Restoring Old Jeeps
JeffP
Senior Jeeper
- Posts
- 536
- Media
- 28
- Thanks
- 1
- Location
- Peoria, AZ
- Vehicle(s)
- '75 CJ5, 304, T18, D20, D44s w/3.73 1974 CJ5, 304, 4 spd., Dana axles 3.73 gears. 1973 CJ5, 258 I6, T18, Dana 20, Dana axles 4.27 gears. 1972 CJ5, 304, 4 Spd, Dana 20, 4.27 gears. 1976 CJ5, 304, T150. 1976 CJ5, 304, T150, J20 w/4.10 gears. 69 CJ5 Hurricane 4 cyl, 4spd all original! ‘53/‘54 M38a1 100% original but also 100% apart! Low 3 digit Vin! One of the very first m38a1s!
I’ve always had “a thing” for the older Jeeps, both military and the CJ series up thru CJ5 . While the CJ7 is more comfy & often more practical, it seems to have broken a long standing tradition.
What impresses me most is a nice unmolested Jeep or one that has been restored to what it was when new. Mods don’t impress me much.
Out of respect more than anything else, I’ve been buying up these old Jeeps and bringing them back from the brink of extinction. It’s actually enjoyable once they are stripped down of all the insane mods done to them over the decades.
Bolt on stuff doesn’t concern me as that is easily changed back to stock.
I have a huge advantage over most, being in Arizona. No rust to deal with! The guys restoring the rusted out ones are the heroes! Serious mods on those is fine since they were already gone and at least someone put the time & effort into keeping them alive a little bit longer. Putting them back to stock would be a waste of time & money.
It’s often tough not to make serious changes as it defeats the purpose I have in mind. One day I’ll build “my own”, just for me, and the rest of the world can pucker up then kiss my ****. For now, I’m just restoring & collecting parts for my dream Jeep.
I have a ‘76 that was a true garage find. 50k original miles with very few mods. That one already has a new home lined up... I just need to polish up a few details then it’s gone.
Getting back to “mine” that only exists in my head and a pile of parts. It will be a 72-75 CJ5 . Renegade package but with a 351w Ford engine, Ford T-18 , Dana 20 and Dana axles. I’m thinking as close to 3.0 gears as possible.
Pretty much stock configuration on the engine with extra attention to tolerances & balance. 4V intake, dual fuel... gas / lpg. Stock exhaust manifolds so
I can keep it reasonably quiet! PS, PB and a heater!
It will look nearly identical to my red or yellow 75 Jeeps, just haven’t decided on the color yet.
Anyway... everybody likes Jeeps! So If I can continue rebuilding a few that are just as they left the factory perhaps I can make a few dreams come true... “Imagine going back in time and being able to buy one of these new,”. Several of us have said that. I’m trying to make it happen. I’m finishing up on an even dozen so far! Maybe not a big deal but I’m making a dent in it.
What impresses me most is a nice unmolested Jeep or one that has been restored to what it was when new. Mods don’t impress me much.
Out of respect more than anything else, I’ve been buying up these old Jeeps and bringing them back from the brink of extinction. It’s actually enjoyable once they are stripped down of all the insane mods done to them over the decades.
Bolt on stuff doesn’t concern me as that is easily changed back to stock.
I have a huge advantage over most, being in Arizona. No rust to deal with! The guys restoring the rusted out ones are the heroes! Serious mods on those is fine since they were already gone and at least someone put the time & effort into keeping them alive a little bit longer. Putting them back to stock would be a waste of time & money.
It’s often tough not to make serious changes as it defeats the purpose I have in mind. One day I’ll build “my own”, just for me, and the rest of the world can pucker up then kiss my ****. For now, I’m just restoring & collecting parts for my dream Jeep.
I have a ‘76 that was a true garage find. 50k original miles with very few mods. That one already has a new home lined up... I just need to polish up a few details then it’s gone.
Getting back to “mine” that only exists in my head and a pile of parts. It will be a 72-75 CJ5 . Renegade package but with a 351w Ford engine, Ford T-18 , Dana 20 and Dana axles. I’m thinking as close to 3.0 gears as possible.
Pretty much stock configuration on the engine with extra attention to tolerances & balance. 4V intake, dual fuel... gas / lpg. Stock exhaust manifolds so
I can keep it reasonably quiet! PS, PB and a heater!
It will look nearly identical to my red or yellow 75 Jeeps, just haven’t decided on the color yet.
Anyway... everybody likes Jeeps! So If I can continue rebuilding a few that are just as they left the factory perhaps I can make a few dreams come true... “Imagine going back in time and being able to buy one of these new,”. Several of us have said that. I’m trying to make it happen. I’m finishing up on an even dozen so far! Maybe not a big deal but I’m making a dent in it.
