1975 cj 5

Greetings and hallucinations from a newbie. I bought a 1975 cj 5 a week ago. Everything seems to work fine and the former owner swears that the 65,000 miles showing on the clock are original. Motor runs real well, tranny's good, it's got a fiberglass body and hard top that's in real good shape. Problem is the frame. It's running and driveable but if I ever need to replace anything, ( gas tank etc) there will be trouble. The rust is BBAD Flakes everywhere. I would like to do a frame off resto, not to new condition but to reliable condition. Question is where can I get a fram? Are there any companies that do the early CJ 5's? Does anyone on the list have one in good shape? Also how can I tell if this model had the dreaded catalytic converter. It doesn't have one now but for Pa insp I'll need one. Thanks to all and I hope to be able to contribute more to the forum as I learn!!!-Fozzie

 

AFAIK 75's didn't have catalytic converters......we NEED pictures !!!

Oh......I almost forgot........Welcome from Atlanta, Ga.

 

Welcome from Colorado! There are a few companies that sell new frames but they are pretty expensive. I just bought a nice one from my local jeep salvage yard for $300. You don't say where you are from so it's a little hard for us to know where to direct you.
Oh, pictures????

 

Welcome Fozzie

You can also find a frame on craigslist.

 

I am from North Central Pennsylvania. The salt from winter stays on the roads till August around here and this frame is pretty bad. Is there anyone on the list that has a frame? Where are some good Jeep salvage yard on the east coast?-Fozzie I'll get a picture up soon.

 

4wd.com sells a trick twin tube frame and they also carry the stock looking frame as well, but those will cost ya

Ah 1975, what a great year of Jeep. Though I may be biased.

High5

 

As a newbie I'm wondering if a frame swap is the best project. I'm relatively strapped for cash and time so maybe I'd better look into selling. Just weighing my options. How difficult will a frame swap be with the help of a Haynes manual and the folks here-Fozzie

 

Frame swap is not too bad, just take everything off and install it onto the new frame. The problem arises when you decided "I might as well fix this or that while I have it off the frame" like motors and trannys.

edit: oh yeh I forgot welcome from central Va

 

If you get a used frame make sure it's straight.

 

I think there may have been catalytic convertors in V8 CJs by '75 in California only. By 1977, the convertor was required for all V8 CJs, and all California CJs. The best way to find out for certain is to buy the factory service manual (FSM, TSM) and look at the table of devices for that year. Available as reprint; not cheap, but a good investment IMO.

Re your frame, probably the best route, unless you want to buy an expensive aftermarket frame, is to drive south a ways to get one. There was a good yard in Georgia (or South Carolina?) posted in off topic a year or two ago - that post will be gone now, but ask and someone can probably give you a tip. May take some time, but with some searching you should be able to find one.

 

OK. I checked with my inspection station and I need no cat for my Jeep. Since it has an aftermarket body he didn't see any way of telling if it had Calif. emissions or not. I found a frame from down south online. It has a light amount of surface rust. The jeep guy that rebuilds cj7's said he'll sandblas it and paint it with a good paint for 600.00. Oh and his folks live about 3 hours from me in Pennsylvania so he'll deliver it for free. Does this sound like a good deal? I'm sure once the body comes off I'll start with the fix this fix that stuff Definately need to do wiring, and the body lift is getting old, axles and trans case seem OK. But the steering arms etal look a little unreliable. May replace them......if I go through with this. I take it to the garage on Wednesday to get tires and see if it will pass inspection. Big decision put off till then.-Fozzie

 

Hiya Fozzie! That s the best Jeep you could get, it's the last of the real CJs. Just ask my 75, Mongo, he will agree.

Good luck with the frame!

 

that sucks, just this morning, I gave away a 75 cj-5 frame...straight and surface rust only...didn't need it as I have a CJ-6 and two 7s.
Check the many Jeep forums...I posted on a seni local one and a guy drove over from LA.