Need an opinion on my Jeep

[WolfSpring]

I woul like to hear some opionions, ideas, pros and cons on what could, or what you might do with my Jeep. It's a 1959 Willys CJ with a Renegade body a 302 V8 1965 Mustang engine 32" tires Saginaw steering Automatic Transmission (C4 something with Overdrive ) and it is far from stock with a Chevy Blazer back seat for the front seat and a Jeep commando seat for the back.

What I want to do is get a better paint job, clean up the rust, fix up the instrument panel and wiring get new tires, put a sparetire, Jack and Gas can on the back and a wench on the front. A lot of people are asking me if I'm going to try and restore it and how much money it will be worth, but thats a lot of money, a lot of work and a lot of time. I bought it for the pure joy of owning and using a Jeep, I caught the bug... I enjoy just riding around with the top down, minor dirt roads so far.

So, would you restore it? Modernize it? Just roll with what you got with some minor cosmetic repairs? Thanks in advance for any input, oh and I"m a noob to both Jeeps and car repairs, so this is a learning experience for me.

 

[mylittlecj5]

Just my opinion, but you would have a heck of a time "restoring" that Jeep. And by "restoring" I mean bring back to at least showroom stock equipped and condition, not "stuff added in because I can."
Seems like you have a good setup to start with to customize and personalize, tho! I'd just take what you have, make a list of what it needs, to do what you need (you already have a good start on that), then work towards that end.
Wheel it a few times, enjoy it for a while, then start modifying your list to make it even better...Soon you will have a CJ you can be proud to say "I built it for me!"

And forget about net worth at the end...Its rare to get what you have invested in it back out of it (IF) you ever sell it!

 

[CJKrawler]

Wolf, I think that you will find your mind changes regularly on what you want to do with it. You will find that evrything you are asking about is what people have decided was what they wanted to do. Due to the fact that you are new to Jeeps, I would fix anything mechanical that may be wrong, and just enjoy the Jeep for a little while. Your own personal direction will come to you, and you will know what you want to do with this Jeep, and how you will approach your next Jeep.

 

[BajaEdition]

you already are way into it
the drive train is so far past restore, just go for it
brakes need to be modernized etc
Just go for it

we are by no mean purist on this site, and recognize that many features on a jeep were inadequate at the time and scary by now. So, go for it

 

[Kane]

Resto-mod. Clean up what you can. Keep it looking stockish. Mod what you need and enjoy the ride for what it is.

 

[WolfSpring]

Thanks for the input I'm really looking forward to getting this baby a little better in the next two months, gotta deploy for a bit, but when I come back all that extra money is going to go into some new tires and some minor fixing up.

 

[Vvajk]

Just because it's too jumbled up in changes and other things to restore it, doesn't mean you can't drive something around that looks nice and that you can be proud to own. If I were in you're situation here's what I'd do: First of all make it as mechanically sound as you can. Brakes, wiring, fuel system, drivetrain, engine, etc. It doesn't have to be a Sherman Tank, just reliable and capable. Then I would start restoring the body. By restore, I don't mean back to original specs. I mean clean up the rust, replace bad panels, new paint, (even a sloppy DYI job ). You can add the after market stuff you want, winch, bumpers, seats, new instruments . . . whatever tickles you're fancy. Add new tires and wheels,. . . . a lift if that's your style.

When you're finished, it might not be a "restored" classic worthy of a car show, but it will be your own, unique, one-of-a-kind Jeep. And that's what is going to make you the happiest in the end. In my opinion, a Jeep is never "finished" it's a life long project of doing this and that and the other over time.

I'm in the same boat sort of. Newbie mechanic using the old Jeep to learn a thing or two. Good Luck with yours!

 

[Old Dog]

I agree with everyone else so far. Someone has already changed the drivetrain, so you might as well enjoy the jeep for what it is. Just get it safe to drive first and than fix the body as needed and enjoy. Save things as lifts and other little goodies till you drive it for a while so you know what you really want, no since in doing things twice because you change your mind.