1968 CJ5 Restoration Planning, etc.

Hello EarlyCJ5.com Community,

I am proud to be among you and have a couple of questions for you all if you have the time and answers:

I am relocating my 1968 CJ5 [V6] to San Antonio with me in a few weeks. She's been parked and neglected for ~10 years.

1. Do you know a knowledgeable and talented Jeep mechanic in San Antonio, Texas?

2. Do you know where/how I can get tires/wheels/hub caps like those in this wonderful picture: http://www.jeeptech.com/images/cj5.jpg

Mine has chrome wheels that I don't think are original.

3. My spare tire is mounted on the tailgate. I think this was a post-factory mod made by the previous owner. There is still a black plastic square (rotated 45 degrees) mounted on the back right side. Do you think that the actual tire mount was removed from the side and screwed into the tailgate? If so, do you think I could get some smart person to remove it from the tailgate, put it back where it originally was, and replace the tailgate? Is that reasonable? What are your thoughts?

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Thanks,

Derge

 

FYI, I don't have any pictures of the ole' jeep to share yet, but will take some and post them as soon as I can. Thanks.

 

Hello Derge - Can't help you with the mechanic.

Your best bet for hubcaps is likely eBay. Or, you could try advertising on the want-to-buy (WTB) boards here and on other related Jeep forums like Willystech. The wheels are standard steel Jeep wheels - you should be able to source those used fairly easily.

Moving the tire carrier is beyond your abilities? It will be hard to get stuff like that done for a reasonable cost. Nearly all of us Jeep enthusiasts do our own work - unless you are wealthy, the cost equation for hiring out such things can be prohibitive.

Welcome from Boston!

 

Thanks Tim. I can move it if it can be moved. I was asking if anyone thought it had been moved, as opposed to being a different part. If it is as simple as removing the mount and screwing it in somewhere else, no problem. Thoughts? Thank you. I'm not wealthy, but I'm working on that.

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Derge

 

I presume that the PO (previous owner) simply moved the mount to the tailgate. There was no mount for the tailgate available from the factory. The factory bracket for side mounting is a squarish, almost cube-shaped object made of sheet steel, with mounting lugs sticking our from its front. The back side has four holes that moung on the body in a square pattern. I have a close-up picture at home that I can post (much) later tonight or tomorrow.

 

Here are some hub caps that look like they are in real good shape on cragslist. This guy is located in Vermont.
http://nh.craigslist.org/pts/1048424929.html

 

Thanks timgr. That is the same mount that I have.

The side spare tire mount location is covered with a black plastic square, rotated 45 degrees (making sort of diamond shape). I've seen this same plastic square on Jeeps in pictures. Anybody know what the story is on this piece? OEM? Common mod? Thanks!