Need advice on CJ purchase

[spyther]

Hello everyone -- first time posting!


I have been looking around to purchase a project Willys Jeep to work on with my dad. I'm graduating NYU in May, and would like to do something with him, and learn more about auto mechanics along the way. I've owned a 2001 TJ and now I have a 2door JK, needless to say I love Jeeps.

I have been looking around for cheap Willys that I can actually afford, that don't need tremendous amounts of internal work (as in the are already running) and am looking forward to hopefully turning a CJ5 into an M38 look-alike. (Military history is my passion.) I know there are several differences, but as far I have studied, the early CJs are very similar overall to the M38/M38a1.

I recently stumbled across a project CJ5 on craigslist. The asking price is $1000 at this point. The person's daughter is selling it because her father is having open-heart surgery and can't finish his initial restoration. I am heavily interested, but want to educate myself as best as possible before any commitments. Could you guys help me? The daughter says its running, but the battery is most-likely dead, and it has a flat tire (may just need air.) In the pictures I was sent, visible replacement parts can be seen so obviously someone was restoring it at one point it seems. There is no rust externally or any real body damage as well.

I asked more detailed questions concerning the function of the key components. But seeing as this is not the true owner, I don't know if she really knows much -- I plan on checking it in person soon.

What are some of the key things I should look out for? Are there things that should make this purchase a no-go? Basically, what would you ask yourself or do? I want all the advice I can get.

Here are the pictures I've been sent so far:

 

[Thorwon]

Hello everyone -- first time posting!


I have been looking around to purchase a project Willys Jeep to work on with my dad. I'm graduating NYU in May, and would like to do something with him, and learn more about auto mechanics along the way. I've owned a 2001 TJ and now I have a 2door JK, needless to say I love Jeeps.

I have been looking around for cheap Willys that I can actually afford, that don't need tremendous amounts of internal work (as in the are already running) and am looking forward to hopefully turning a CJ5 into an M38 look-alike. (Military history is my passion.) I know there are several differences, but as far I have studied, the early CJs are very similar overall to the M38/M38a1.

I recently stumbled across a project CJ5 on craigslist. The asking price is $1000 at this point. The person's daughter is selling it because her father is having open-heart surgery and can't finish his initial restoration. I am heavily interested, but want to educate myself as best as possible before any commitments. Could you guys help me? The daughter says its running, but the battery is most-likely dead, and it has a flat tire (may just need air.) In the pictures I was sent, visible replacement parts can be seen so obviously someone was restoring it at one point it seems. There is no rust externally or any real body damage as well.

I asked more detailed questions concerning the function of the key components. But seeing as this is not the true owner, I don't know if she really knows much -- I plan on checking it in person soon.

What are some of the key things I should look out for? Are there things that should make this purchase a no-go? Basically, what would you ask yourself or do? I want all the advice I can get.

From the looks of it in the pics it's a very good starting place to build your M38 clone. That looks like a "F" head engine, they are nearly indestructible. If it'll start, shifts ok and doesn't smoke (nearly all of the "F" head engines smoke just a little), it sounds like a fair price.
Do you know what year it is?
I paid $900 for a 66 CJ5 with good tub, frame, engine, Transmission /tranf, Warn OD and axles. The tub needs floors replaced on both sides but the best thing is it has never had a welder or torch put to it.

 

[LongHorn]

:ww:to the site spyther. Good luck on your restomod M38-A1.
I hope you have a warm garage to work in. Look like solid starter.

 

[Petescj]

I take into account the tub and front clip look pretty clean. Its getting hard to find early Cj5s like that here on the East coast. Like Thor said the little 4 cyl. F-heads chug away , but their way underpowered for any kinda real highway driving. If your looking at making a M-38 clone it looks pretty solid . As long as your happy with around 90 h.p. it'll be fine.

 

[spyther]

I am going to try to take a look at it in person this weekend. (It's an hour away from me -- I'll need to figure out how to get it towed to my house if I do decide to buy it.) It seems like most people have told me to look out for Bondo. I believe it to be 1957 or 1958, the original ad expired so now I forget the exact date, I'll need to ask in email. I guess I will also need to bring a battery, seeing as how it doesn't have one. I really wish that tire wasn't flat, it's a lot of work on my end just to see if it'll move.

 

[LongHorn]

I am going to try to take a look at it in person this weekend. (It's an hour away from me -- I'll need to figure out how to get it towed to my house if I do decide to buy it.) It seems like most people have told me to look out for Bondo. I believe it to be 1957 or 1958, the original ad expired so now I forget the exact date, I'll need to ask in email. I guess I will also need to bring a battery, seeing as how it doesn't have one. I really wish that tire wasn't flat, it's a lot of work on my end just to see if it'll move.

Don't forget to look at the frame. especially near the spring mounts.
Look for rust & cracks.

 

[spyther]

Okay so I just received another email from the seller:

"New wheel cylinders
New master cylinder
New bell crank
New brake shoes
New fuel pump
new fuel tank
motor runs
battery probably dead ... sitting a while
12 voltframe is rust free
all parts should be there
75-80% of body work has been completed.
My father said this project should go easily ... he started this jeep many years ago with his grandson (who lost interest as he was nearing the age of 17) ..."

It's looking good, but the only thing that I need to really look out for especially is what she means by "75-80% of body work has been completed." Hopefully that doesn't signify tons of holes being filled, but for a jeep of this age I'd imagine it'd need some patching up.

 

[Petescj]

But you just might be on to one of those "finds" that you'll never forget. If its a good candidate after seeing it in person you 'll look back and say " All I had to do was swap in a battery and air up a tire to get her to move under her own power".

I will also need to bring a battery, seeing as how it doesn't have one. I really wish that tire wasn't flat, it's a lot of work on my end just to see if it'll move.

 

[LongHorn]

But you just might be on to one of those "finds" that you'll never forget. If its a good candidate after seeing it in person you 'll look back and say " All I had to do was swap in a battery and air up a tire to get her to move under her own power".

My $800.00 POS Started & drove home with a battery, a starter solenoid, air, a plug kit, 8 spark plugs, 9 wires, some carb cleaner & fresh gas.
Driving down my drive way(1/2 mile dirt road) A brake caliper bolt shears off & locked up the passenger side front tire. Had I been on the highway in a(aggie PO engineered) SOA, I could have easily been greasy side up.

 

[IOPort51]

"really wish that tire wasn't flat, it's a lot of work on my end just to see if it'll move."

should we tell him or let him find out for himself??

your right, let him find out for himself.


​

 

[Petescj]

See!! Fond memories.

My $800.00 POS Started & drove home with a battery, a starter solenoid, air, a plug kit, 8 spark plugs, 9 wires, some carb cleaner & fresh gas.
Driving down my drive way(1/2 mile dirt road) A brake caliper bolt shears off & locked up the passenger side front tire. Had I been on the highway in a(aggie PO engineered) SOA, I could have easily been greasy side up.

 

[spyther]

The fact that the wheel with the flat looks a heck of a lot smaller?

 

[IOPort51]

"really wish that tire wasn't flat, it's a lot of work on my end just to see if it'll move."​

should we tell him or let him find out for himself??​

your right, let him find out for himself.​

The fact that the wheel with the flat looks a heck of a lot smaller?

No, the work has just barely begun.


This thing looks cherry.
I say " go for it!!"