Opinions please

Hello all, I am sorry if this was discussed before but can't seem to find a thread!

I recently inherited two jeeps neither of them run.

1980 CJ-5 with the Iron Duke and 4 speed. The body is trash.

1976 CJ-5 golden eagle with the 304 and 3 speed. Body is good and the frame is trash.

My thoughts are to take the 304 and put it on the frame with the 4 cyl. and build from there. Would this work or just a waste of time?

 

Sounds like you have the workings of a good plan there. Build one out of the two starting with the frame and chassis. You should have plenty of parts between the two. Most parts will interchange well between the 76' and 80'.
Greg

 

I think the 76 and 80 share the same frame. you will need the frame horns and cross member from the v8 frame to put in the 4 cyl frame along with the grill/radiator core support. Body should fit too. Could be all wrong, but I think 76 to 83 are the same.

 

Yeah, you can do it. The frames and bodies are basically the same. You'll have to take the frame towers from the '76 and weld them to the '80 frame. Most everything else will be compatible.

The 151 will have a SR-4 transmission, which is known to be weak. It certainly will not stand up to V8 power. Keep the 3-speed and Dana 20 transfer case if you use the 304; either that, or swap in a better transmission from another vehicle and use the Dana 300 transfer case from the '80. I expect you'll want the axles from the '80, since a 4-cylinder Jeeps will have a better ratio.