thinking about purchase cj5 (NEW TO JEEPS

New to forum and early model jeeps.


i can pick up a 50-60s cj5 for 500. sat in barn for last 10 years. the guy says he can get it running easy. not alot of rust, but has other issues need advice on issues

all instraments have been pulled out of dash, just big hole with wires where speedo went.

no tail lights

F head engine i think, says has a knock when running. but might last for awhile might not?

is it a ok deal, how hard will it be to hook up speedo if i can find one, is the knock in the engine a bad thing. just looking for something to ride fields and dirt roads

should i look elseware,

 

Well it depends on how bad the JEEP is. A knock is not too good in my book but some it is not too bad. Give us some more info. If the frame, body, and axles (drivetrain) are not bad then get it because you can make it right for not too much investment. Just my 2 cents though.

 

Fact of life that, if you spend more up front, you'll spend less in the long run. An incomplete project car will nickel and dime its way to some significant money.

I'm sure that with some ingenuity and considerable time, you could bring it back. How much time do you want to spend on it?

Hard to say more without some pictures. Doesn't sound great from your description. Location makes a big difference in the price too.

 

Seems to me it comes down to what you want to do / have . . .
If you want a Jeep you can drive next week, you're better off spending more money and get one that is driving . . . If you like the challenge of having a project and would like a Jeep that you feel like you have made your own, then get this one for five bills!

 

What Mike said, but change one thing..

" the guy says he can get it running easy."

Key word there is "he".
Let him get it running, might be informative to watch how "easy" it is. If it has not been running for 10 yrs (worst case) some work will have to be done. Change the life fluids, prelube the engine, clean the carb, battery, etc, etc.
Fun to watch.

But it's gotta be worth $500 in parts, so why not?

 

thanks, i m new to this, i will try to get some pics maybe this weekend, i will up date

thanks again

 

If it were me and I had the money and the space I'd drag it home. However, I would be expecting a major project. If I were making a trail beater it would be a pretty good place to start.

 

The speedo shouldn't be too hard to wire up, as long as all the wiring is there and not butchered up. If you do buy it, I would recommend picking up a service manual for it. Those things are invaluable for any car you plan to work on yourself. Also I would make him get it running, since it will be so easy and all. Take it for a little drive. Listen for the knock yourself. If it has been sitting for 10 years, I bet the brakes will need to be completely overhauled. Get under it and check for leaks. I would expect to replace multiple seals on it if I were you, such as diff cover gasket, pinion seals, probably new master cylinder, etc etc. If you just plan to have fun with it on the backroads, pick it up, tinker with it, and have fun with it. The good thing about these Jeeps is they are very easy to work on. The bad thing is it will become addicting! Good luck. :hurrican:

 

Don't knock a knocking f-head!! I ran mine for two winters plowing my driveway before I fixed it. Had a knock that sounded like a drill sergeant whacking his baton in a 30 gal metal trash can. Swapped in a used crank and bearings from a parts motor with a cracked block and it's as quiet as a church mouse now. All it cost was a gasket set.

 

I would defintely agree with what others have said. Get a good look at it and decide if you are willing to pull the body off and start repairing the brakes system, exhaust, frame, etc. The body is really easy to get off and everything else is easy as pie to work on once at the frame. As said before you can spend another 1000 to 2000 on a JEEP that has all this taken care of and you can focus on other things. Of course depends on area as far as the price goes. If you start a project JEEP then you could easily spend that much getting it back on the road by doing safety rebuilds, brakes, clutch, engine, etc. Trust me it starts adding up. IMHO you get more bang for your buck when someone else has already done the work (the right way). You can never sell it for what you have invested in it.

Also, one decriminating factor for me would be if the JEEP had any "hard" to find items already. For example, a four speed tranny, warn OD, PTO front and/or rear, fiberglass hardtop, etc. For 500 if you had either of these it would be a steal. If it has a couple of these combined I would be running to the bank.

Of course pictures would definitley help.

Good luck