The other Jeep I bought...I mean...stole...

So I just got done with my 68' Jeepster and decided I'd start working on my "other" find I picked up last fall.

While at work, I heard one of my employees talking about how he had this old Jeep that he and his dad couldn't get running. My curiosity perked up and when I butted into the conversation, I found out it was a "1955 CJ something". He said that the brakes were shot, the motor turned over but wouldn't start, and there was no gas tank in it. I asked how the body was and he said it looked good. I then jumped strait to the "ok, how much do you want for the thing" conversation. He said he'd take 1500.00 just to get out from under it. I left that evening and this is what I brought home...a very nice 55' CJ5. The body is all steel - perfect. It was repainted and left in a barn from 1992 until last year when he bought it...looks like the previous owners never finished it up either. I stuck a battery in the thing and the motor rolled over...checked everything over as good as I could without it running and everything seemed good. The front floors need the shoddy riveted patch jobs removed and I can weld some new floors in, but otherwise, everything is fine. I can't believe I stole this thing for this price. Also, not sure what's up with the 1960 plate if anyone wonders...title and VIN check to a 55'...I guess everyone just loves that ugly Michigan plate in those 60's years!





So...here's where I lean in and ask for some help... I started tearing the motor down yesterday....the carb is busted...fuel pump no longer works...and the antifreeze had turned to brown goo..so I flushed all that out and have new parts on order. Where things get a little weird is I decided to check compression on it just for kicks to see where I was. I sprayed some WD-40 down the plug holes and dropped a couple squirts of oil down as well. I rolled the motor over a few times and then tested compression. I got 60 / 60 / 70 / 65, which is obviously way, way low. I didn't leak down, but should I assume these numbers are so anemically low because it hasn't ran in so long and the rings need a little oil / seating on the cylinder walls again, or should I just pull the motor and go through everything? I really don't have a problem pulling the motor but I'd rather just get it running first if that's even possible. I've never really encountered a motor like this that hasn't ran in so long and tried to get it running without tearing it apart.... any help is appreciated!

I'll keep up the posts on how this thing turns out!

 

me too
run through the valve adjustment and check the static timing
fire it up and go

 

What they said, there was another post where 60 lbs across the board was still running. Those things had pretty low compression to start with, it could probably use freshening up, but heck if it runs and puffs a little, thats ok. The old girl looks great, man I'd be proud to wheel that one.

D.

 

Run the Bugger, your compression is OK. Clean the fluids and go! :hurrican:

 

some guys have all the luck

 

Quite a catch. I particularly like the look of those tires, they fit the wheelwells well. What size are they?

 

X2!. Love the look of the tires, remined me of the old M/T drag slicks with the way the ribs extend from the sidewall to the tread

 

I think you got hosed!
Man! look at antenea!
I bet it's cost you what? 2-3 cents to fix it???
I think you better give it to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks like you got a heck of a deal!!!!!!
The compression isn't that far off the mark for a motor that's sat.
Run 'er for a few thou and see how it!!
Don't forget to change the oils underneath!
Joe
Some people have all the luck!
If that was me, the vibration from trailering it home would have knocked all the body filler off, leaving me with 1 rusty frame rail only!

 

Tires measure 30"...they don't have a size on them other than 11-15LT. No idea how old those suckers are!

I know...the busted antenna almost made me re-think the whole deal...LOL!

 

When I got my '61 CJ5, it had a set of "Mickey Thompson" L-60 tires on nice rims.
These suckers were 12" wide!
It looked cool sitting in the garage, but when I tried to take it out and turn it-yikes!
I had to really crank the "arm strong" steering to turn it!
The orginal steering system is at best well, it turns it!R)
Those tires are cool, but the abuse your stock steering will endure....
If'n they are great tires, (no rot, etc.) I think of a newer steering system...
DDid it come wioth a AM radio???
Joe
So many jeeps, so few $$ in the bank!

 

No AM radio, just an old knobby Sparkomatic from what looks like about 1982.