r686st Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 I'm looking for information and advice. I'm interested a 1983 with a 6 cylinder and manual transmission. Can you give me common problem areas to look for while inspecting? It doesn't seem to have a top, doors and one tail light. He is asking 3K. What is a price range for a non restored model? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack mhe9 Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Steering box frame bracket. Rust in side the frame rails Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-315324 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason O Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Make sure the body is solid, and not a Bondo-Buggy with a nice looking coat of paint. Ditto with what MHE9 says. look at the frame all around, paying close attention to where the shackles mount at the rear. CJ frames are boxed, so mud and dirt collects inside and promotes corrosion. The light duty 4 and 5 speeds tend to jump out of gear when worn out. Test each gear, both under acceleration, and downshifting/ compression braking to see if the transmission holds. The 258 I-6 is a solid, reliable engine. Northeast winters were rough on old Jeeps, hopefully you do better finding a solid one down there!Good luck Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-315373 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddog13407 Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 yup,the northeast kills jeeps, under the doors in the body and where the shackles bolt to the frame always rot off. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-315375 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 May I ask, are you interested in this CJ5 in particular, or any CJ5? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-315491 Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearhead204 Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 as the Jeep owners have always told me Jeep stands for ......Just Empty Every Pocket Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-315503 Share on other sites More sharing options...
41chevy Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 How close was it to the Katrina "high water" ? Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-315515 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gmerrill0516 Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 Rust is the enemy for sure. The frames rot out big time. Look for fresh paint and gobs of weld where patches may have been applied. The front foot wells rot out as do the rear tub corners and the sides below the front corners of the doors and the front fenders appear to be a common place to rot. If it has fresh paint, be afraid as well, unless they have detailed project photos showing the work in detail. $3000 for one in good shape is a good deal in New England...real good if its in decent shape. Get under it with a good light and study it all. If you just kick the tires, you will kick yourself later!Good luck.Greg 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-315518 Share on other sites More sharing options...
r686st Posted December 23, 2015 Author Share Posted December 23, 2015 The jeep wasn't flooded due to Katrina it came from Colorado. I'm interested in CJ5's in general I'm not dead set on this one. Thanks for all the advice. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-317078 Share on other sites More sharing options...
m16ty Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 As others have stated look for rust, then look for more rust. CJ5s are bad about rusting. I've seen a lot of them that looked really good from the outside but when you crawl up under them, you'd be scared they would break in half before you made it out of the parking lot.I've got a '74 CJ5 that I love. It was in a local flood we had here back in 2010 but I knew that going in. I got it cheap but have done a ton of work on it to get it like I wanted. Frame has zero rust but I did have to patch some rusty body places. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-317094 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ranchhopper Posted December 23, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2015 I like the old flat fender jeep I took an old 49 CJ3A and restored it and turned it into this I call it a M38 clone when I disassembled it turns out someone used an old rare surrey jeep tub on it. 4 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-317102 Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_martell Posted December 25, 2015 Share Posted December 25, 2015 258 I6 are THE BEST.....had one in my 88 YJ.....once you got em running they were solid torque monsters....still got a carb rebuild kit in the basement for it.....took me so damn long to find it, and never got to put it in..... 1 Quote Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.... Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-317290 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack mhe9 Posted December 25, 2015 Share Posted December 25, 2015 Nice Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-317357 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted December 25, 2015 Share Posted December 25, 2015 CJ4 i want one....might be looking myself for a 4 or 5...dont wanna go much higher than 4 or 5 Gs.dont really expect much for that.price...just has to be running good.bob Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-317392 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack mhe9 Posted December 25, 2015 Share Posted December 25, 2015 4 ? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-317403 Share on other sites More sharing options...
m16ty Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 Good luck finding a CJ4. They never went past the prototype stage. I did see one in a magazine awhile back that is supposedly the only one in existence. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-317475 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted December 27, 2015 Share Posted December 27, 2015 The jeep wasn't flooded due to Katrina it came from Colorado. I'm interested in CJ5's in general I'm not dead set on this one. Thanks for all the advice. There are several ways to look at this. Many view the 304 cu.in. V-8-powered CJ-5 as the ultimate version.But then you have to decide body tub styles, early 1970s (basically the M38A1 tub) versus the later revised (simplified) CJ-7 style tub.A 4-speed transmission was an available option, making the V-8/4-speed (T18) arguably the ultimate CJ-5.And again, it all depends on what you feel like. A second generation V-8 powered Jeep Commando (C104) was/is quite a truck.If comfort is important, the longer wheelbase CJ-7 might be worth consideration. It inherently won't rock as much front to back, so you won't necessarily be looking for a bathroom as often as with a CJ-5.Fast forwarding to the present, it doesn't get any better than AEV's JK Wrangler and Brute pickup.http://www.aev-conversions.com/vehicles/jk-wranglerhttp://www.aev-conversions.com/vehicles/brute-double-cabAEV is an OEM supplier to Toledo (FCA), and their factory-like modified Jeep products enjoy a full Jeep factory warranty. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-317614 Share on other sites More sharing options...
m16ty Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 Here's a pic of my '74 CJ5. 232 engine, three speed. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-317657 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 Real Jeeps (not the ones on Mitsubishi and Alfa Romeo platforms)If I could only buy a Cherokee Chief today.http://www.caranddriver.com/flipbook/nothing-more-nothing-less-sweet-photos-of-old-jeeps#1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43063-jeep-cj5-buying-advice/#findComment-319392 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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