Need some CJ6 advice.....

Hi all, first post here!

I have found a 61 CJ6 with a Perkins diesel which I'm pretty interested in. I'm told that it has the original motor. The body is pretty solid except for the driver side floor and a few other areas. I understand that the motor needs to be rebuilt. 41K on odo. It has an after market soft top and otherwise looks unmolested and quite complete. Frame looks great from what I saw of it.

Tomorrow I'm going back for a second look (he will pull it out of the snow bank) so I can have a careful look at the whole picture. He may even put it up on the lift for me.

My question is how uncommon is a 6 with a Perkins (I see 23 were made in 61)? Are there any other survivors you guys know of?

This translates into what it's worth monitarily. Do you guys have any advice as to what I should offer? The seller mentioned $2,800.00 which I think is quite high.

My intent is to preserve something fairly uncommon. This poor thing is just sitting out there in the elements for gods sake. I see plenty of examples of his handiwork in his garage which involves some invasive modifications. I'd like to save this one from such a fate.

I know this will be a long road (I did a frame off on a M38A1 10 years ago).

I'd be grateful for any suggestions and wisdom for you fellas! Thank you.

Peter

 

Thanks Mike!

I'll get some pics up here tomorrow after I check it out more thoroughly.

What I want is something for getting around town here....trips to the grain store and bringing it on vacation and using a little on the farm here. I'm not so much into off roading much anymore. I also miss the hobby and now have time to get back into it.

For certain, the body had to come off. The driver floor is already patched, spare tire area will need to be cut out and carrier replaced. There is some old body damage below the stamped JEEP on the drivers side which rusted through. By no means a basket case.

I've owned a diesel Scout II which I adored. It was a long time ago...I miss having a diesel.

 

I don't think 2800 is unrealistic. I'd wonder why the motor needs rebuilding though as that diesel makes it somewhat unique. Is it frozen up? They're not as easy to find parts for as the other engines.

If I was in the market I'd not hesitate too much at that price.

 

Not impossible I'm sure, but certianly not as easy as buick or L/F heads engines. I wouldn't be afraid of it due to that. Would just have to find a good source and hold onto him

 

Or here is a link to a Diesel Scout.

http://littlerock.craigslist.org/cto/2141907860.html

 

You're probably right Sparky. The key is finding the right place...


So are there pics of this thing yet?

 

Quick Google search of the Perkins 4.192 showed a plethora of parts available, and none of it terribly expensive. Bearings, pistons, water pumps, glow plugs, complete shop manuals, all kinds of stuff. That basic series of engine was used for years in Massey Ferguson equipment among others. Shouldn't be hard at all to find rebuild parts, and any decent diesel mechanic should be able to whip out a rebuild in a jiffy.

Here's the build thread of Maximus78's Perkins-powered CJ5. Haven't seen him around in a while though. http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55767&highlight=perkins

 

Hey there kind folks;

Just as anxious to check her out as you guys are to see the pics. Not headed out there until tomorrow AM. I'll have something by this time tomorrow.

It would seem that I landed in the right place....so many helpful tips. I'm grateful.

Insofar as the motor, seems I'm headed to Massey or the boaters fold for parts. Not sure if I'll tackle the motor rebuild myself, I'll have to see.

So what are my options for the front floor, can you suggest someone who carries the best replacement panel? Not too worried about that aside from the Perkins.

 

If the only real rust is some on the front floor then that sounds like one heck of a find. For the east coast there usually rusted threw on the supports under the floors, rear pass. side behind tire carrier, and at the mounts in the back under each light. Bodies are flat sheep metal for the most part and Jeep panels plus is in you neck of the woods and makes good body parts. Classic enterprises also make top notch parts. From what your describing and the fact that it's a perkins diesel CJ6 I think you fond one heck of a find! I'd be all over it for $2500 Of coarse if it's sitting in a snow bank and needs an engine I'd offer $1500 first!

 

1st why can't i find these near iowa
2800 is not a bad price at all, my guess is he would take 2500
Perkins were used in a lot of tractors, but most of the time they were different than what was put in autos. Internally they would be very close. Why would the engine be dead? I would remove the fuel and start fresh, might have had some gas dumped down by mistake. see an old truck driver do it, so it can happen to anyone.

 

OK, I spent a good hour sizing up this project. The seller was kind enough to tow it out of the snow and pull up the front end with the tow truck.

First the good;
- The frame is in great shape with just the rear crossmember needing attention (bent).
-Steering seems fine, not too much slop
-It's very complete and unmolested, just the soft top and gun rack on dash are not original. Throttle linkage is there and works, all the cables and controls for the diesel are there and appear to work.
-I thought the body would reveal more rot. The two front floor panels and the drivers side panel need to be replaced. The toolbox floor is weak as well as the main section of the rear floor panel. The driver side hat channels will also need to be replaced.
-Riser looks to be in pretty good shape.
-No missing angle supports and they look to be in fine shape.
-It was surely delivered with a Perkins (based upon the serial number)
-The springs appear to be in good condition. They have 10 leafed. I believe they were replaced at some point.

The pass side is in pretty good shape with just the spare tire mount area being rotted.


The pass side hat channels are pretty good as well as the body mounts.


Here is the spare tire area needing repair


Now here is some strangeness, notice the stamping. Didn't notice this the first time I looked at it. I suppose someone had an accident sometime in the 70's and replaced this panel with a factory part. Luckily the panel needs replacing anyway.


I'll post more later today. I'm very interested in hearing your thoughts.

Peter

 

It's not in your driveway yet?

 

Not too bad I say. Will definately take some work, but not too bad. What's the skinny on the motor? Why does it need to be rebuilt. All I see there is negotiation fodder

 

Yes, the stamping is circa '72-73. Panel replacement may have something to do with the more advanced rot on that side.

I wonder why the strapping is pulling away from the bottom of the frame. Maybe rust between the strap and frame? The strapping is characteristic of CJ-6s.

I'd buy it, even though I need another project like I need a hole in the head. The Perkins is way cool ... you won't win any races with it though. I've only seen one Perkins Jeep of the many Jeeps that I saw back in the day. Supposedly you could run them up against a building, let the engine idle, put them in gear and they would not stall. Instead, the tires would grind against the pavement. Maybe apocryphal, but you get a lot more tractor with the Perkins diesel.

I also wonder it they all came with a T-98? Somehow I suspect that they did.