Need Help on 1956 CJ 5 134 F

Finally found out what body style and engine I have. But I have no idea what axles or gears I have or anything else about my Jeep. It's totally stock except the wheels and tires. It was given to me by my Pop, but no reg or title with it. Needs a lot of work to the body, runs great. Should I restore it or modify it for the trail? How hard is it to remove the tub and do a frame restore? I got a million questions. Anybody got any ideas?

 

Moved to proper forum.
Welcome!
First I'd recommend using the search function. Probably most of your questions have been answered in there somewhere.
Second, without knowing what your intentions for this vehicle are and what kind of overall condition it's in it's pretty hard to give advice. It all depends on what you want your final result/useage to be.
What some consider "too rusty" others consider a good starting point so pics are helpful here. You can host them on Photobucket or something similar and then link them here. If you haven't done so, I'd recommend introducing yourself in the "Introductions" section. Did I mention we like pics?

Also crossposting or posting the same thread in multiple areas is considered a "faux pas". I've cleaned it up so if you see your post in "Intermediates" missing that is why. "Intermediates" are Generally '72-'75 CJ's although '76 and newer can also post there. Cheers!

 

Sorry about that. After I posted it, I realized I put in the wrong place but didn't know how to fix it. And I really was thinking about my jeep engine when I chose my user name, didn't realize the implacation until after I saw it on the forum page. Gee I can't win tonight. Thanks again.

 

My $0.02. Drive it while you work on it. Get it registered and start to drive it around on weekends while you tinker with it. You may like the feel of the "old F-head", or you may find that you would want it more road friendly. Like Nick said, if you don't know what you want to do with it, it's kind of hard to give advice.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

I would try and register and lic. before I put a dime in it. Some folks have not been able to for one reason or another.
Some famous cars have been restored ($$$$), then when they went to sell turned out to be stolen.
We just had a local owner of a 70's corvette get his restored 70's corvette back this year as a result of an insurance investigation. His Corvette was new when stolen.
Regardless it will make a future sale smoother.

 

Welcome If stock, have a dana 25 in the front and a dana 44 in the rear, with 5:38 gearing (possibly 4:27's). Your trany is most likely a t-90 3 speed. AS far as pulling the body, this is very common and not that diff. the problem is figuring out your plan of attack so you don't pull everything apart and then run out of steam. I'd start by getting the brakes working well, change all the fluids and get acquainted with your Jeep. Then start the flat body work on the out side. when that's done pull the body flip it over and replace the hat channels and do the floor work......then turn it into a complete frame off restoration and not use it for 5 years. Have fun with it, in stock form you can have a ton of fun with these little Jeeps.


X2 on the title thing!

 

It's your jeep and it can be anything you can afford/envision. I'd ask you to consider returning it to as stock as is practical for your budget/needs. Mine was in terrible shape when I acquired it, totally unusable in every respect. Many people think about those perfect restorations seen at Barrett Jackson or in car shows where the misplacement of a decal by a fraction of an inch could be the difference between winning and loosing. As my insurance agent asked "Is it a restoration, or a rebuild?"

I'm never going to enter my Jeep in a car show, I'm never going to race her from Paris to Dakar. I do intend on running around town and going out to explore the countryside. For me, the classic look of the Jeep and infinite utility are it's allure. A great portion of this country's infrastructure was laid out by men driving stock jeeps of our vintage. Although there are still plenty out there, every early Jeep that gets cut up to make a rock crawler or other specialty vehicle is just one less of something special. With due respect shown to the Overland Truck Company, Bantam, and the CJ2 & 3 family Willys, we're driving a vehicle so special that it spawned an entire industry, hobby, and lifestyle. The classic Jeep is a world wide icon that's actually been shown in art museums.

My bride recently followed me on an errand and said that everyone looked at us (Jäger {my GSD service dog} and I) as we rolled past. Others spend tens of thousands of dollars on vainly attempting to make their mass produced car stick out, they install expensive stereo systems to announce their arrival several minutes in advance of actually showing up. And these people look on in envy as my dog and I roll nonchalantly past.

It will be perfect no matter what you do to it because it's your dream. I'd just ask you to consider how terribly cool an old Jeep with a bit of panache that's you really is.

 

Thanks Windyhill, That's a lot of good advice. But I don't think I can go 5 years with out useing it. I plan on having fun with while I work on it. Oh, also, I got my CJ5 from my Pop who had it on the road back in the 70s. So I think it's safe to invest in it. Thanks for the concern ib4classics. Thanks Again, Old F-Head