Alright folks.. heres a head scratcher.. what is this CJ!?

[JaredTowne]

the price was right.. so i ended up with this.. trying to make sense of the situation..

Was told its a "CJ5 " . thats all.. previous owner didnt really know anything, young kid, thought he was going to do some offroad project with it. never did.

registration just says 1970 jeep.

being a "vintage" jeep newb .. I knew nothing different other than it was a 70 CJ5 that needed alot of work.

Well after browsing the net and looking at all the information on here.. I realized I have a beaten stepchild of a few jeeps and a welder.

I am really just trying to figure out WHAT I have.

From what I can gather its a CJ5 front half tub.. CJ7 back half tub..

there is no vents on the front of the tub under the windshield, seems like all I see have these vents??

wheel base is roughly 80 or so inches

Dauntless Buick 225 V6 v6, T-15 tranny

the windshield has wipers on the bottom

ross steering system

I had the tub complete off and re-vamped the undersides with new mounts and supports.. I honostly never noticed the slice right down the middle.. I just assumed that rust holes had been repaired through the years.

I didnt even realize anything was odd untill I was mock-fitting body panels to begin outside bodywork.. I kept thinking.. dang this looks different that other 5's i see pictures of.. then the door shape finally sunk in..

Its not that I really mind.. I am not trying to do a "purest" jeep, but man its going to be irritating getting a top and doors to work.

the tub is solid,, i never would of guessed it was hacked.. theres a ton of old bondo and patches I am replacing.. but otherwise it is structurally there.

the other thing.. the front fenders are about 1" away from the tub. when i stripped it down the PO made some spacers that filled the gap. obviously these are not the correct fenders.. when bolted to the front clip they follow the lines of the hood perfect but miss connecting to the firewall by 1" or so.

.... .... theres my rant.. just cant figure out why someone would go through all the work of this? just for the U door shape? ..Theres nothing I can do about it now.. its mine.. Going to have to deal with it.

any and all input and advice or encouragement is appreciated

Heres some photos.. i sprayed some primer on the tag so you could read it better. .. and yes.. the confederate flag has to go... sorry southern boys.. somehow that flag flew all the way to upstate NY..

 

[JaredTowne]

one more..

 

[jdcaples]

According to my reading of

CJ5 - CJ6 Main Base Page

Vin Numbers for 1964 to 1971 CJ's (All)

83 = Universal CJ5
05 = Open Body
0 = Universal (Disregard)
1 = Left Hand Drive
7 = V6-225 with Emission

8th - 13th ###### SSN
(Sequential Serial Number)

I can't offer much more than that....

-Jon

 

[Posi]

I just read the title and looked at the pics didn't read your description, sorry if I missed something.
The vin tag is not original to that Jeep
Mid door opening forward its a 72-75 CJ5
Mid door rearward is 76-86 CJ7
Best I figure

 

[Posi]

Just went back and read your post
Looks like you have some late 60's 1970 parts under it as well.
The engine would be 65-71
The T-15 would be 72-75, are you sure of the tranny, could it be a T-14 that came stock behind a V6?
Ross steering 45-71
I see they cut an extra hole for the D-18 single stick
I like the sausage slots

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

the price was right.. so i ended up with this.. trying to make sense of the situation..

Was told its a "CJ5 " . thats all.. previous owner didnt really know anything, young kid, thought he was going to do some offroad project with it. never did.

registration just says 1970 jeep.

being a "vintage" jeep newb .. I knew nothing different other than it was a 70 CJ5 that needed alot of work.

Well after browsing the net and looking at all the information on here.. I realized I have a beaten stepchild of a few jeeps and a welder.

I am really just trying to figure out WHAT I have.

From what I can gather its a CJ5 front half tub.. CJ7 back half tub..

there is no vents on the front of the tub under the windshield, seems like all I see have these vents??

wheel base is roughly 80 or so inches

Dauntless Buick 225 V6 v6, T-15 tranny

the windshield has wipers on the bottom

ross steering system

I had the tub complete off and re-vamped the undersides with new mounts and supports.. I honostly never noticed the slice right down the middle.. I just assumed that rust holes had been repaired through the years.

I didnt even realize anything was odd untill I was mock-fitting body panels to begin outside bodywork.. I kept thinking.. dang this looks different that other 5's i see pictures of.. then the door shape finally sunk in..

Its not that I really mind.. I am not trying to do a "purest" jeep, but man its going to be irritating getting a top and doors to work.

the tub is solid,, i never would of guessed it was hacked.. theres a ton of old bondo and patches I am replacing.. but otherwise it is structurally there.

the other thing.. the front fenders are about 1" away from the tub. when i stripped it down the PO made some spacers that filled the gap. obviously these are not the correct fenders.. when bolted to the front clip they follow the lines of the hood perfect but miss connecting to the firewall by 1" or so.

.... .... theres my rant.. just cant figure out why someone would go through all the work of this? just for the U door shape? ..Theres nothing I can do about it now.. its mine.. Going to have to deal with it.

any and all input and advice or encouragement is appreciated

Heres some photos.. i sprayed some primer on the tag so you could read it better. .. and yes.. the confederate flag has to go... sorry southern boys.. somehow that flag flew all the way to upstate NY..

So is there a seem mid door that looks like he welded two tubs together?

My guess is it is a CJ7 Tub. The frame is probably from a CJ and the fenders are most likely CJ5 feders from the 70s which would have been shorter than later fenders and hoods. That would explain why there is a spacer between them and the body?

I have to say I don't envy you and I admire your courage buying a Jeep like this. Good luck breathing this thing back to life.

 

[duffer]

Stuff like this always makes me wonder as to the WHY? The only thing that comes to mind is that the person who did that couldn't manage the smaller door opening. Still, it looks like a doable project. That said, I'd be looking for a CJ5 tub to get things back to a more stock configuration.

A thought on the fenders: you could get a set for the 72-75 and either bolt them on as is with the corresponding longer hood and move the grill forward or just cut them down so they are the correct length for the existing positioning.

There used to be a good SN listing on Early CJ5 but I think that may have gone away with the server change there. The 3B Page also has a SN list but that one only goes to 67. The sequential number does appear about right for a 70.

 

[BradW]

Well, I'm not much help but can sympathize with you, my project started this year with a supposed 58 CJ5 . After giving it a good looking over it's a 78/79 frame, running gear, front fenders and hood with an early grill, windshied from 56, steering colum from a 69 Cadillac, and rear tub from a 58. It's going to look like a vintage 50's/60's CJ5 by the time I'm done with it though. Good luck with your project.

 

[rons75]

I think this is kinduva neat project, just make fenders to fit and drive the wheels off it!!

 

[JaredTowne]

thanks for all the thoughts guys..

yes I am sure the tranny is a T-15 ,, it is cast on the casing on passenger side of tranny. .

Believe it or not, this thing ran and drove fine before I tore it apart. I have no intentions of "restoring" it. I am just making it "mine" . the front fenders are fiberglass so I am thinking about just glassing them longer to fill the void, rather than have spacers. the tub has absolutely been chopped and welded. it was done well, but I have found the seem mid-door.

The tub in a whole has already been re-vamped underneath.. I just have a few more sections to cut out and weld in on the outside.. and lots of old bondo to remove. seems they put a coat of bondo on the entire thing, even where the metal is good and theres no dents? .. doesnt make any sense to me.

the pictures dont show it.. but I do have everything to this jeep, dash, gauges, rollbar, seats, windshield, soft top frame, etc.. its all there.

Either way.. like i said.. its mine now..

Hopefully all you guys can help me figure stuff out along the way. its nice to have access to people who know way more about certain things than yourself.

all my to-do list is.. bodywork. (minimal - just making it all solid with no holes.. do not care about dents and dings) .. re-vamp brakes, new tires, and re-wire everything. then I am just going to drive the heck out of it.

maybe someday I will stumble across an appropriate tub.. till then.. I will just be the oddball driving the mutt jeep.

 

[Only in a Jeep CJ]

I just skimmed the pictures, but it looks like an early 70s CJ5 frame and tub cowl/front, a 82 to 86 CJ7 rear tub, a 72 to 80 hood, and pre 72 fenders. The door transition at the middle lower seal is horrible as one is a 45 degree slope and the other is a 90 degree (new vs old). Even if this frankingheap was free, Id sell or toss it and start with a better foundation, but what do I know.

 

[JaredTowne]

I just skimmed the pictures, but it looks like an early 70s CJ5 frame and tub cowl/front, a 82 to 86 CJ7 rear tub, a 72 to 80 hood, and pre 72 fenders. The door transition at the middle lower seal is horrible as one is a 45 degree slope and the other is a 90 degree (new vs old). Even if this frankingheap was free, Id sell or toss it and start with a better foundation, but what do I know.

Thanks for the encouragement..

The "foundation" in my mind is fine, the frame is solid with zero rust other than some scale here and there, has no repairs that I can find other then some cobbed shackles. it runs, drives. shifts. stops.

so really I dont want to scrap or get rid of it for some mismatched body panels.. you know?

A new tub isnt in the forecast.. and a used GOOD tub is like finding hens teeth i am finding out here in upstate NY.

I am unsure what you mean by the door transition slope? if you mean the curve of where the body comes in to form the "sill" of sorts.. the one that is more defined is the side i have started removing bondo.. they were bondo'd full for whatever reason.. the PO definatly had some motivation driving his obscure ideas.

I appreciate you clearing up the front end part confusion.. So what year fenders should I be after for a "true" fit?

I am not afraid of work.. which is why I took this challenge on before I even knew it was a botched body. definatly not the first time i've had to work steel to make what I want.

I do appreciate your actual quality information hidden behind the snide comments. Seriously.

Almost felt like I posted on the wrong forum and was at pirate4x

 

[JaredTowne]

I just skimmed the pictures, but it looks like an early 70s CJ5 frame and tub cowl/front, a 82 to 86 CJ7 rear tub, a 72 to 80 hood, and pre 72 fenders. The door transition at the middle lower seal is horrible as one is a 45 degree slope and the other is a 90 degree (new vs old). Even if this frankingheap was free, Id sell or toss it and start with a better foundation, but what do I know.

I think I get what your saying now about the door transition. was the 5 a 90 and the 7 a 45?

so i'd either have to form it all a 45 or 90.

 

[mtnwhlr]

I do appreciate your actual quality information hidden behind the snide comments. Seriously.

Almost felt like I posted on the wrong forum and was at pirate4x

I hope they don't scare you off. I think we have alot of purists on here that just don't understand. What I've always loved about Jeeps is how you can build them in different ways to sout you and who cares what other people think. I for one am glad you are keeping it alive and making it yours. I think the biggest problem you are going to have is a top and doors and the top may not be that bad. I hope you keep posting your progress because I want to see how it comes out. I wish you good luck and may the force be with you.

 

[JaredTowne]

I hope they don't scare you off. I think we have alot of purists on here that just don't understand. What I've always loved about Jeeps is how you can build them in different ways to sout you and who cares what other people think. I for one am glad you are keeping it alive and making it yours. I think the biggest problem you are going to have is a top and doors and the top may not be that bad. I hope you keep posting your progress because I want to see how it comes out. I wish you good luck and may the force be with you.

Haha.. no sweat. There's one in every croud. I have friends like that. Full of good information but hate how they deliver it. Is what it is.

appreciate the words..

yeah the top and doors is absolutely going to be my hurdle. I am good at metal fab and welding, so hopefully I can see a vision of what it should be. If I need to reshape some body panels... no biggy.

 

[cdubz]

I think what that one post referred to was the windshield to door opening difference between early CJ5 's to CJ7 's.I believe early [pre 70] had a near vertical windshield,then they went to one with a "rake" as well as a narrowing towards the top.Then the door opening difference between the 5 and the 7.So you have to fab up doors to fit the 7 opening to mate with the old 5 windshield angle.

 

[Petescj]

Re: Alright folks.. heres a head scratcher.. what is this CJ!?q

Pirate 4x4 really? Post it there and see if you get one useful response. That Jeep is Frankenstiened for sure. That's just the truth. Most people wouldn't or couldn't put the time and/or money into it to get a clean fitting top and doors. If it were mine I'd be looking for a tub. CJ5 tubs are harder to find but not impossible. There's a place fairly close to you that advertises Cj parts galore all the time. CJ5 .com I think. The guy is on here as well. Member name is diamond Jim I believe. Good luck whatever way you go. I just want to follow along and see.

 

[jdcaples]

I met a man that used this

Repli-Tubs & Customizing To Fit Jeep Type | Willys Overland Motors

I didn't press him for price. He mentioned it nearly bankrupted him, but it was worth it because everything lined up properly; literally plug -n- play.


-Jon

 

[JaredTowne]

I am not defending thats it not cobbed. I said it myself if you read what the post actually says instead of the cliff notes.

I appreciate all input and help. what I dont appreciate is comments such as "scrap / sell whatever"

That is not helpful whatsoever .. I simply wanted to figure out what exactly I had so I could work on it accordingly.

I am not seeking approval, just knowledge of whats what.

I assume you've never been in the position where you had something you were working on and asked for help and someone just said "junk it" .

But it isnt exactly helpful or encouraging.

Thanks to everyone for all the quality info though. It really is helpful in trying to determine what makes up this frankenjeep.

 

[Petescj]

You asked for "any and all input". Your going to get people's opinion. Don't worry , I do read all the posts on this site.