New from the north!

I'm new here from Regina, SK, Canada. I just bought a CJ5 (sight unseen, other than this pic) It's 50 miles away in a snowbank, I havent seen it yet, but couldn't resist at $750. The previous owner bought it with a blown engine (304 that threw a rod) and a 3 spd. Other than that, he has no idea what year or anything about it. Oh well, at that price, It's worth the suprise! I will be picking it up in the next few weeks.
I plan on restoring it and dropping in a 300 Ford, Slant 6 Dodge or possibly a small diesel. I've been off-roading and building 4x4's for years, mostly full size pickups and Ford Rangers, but this will be my first Jeep.
ps-Great site with Great members!

 

Welcome from So Cal

 

Welcome from Massachusetts! Good luck with your project. I have a cousin who hails from Cape Breton that works out your way. He's actually at the oil sands near Edmonton, but it's in the same general area.

 

Howdy from Minnesota. Looks like a fun project! I would have expected a bunch of replies telling what year it was by now. These guys on here are amazing when it comes to deciphering year model. But I will say it belongs in the early range?

 

Mmm. Likely '72 or '73. AMC V8 = '72 or newer. Intermediate windshield = '75 or older. Black roll bar and black wiper motor cover (repainted windshieild) = not '75, unlikely '74. Definitely an intermediate.

That's an odd group of motors to consider. What's your reasoning?

Welcome from Boston!

 

Welcome from Southern Illinois.

 

Welcome from Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
Andrew

 

Welcome from SoGa.

 

I'm a lil partial to the old 6 cylinders. Lots of torque, run forever, cheap and simple to fix. I know where there are a few old Fords with a 300 and T-18. I might get in one of my moods and drop a diesel in it. I just transplanted a lil diesel in a Dodge D50, and it turned out great.
I'm looking forward to completely redoing the ol Jeep. (my bank account and the wife arent!) I'm hoping to keep the bill under $10 000. but we'll see. I've never taken anything to a mechanic and dont intend to start, so that should help.
I've found some of the best advice comes from other enthusiats and this looks like the place to be!

 

What diesel would you consider using?

A jeep inline would be as close to a direct bolt in replacement for your 304 as you can get. Consider the jeep 4.2 or 4.0, or a combination of 4.2/4.0 parts. I think that would save you alot of hedaches.

6's are for people who can handle V8's

A healthy 304's is where the fun's at!


Anyhoo, just busting on ya.

Welcome from Jersey!

 

30 or 60 over Chrysler/AMC 4.0L block + AMC/JEEP 258 (4.2L) crank = 4.6L stroker. You can go as big as 5.0L with aftermarket parts.

Clapped-out XJs can be had pretty cheap. The Mopar MPI is a great system; good for power and economical, and the 4.0L is a very durable engine.

Check out www.jeepstrokers.com if this interests you.

 

TIMGR,
I realize that most of the frequent posters on this board know a lot more about Jeeps than I do, but you said
"Black roll bar and black wiper motor cover (repainted windshieild) = not '75
I have a 75, and it's original roll bar and wiper motor cover were both black.....

 

Jeep started painting the windshield in body color before 1975. All '75s original windshield frames are body color. Possible your windshield was replaced, either before delivery or sometime in the life of the Jeep. Factory replacement frames came in black only.

Aftermarket roll bars were all black, but again, sometime in this '74-75 transition, the factory started offering the roll bar from the regular option list. All the factory-delivered roll bars are painted the body color. At least at the dealership where I worked, nearly every Jeep that was sold had a roll bar - so all the CJ-5s on the lot had body-color roll bars from the factory. My feeling is that nearly all '75 CJ-5s were delivered with the factory roll bar.

So, my guess is based on the most likely configuration of Jeeps from that era, and what I know from experience (ie being there, working at a large Jeep dealer, in those years). There are exceptions out there - Jeep would certainly deliver Jeeps with options that weren't explicitly offered - but the majority of Jeeps out there conform to the option list.

Sorry so wordy..

 

Welcome from MANCHESTER TN

 

I have a 1987 XJ w/ 4.0, swapped in 1993 5spd and t-case sitting in the garage. It runs great, but the fuel injection wiring leaves a lot to be desired. Carburator here we come!

I could drop this in the cj, but I run into a problem with the t-case. XJ-driver's side, CJ-pass. side. Does the old cj case bolt up?

One other option would be to swap the front axle also. (not crazy about a Dana 25 but...) This would give me coil springs up front. Also power steering would be newer and new steering parts are easier to find.

The XJ is in good shape, so theres lots of good parts there. I bought it just io prototype some suspension parts I mfg. (long story!)
I'm never going to use the xj, its just a 4wd "car" to me. CJ=real jeep!

 

I wouldn't use anything but the engine ... The I6 and V8 AMC engines after mid-70 all have the same bell pattern. The MPI needs a bell with a CPS, or else the CPS moved to the front of the engine, but with a carb, no problem. A 5-speed (AX-15?) is maybe too long for the CJ-5 wheelbase. The truck 4-speeds are popular.

 

COol Jeep. I'd rebuild the v8 and look for a wide ratio t18 to stick behind it. Plenty of power and t18 will give it a good, slow crawl. It looks really good. Falirly unmolested. Did you check the VIN to figure out the year? I agree with Timgr, around 75, or earler with a repainted WS. But I'm guessing a 75.