72 cj-5 build

i am starting a build on a 72 cj-5, i picked this jeep up for a great deal, it consists of a 72 frame that was bought in the 70's as a crash replacement from jeep corp, and never put under a jeep, been sitting in a building since. so its basically a new NOS frame. i also got an early 4 wheel drive hardware 'glass body, and a full roll cage.

i have a trail rig now thats an 85 cj-7 that became extremely capable off road. although it is still street legal and i have driven it several hundred miles to trails, it has taken the challenge out of a lot of the easier trails around, and the fun out of a cruise around town. i missed being able to have fun on mild and moderate trails and to scoot around on a sunday in the jeep. that is where this build has come to play. i love cj5's, and i wanted a fun all around jeep. i have the rockcrawler. time for a fun scoot. heres a pic of my cj-7. theres not a nut or bolt i havent turned or weld thats not mine.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/harlan ky/DSCF0386.jpg

my plans for the cj5 are to make a fun ride on the road and a very capable four wheeler. i am going to put a 401 amc v8 , t-18 4 spd, and a d300 in it. i am planning on installing a widetrac 30 front axle and a waggy d44 rear with 2.73 gears. i am also going to put yj springs with a 2.5" lift in it. eventually i want to do a 4 to 1 low range kit and arb lockers. i am shooting to get some fuel mileage out of it with the power of the 401 and the 2.73's, and still have a decent low range with the 4 to 1 and the t18. i am probably going to put a later steering column and windshield frame on it, but i want to stick with the original renegade mint green paint and renegade decals. i dont have any pics up yet, but i will get some soon and as i progress

 

Sounds like fun.
What size tires are you planning to run? And what size are the tires on your 7?

 

i am hoping to stay with 33 or 34" on the 72 and my cj-7 has 36x13.5x15 bias ply irok's...

i realize it sounds crazy with 401 and mileage, but i plan on keeping the 401 close to stock, and the 2.73's should help a lot.

i had 3.54 gears in my cj7 and a very hot 304. it would pull the front wheels off the ground with 35" tires, and i outran an svt 'stang. but i could also pull 20 mpg on the highway... it has a 350 efi and a 700r4 in it now though. has decent power, and the O.D. keeps the mileage tolerable for what it is.

 

Your build sounds like fun! We just finished up something similar. When you figure out how to get 20mph out of that baby let me know your secrets! My 360 isn't getting that no matter how we adjust the injection.

 

i had a built 304, 3.54 gears and 35" tires on my cj7 once upon a time, and i could pull 20 mpg runnin the highways at around 85 mph. that was the engines happy spot. if i slowed it down to 70, i got 13 lol! only in a jeep!

should have some pics of the 5 so far soon... i got the spring mounts on the rear of the frame, and i have been roundin up almost enough parts to get a rolling chassis together.

 

heres some pics!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/cj5 build/2008_0624Image0035.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/cj5 build/2008_0624Image0036.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/cj5 build/2008_0624Image0037.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/cj5 build/2008_0624Image0038.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/cj5 build/2008_0624Image0039.jpg

 

i do too, it has a lil more coverage over the back for rear passengers... made a lil more progress, oh yeah, my 6 yr old daughter is turning all of the bolts. she likes to help YAY!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/2008_0702Image0040.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/2008_0702Image0041.jpg

 

thats a lot of power!

 

made a lil more progress, the baby was born last week, and i need a few parts before i can continue, but here it is!
rolling chassis
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/2008_0715Image0076.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/2008_0715Image0077.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/2008_0715Image0078.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/2008_0715Image0079.jpg
401 teaser pic
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/2008_0715Image0080.jpg

the axles are 2.72 ratio widetracs out of an 84 cj7. cant wait to get this thing movin!

 

cool project!! and nice shop!

 

thanks! i really want a 60'x40' garage, but i am working with what i got.... it beats the driveway lol!

 

401 is in, t18 is in, grille is now on too lol! i am gonna try to get the body set on in the next week or so to make sure everything fits and my axle placement is correct, then i will do all the finish welding, and clean for paint.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/2008_0729Image0092.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/2008_0729Image0093.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/2008_0729Image0094.jpg

 

body is on!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/2008_0731Image0098.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/2008_0731Image0096.jpg

 

front clip is added, now time to pull apart for paint

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/cj5 build/2008_0808Image0102.jpg

 

not much new to add. i got the frame completely boxed in, and i picked up an air compressor so i can start bodywork and paint soon.