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'66 Military Jeep vs. '80 CJ5

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by gollyjeepers, Mar 3, 2010.

  1. Mar 3, 2010
    gollyjeepers

    gollyjeepers New Member

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    Mar 3, 2010
    Messages:
    8
    Hello. I have been wanting an "older" Jeep for a long time, and have finally saved enough money to buy one (I'm in college). I had a CJ7 I was putting an offer on, but it got yanked from under me.

    However, I have since found a '80 CJ5 in great shape that doesn't really need any work right off the bat. I was excited and pretty sold on it...until I looked around a little harder.

    I have since found a '66 military Jeep that needs quite a bit of work, at least cosmetically. The owner says it's in running condition, but I have only seen it online. It definitely needs a lot of work on stuff like the seats and such (which are just the wire frame right now).

    So I'm looking for advice. The upside on the CJ5 is that it is ready-to-go and I can begin enjoying the Jeep that I have been wanting to buy since I was 14. On the other hand, I like to fix things and work on things, so this one doesn't have much for me to do right now, and it's a bit "blinged" out for my taste. (Not too bad, but it does have a really big lift and some added no-slip chrome stuff).

    The '66 military Jeep, in my opinion, would be AWESOME to have and drive, but it needs work and I don't have experience restoring cars. HOWEVER, I love to fix things, and have no problem doing the learning required to get the job done. But, it would be quite a while before I would get there.

    Lastly, the CJ5 is asking just over $6,000. It's in pretty great shape, but I think I can get the price down to mid-to-high $5,000s. The '66 military is asking just under $4,000, but requires work (which means added dinero).

    My budget is absolutely not more than $7,000. What I've read about scarcity of Jeep parts, especially for early and military models makes me worry about having enough leftover cash to work on the '66 right away.

    Sorry this is so long, but I'm lost in a soul search between two cool vehicles and am looking for second opinions!
     
  2. Mar 3, 2010
    CJ Glen

    CJ Glen New Member

    Northern California
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    Jan 14, 2008
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    48
    Other guys will be along with more technical reasoning. My input is this:

    If you are ultimately going to be customizing it for hard usage, it doesn't matter much. However, if you want one for a daily driver, you will like the '85 since more parts are available for it. '75 and older are stepchilren in the aftermarket. On the other hand, depending on where you live, smog could be an issue. I live in California and was happy I owned a '74 when they decided everything '76 and newer had to do biennial smog checks. No enigine mods allowed, inless it has an EO sticker for the part.
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2010
  3. Mar 3, 2010
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
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    12,367
    My thinking is you would be better off buying the CJ5, given where you're at in your life. (student in college) If you're really interested in the military (M38A1), get us some pictures so we can see how correct it is, especially since the price is what it is.
     
  4. Mar 3, 2010
    EricM

    EricM Active Member

    Southern California
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    Dec 19, 2007
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    1,019
    Will this be your daily driver?
     
  5. Mar 3, 2010
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    Jul 30, 2003
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    8,513
    I'm with Glenn
    pay more for something that's driveable right away.
     
  6. Mar 3, 2010
    lynn

    lynn Time machine / Early CJ5 HR Rep Staff Member

    Huntingdon PA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    3,437
    Where are you located? I can find $5K Jeeps in good shape all the time, that aren't too blinged out or have too much lift.

    Sounds like you want something you can drive, but work on it enough to "make it yours", rather than something you're going to keep in a garage and work on as time allows, and not be able to drive.
    Avoid this Mil Jeep if you want to drive and enjoy.

    For example, local (York, PA) Craigslist has this for $4500 within about the first 20 listings after filtering for "jeep":

    "1979 CJ 7 258 inline 6 cyl 3 speed manual transmission fiber glass tub new paint 4 years ago garage kept ever since, new exhaust from the cat back new tires less then 200 miles, i have a bikini top and soft doors and the frame for a soft top ( old top had to be thrown out) used for running around on the weekends solid frame all gauges and lights work. "
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    I recommend you do extensive looking around before you part with your cash. Don't discount a great deal far away, these things can be shipped, or fly one way/drive home. You may find a great deal in better shape that even with shipping could be better than what you could fiond locally. Plenty of guys here have taken this approach.

    Neither of the two you selected seem optimum for a college student, in my opinion...

    Good luck, let us know what you end up buying!
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2010
  7. Mar 3, 2010
    dnb71R2

    dnb71R2 SuperDave 2023 Sponsor

    Grand Mesa, CO
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2006
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    1,323
    I've owned both types of vehicles and agree with all those responses above. Considering your situation, the '80 CJ5 will be much more user friendly to work on and maintain. And yes, you will still get to work on it! It is 30 years old. Parts availability should be much less of a headache as well. Good luck and post pictures when you get your 'new' CJ!
    Lynn makes an extremely valid point about searching for the right vehicle. I looked for almost 2 years before finding my latest '71 model in Colorado (one state away from me).
     
  8. Mar 3, 2010
    jasonjp62

    jasonjp62 Member

    Pennsboro WV.
    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2009
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    799
    I agree with the guys above. Where you are at in your life get the 80 and enjoy it. I have a 62 and it almost needed everything before I could get it on the road and drive it. Lately I have been helping a friend work on his 76 and the parts are so much easier to find than on my 62. And like David said it's still a 30 year old jeep you will still get to work on it.
     
  9. Mar 3, 2010
    windyhill

    windyhill Sponsor

    PA
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    Nov 4, 2006
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    1,502
    Both sound like ones to pass on if your looking for a driver. A '80 CJ5 is still an old Jeep, more road-able then the '66, but not with a big lift. If a daily driver is what your after the shoot for a nice mild cj7 or even better somthing like a TJ. the TJ's can be had for a really good price and are great on road and fun off as well. Also the price seems hi on both to me. Now that being said, if you want a project and enjoy tinkering and saving a piece of "old iron" I'd go with an early cj5 or cj6 or a flatty. Very fun to mess around with, go on small trips in etc. I would think you should be able to get a really nice starting project for under $2500 and with a budget of 7 K could make a really nice early Jeep project. I also think with your 7K budget you should be able to pick up a nice TJ for around 4500 and then get a $1500 early cj5 to tinker on in your spare time. :) Oh and that's what I'd do.
     
  10. Mar 3, 2010
    Steve's 70-5

    Steve's 70-5 Active Member

    Louisville, Ky
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    Nov 12, 2009
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    1,381
    Get a Jeep that's drivable, do you have a place to work on it (garage?). If you fix one up you will need tools, welder, etc. more expense. Your in college, work on that education, get good grades which I hope will get you a good paying job in the future. If you have spare time, get a drivable Jeep, you could get a part time job and make money with that spare time. Then buy your second Jeep a fixer upper, store it at mom and pops place which they will love you for, fix it up after graduation.
    In my searches for a Jeep that needs lots of work that price seems high.
    When I search Craiglist I search Jeep CJ5, Jeep Kaiser and Jeep Willys, search several cities and states.

    Good luck on your future
     
  11. Mar 3, 2010
    Mike C

    Mike C Member

    Austin, TX
    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2007
    Messages:
    743
    I echo all the guys advice. Buy the newer jeep. If it is your only vehicle, get a CJ-7 or YJ. The square headlight wranglers are really inexpensive partly because they are not as popular.

    Try a multi-search tool for craigslist. here is one: allows you to search multiple geographies simultaneously.

    http://crazedlist.org/#
     
  12. Mar 3, 2010
    modified

    modified Member

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    agree with almost all of the above.
    dont get a cj or the like while your in school period!!! Its the ultimate distraction unless your studying mechanical engineering, or majoring in sociology to p/u skirts on campus while your trust fund deflates.

    I bought a 71 cj5 thinking that it was the coolest bad "expletive" to get some score and tinker with. Turned out to be a misery, I wont go into detail, but some of my scholarship money went into that jeep. Had a few sleepless nights trying to rebuild my front hub from a soiled book with a flashlight during midterms (earlycj5.com was non existent, internet was at its infancy, and I was paying my own way through school with S/L and working.) because of a hit and run on way to the library one late night.

    Another time, some idiot took it out for a joy ride on campus thinking it would be fun because of its apparent cosmetic condition, thought it was public transportation for 10 min. thank god, I had Headers/glasspacks, otherwise I would have never heard it drive-by my classroom. Not fun lad, not fun.

    So before you aspire to accomplish great things in your life, consider the wisdom of this group and buy Honda Civic:shock:. You better your chances at getting "lucky" and maximize your parents education fund when your fingernails are clean and fulfill your "terms" requirements on time.

    Get the CJ or M38, GPW, Hercules, Cuda, Cobra, or other reptile when you can financially afford to say "expletive it!!!!", I'm calling in sick to work on my oil spill.R) may the force be with !!
     
  13. Mar 3, 2010
    gollyjeepers

    gollyjeepers New Member

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    I'm afraid I just can't do that lol. I've been saving a long time for a Jeep :)

    Luckily, I'll be hanging onto my pickup at least for a while, so it doesn't have to be my daily driver, but I would kind of use it that way. My pickups not in awesome shape, but it gets me places ('95 Chevy Cheyenne).

    I'm on full ride scholarship that pays me a per-semester stipend, plus I have a part time job and a part part time job (weekends), so I have a small amount of cash flowing in with not much expenses (b/c I got the full ride, my parents agreed to pay my school-year rent and bills, but I pay food and all summer expenses or anything "extra").

    I'm going to test drive the '80 this weekend. I've checked quite a few others on Craigslist, but none of those have really jumped out at me, and don't seem as good a shape as the '80 (at least by looks). I'm having a mechanic check out the '80 while I'm there this weekend for a firmer report on the shape of the jeep as an actual vehicle.

    I would really love the '66, but I would also really like a Jeep I can drive now. :sigh: Compromise, compromise. I'll be moving into a new place where I would probably have space to work on it, but time and money are still an issue.


    Thanks for your input! I'm excited about the '80 and getting to see it/test it for sure, but I'm not 100% sold yet, so I'll keep my eyes out for other opportunities.

    Feel free to keep the responses coming if you have more to add; you all have been very helpful! Thanks,
     
  14. Mar 3, 2010
    $ sink

    $ sink Gazillians of posts

    Virginia Bch
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    there are several CJ7s around hampton roads for sale if you watch craigslist, they come up all of the time. some are done up nicely.
     
  15. Mar 3, 2010
    modified

    modified Member

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    Was just fishing to see if the worm on the hook was worth consuming for you. Then get a reliable CJ and sell it for the "Military ideal" onece you've cashed your first pay check for finding a cure for cancer.

    A"Willys bug" is just around the corner. All of us can vouch for that.:beer:
     
  16. Mar 3, 2010
    windyhill

    windyhill Sponsor

    PA
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    I disagree on the wait tell your have the money to start a Jeep project, trust me you will only have less money and less time that is truly yours as the years go on. SO you already have a daily driver, well then the picture changes, I'd really look for something fun to build and work on that is older. Like a flatty or early cj5/6 but one that someone else as restored / put a lot of money that was was in good shape. If your have a 7K budget then for 4-5K you should be able to get one heck of a sweet project. and still have 2K to put into it or your truck if needed. Don't get wowed by fancy paint and chrome on the '80 really check it out and watch the frame for rot. More then 32-33's on any cj5-flatty and the 80" wheel base will be a handful. Fun, but not an easy stress free ride.R)
     
  17. Mar 4, 2010
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
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    1,929
    Get the CJ5. It's a much better first Jeep. More parts, eaiser to run to FLAPS and pick up something. Less expensive parts. Better aftermarket support.
     
  18. Mar 4, 2010
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    Dec 22, 2002
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    4,418
    if you want the military jeep there are parts for it out there. Most of them are the same as the civilian with exceptions for the electrical mostly. There are suppliers out there specializing in all the military trucks and jeeps. MVPA is a good group that has a lot of resources.

    Where are you located at? I've got a 62 cj5 with m38a1 body I'm going to be listing soon. Not trying to sell out of classified's ;) but if I knew where you were at might be able to hook you up with something...
     
  19. Mar 5, 2010
    Slifter

    Slifter Big Willy

    Vancouver Island
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2006
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    34
    I paid 2k for my '66 4 years ago, and it's been nothing but surprises the whole time. Good and bad. In retrospect, I wish someone had talked me out of me buying her, even though now I could never part with her for all the yj's in the world. Way too many memories... Not my daily driver.

    p.s. - It's been tarped for 3 years on and off, in many different pieces.

    Buy a newer jeep.

    my2ยข
     
  20. Mar 5, 2010
    JAlves

    JAlves Sponsor

    Yuba City, CA
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    I have to agree with Windyhill, I have never had more free time and excess cash than my college years. If you can find a jeep fitting his description you can drive it now and still have a ton of fix-up projects. There will always be something to straighten, paint, adjust, etc.
     
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