground where you throw all your money"

and welcome to the Jeeping family

 

Buying it tomorrow. Prepare for lots of posts in the coming months from the new guy.

 

JEEP=

Just

Empty

Every

Pocket

 

Did you buy it? Well Didcha?

 

Bought it! $1,100. Warloch was correct, I've been out looking it over, trying to figure out where to start. I'll try to assemble my questions in a logical format over the weekend and then will submit a "20 Questions" post. Well, ok, why not just start with one question here to kick things off: Where is the best place to purchase stock height leaf springs?
-Ryan
1972 CJ5

 

:drool::drool: