Build Thread My 76 CJ-5 restoration project.

[jeepjerry]

I got my CJ5 when i was 16 years old. It was mint green in color and originally white. Came with a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l and T-18 Transmission . I cant find pics of it when i first got it. I daily drove a 85 AMC eagle wagon so i worked on the CJ on my spare time. I did some patch work to the body sides and floors, primered the repaired spots and put a 4" lift kit on it that i bought used for $75. One day the eagle decided to drop a cylinder mechanically so i started driving the CJ every day throughout my Junior year in high school. My dad and I painted it on the summer before my senior year and i have a pic from my senior pictures of it. 3 months after painting it, i hit a deer on my way home from work. It messed up the drivers side fender pretty good and bent the bumper. I tried building up the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l with a 4 barrel intake, cam, and headers. It ran pretty good and sounded cool, but an 18 year old always wants more power. While i went to tech college i swapped in an AMC 360 from a J-10 pickup. I did some add ons to that which included a 4 barrel offy intake, cam, and fenderwell headers. The Jeep was a riot to drive after that!!! I often had people try to race me at stop lights and i never lost...lol. It turned into a weekend cruiser after the V-8 but i still drove it a lot. Used it for off roading a few times, had switched from 33" to 35" tires over the years, but it never let me down. Almost 2 years ago i noticed the body rot had came back and taken its toll. I found and bought an unfinished 78 CJ project that somebody had with a new Omix steel tub and a bunch of other stuff then decided to tear them both down and restore mine. Its coming together....slowly. Just about everything is new/restored. I built a new .040" over 360 that should have over 300 hp......yeah i still like the power...lol! Its been upgraded to 4 wheel disc brakes as well. The pics will explain a lot.

Thanks for reading!...








Getting rusty and time for tear down.



Donor project i bought. It was a 78 CJ7 that had a rotted frame that got shortened for the CJ5 body but just wasnt right.

 

[jeepjerry]

Tore them both apart, blasted and painted my solid frame, and did the body work.

 

[mtnwhlr]

Looks like its comming along very nice.

 

[TroyaCantrell]

Very nice!

 

[jeepjerry]

Thanks! Im hoping to be driving it once again this spring.

 

[BlkCJ7Laredo]

Looks like it's coming along well! I can't wait until I get my CJ to the point where I'm going back together instead of coming apart!

 

[RVA76CJ5]

Looks great! Im 15 and bought my first car a 76 CJ5 with a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l a few months ago. Would you mind if i asked you for help if i ever need any?

 

[Germy]

Awesome read, great looking project!

 

[Gunner Actual]

That looks great!! Glad to see another CJ with a 360. Couple of questions. What brand did you use for the bedliner? Did you rotor and bottom bedliner? If so, about what was the cost? I ask because I'm setting everything up and I'm gonna redo my body, and I think I'm leaning towards rhino lining or linexing the inside and bottom.

Have you noticed very much of a problem with having those heavy full length headers on there? When I put mine on, I've always anticipated they would flex or something under a jump or something.

Love the read! I'm subscribing.