new find! advice.

okay so I may or may not have posted about my CJ2A that I acquired about 2 years ago. my dream vehicle but its way more work then I like (engine seized, rusted out etc) so I will look for another in a less sorry condition. will trade this one away

now, I have located another Jeep. its a cj5 with dauntless v6. it has a plow and hard top. I could argue this is similar to my CJ2A condition wise but atleast the dauntless is a low km engine. and the whole rig runs and drives.

please let me know your thoughts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j4SQH48hxc

originally my plans were just to use it as a bush runner. but, I would be interested in putting the time and effort into it to make it nice and respectable. this way it can see the road and the trails (not crazy stuff)

if any canucks around Toronto know of a good frame for a cj5 dauntless let me know!

 

Does it at least run?

My '60 had a lot of spring under it also.

You may be looking at a new body for it. Those planks under their will hold the moisture up against the metal and encourage extreme rusting.

The body on that one is straighter than the one on mine.

 

it runs fine. if I remember correct all the breaks were redone, the clutch also.
I am decent at welding so I probably can piece together the body. the frame is more my worry, in the video you can see the transmission crossmember is cracked.

I think allot of spring is bad but I dont know much lol.

I wouldnt keep the plow, take all that off and sell it if their is a market for it? or just scrap it

 

Frame definitely isn't mint by any means and without seeing it in person it's hard to say 100% but it doesn't look all that bad either considering. The trans cross member looks like the bolts up into the frame broke on the side with the strap and that was a quick fix to get it back mobile again. Haven't seen a lot of CJ-5 frames come up for sale but there must be some out there. I know a guy who knows a guy that might know where to find one . Too bad it's not a CJ-7, one of those I've got .
The plow might be worth a couple of hundred to the right person as it does have the power angle.

 

this actually may be a good point to ask this question.
can a M38A1 frame work? I know where to get one of them.

I am still going to pursue the purchase, I can weld up some fixes to the cross member. if I can find a good frame then I think I would restore it. untill then I may just use it and get a good summers worth of fun.

maybe you guys can help by keeping your eyes peeled for a frame. so if your lead has a frame priced right, I would be interested
I am a student well 20 but university kills any sort of budget, should be interesting!

 

let me just say "low milege" doesnt mean anything on old jeeps. especially a plow jeep. bet on the tranny needing help

 

100% agree with you on that.
atleast I know the engine "should" be alright.

 

Yes. Basically a bolt on for the other components with a little heavier frame. Some don't have a center mount for the grill, some do, so something to watch for. The front will have a shackle reversal from the factory (front shackles in the rear of the spring) whereas only the earliest CJ's were that way due to the factory using leftover military frames. You would need to transfer the motor mounts and other V-6 specific items over to the military frame. There may be some other small differences but nothing that can't be overcome.

 

Search craigslist often there is always parts on there.

 

Plus, they usually have a machine gun mount. Big plus!

 

Now what would a machine gun mount look like, just an extra crossmember? Or a big steel plate thingie?

Mine has the shackle reversal and just the one body mount on the drivers side, but that's about it.

 

It's a plate under the back floor, supported by a crossmember.

 

I found a frame for 250 all redone but to far !
questions about the dauntless does it have hardened valves to run unleaded?
or is it like my 2a it needs lead additive.

 

That seems about right, all the best deals are always too far away .
Unless someone has replaced the valve seats they won't be unleaded compatible.

 

okay but lets say.... be it crazy, if I had picked this cj5 up for $300
and used it as a bush runner. I think that would be decent.

but yes, I agree I should find something in better condition.
in that case, I would hunt for a better cj2a or m38 etc etc

will see what comes up.

 

I gotta tell ya... If I ran across a early cj5 in running condition for 300 bucks, I would snap it up.
Then I would worry about the hell I'll catch from the wife - although usually anything that keeps me outa her hair is ok.

 

X2, you can always find parts you need off it and can also make a brush runner in the mean time.