My first 4x4 was a Jeep CJ-5, but it is long gone. At some point last year I realized that I wanted another CJ-5. I’m not sure why since the CJ-5 isn’t everyone’s favorite Jeep. Flatfender guys hate it for its round fenders, CJ-7 guys hate it for its annoying door hump you have to climb over, YJ and TJ guys dislike the short wheelbase and less-than-plush ride, and JK guys just think it’s old. But I wanted one again, so I found the perfect CJ-5 for me. This is how I found it, buried under a bunch of garbage and stuff in the backyard of a guy whom some would call a treasure hunter, others a hoarder. It hadn’t run in years, but that’s OK, neither have I.This is how I found it, buried under a bunch of garbage and stuff in the backyard of a guy I had told a good buddy, Dave, that I was looking for one, and he mentioned a character that might have some Jeeps for sale. This guy owned a piece of property that Editor Péwé would likely refer to as a gold mine, but his neighbors and the local township call it an eyesore and started bugging him to clean it up. Luckily a couple of suckers (Dave and I) showed up and gave him some cash to drag away two old CJ-5s. Dave got a ’50s 5, and I came home with this beauty, built the same month and year I was born, January 1973. I had the Jeep for a few weeks and was rounding up parts to make it a runner. I called the guys from Quadratec, the giant Jeep parts house in Pennsylvania—my home state. They told me about a bunch of cool events going on in Pennsylvania that summer, and before long a plan was hatched, like a crazy harebrained chicken. I would drive the CJ-5 to PA and go Jeeping with the Quadratec crew at an event just a month after our nutty plan was hatched. There was plenty to do to bring the CJ5 from junkyard find to roadtrip ready. Under the hood was a rat’s nest, and I don’t mean that as a metaphor. I mean that as a place where a big mean ugly rat eats, sleeps, and poops—poops a lot.Under the hood was a rat’s nest, and I don’t mean that as a metaphor. I mean that as a pla Even though the Jeep had sat long enough for a small garden to grow under the hood and 4 inches of dirt, leaves, trash and rat feces to accumulate in the tub, I found everything clean inside the air filter. The rodent was likely too fat to crawl in the air cleaner. Lucky me.Even though the Jeep had sat long enough for a small garden to grow under the hood and 4 i I drug the Jeep home and cleaned it out with a shovel, then a hose, then a pressure washer, then a steam cleaner. Next I put a new Optima YellowTop under the hood, and, wonder of wonders, it started with some gas down the carburetor.I drug the Jeep home and cleaned it out with a shovel, then a hose, then a pressure washer I figured it was ready for a spin, so I filled the tank with fuel and changed the filters and hoses and was able to drive it around. I was quite proud of my purchase, and then I saw my investment depreciating as $4 gas poured out the bottom of the tank. I had found why the Jeep was parked for years: a rusty, porous fuel tank. I ordered a replacement from The Off-Road Connection, but am still looking for a heavy-duty skidplate.I figured it was ready for a spin, so I filled the tank with fuel and changed the filters About this time I was given a windshield frame from my boss, Pewe, so I called up Quadratec and ordered a windshield glass and gasket. I have installed two Jeep CJ-5 windshields in my life, one I cracked on install, one I didn’t. This is the one I cracked.About this time I was given a windshield frame from my boss, Pewe, so I called up Quadrate I decided a new set of off-road lights was in order since the factory headlights need all the help they can get. What better than some small lights from KC HiLites? The KCs have that classic look and are just 5 inches, so they don’t look overdone on the old Jeep.I decided a new set of off-road lights was in order since the factory headlights need all Here is where I got sneaky, the 5-inch KCs are actually HIDs. I hid the remote ballasts on the inner fenderwell and wired the lights to an old toggle on the dash, resulting in a look unassuming by day and bright as day at night.Here is where I got sneaky, the 5-inch KCs are actually HIDs. I hid the remote ballasts on I have a handful of different project vehicles, but the CJ-5 is going to stay as close to stock as possible. The KC lights were one upgrade for off-road; the other is this used Warn 8274 winch. An 8274 is one of my favorite winches ever made, and it just looks right on an old Jeep, and it will pull hard with 150 feet of steel cable. I modified the Warn mount for the KC lights to shine through.I have a handful of different project vehicles, but the CJ-5 is going to stay as close to With the important stuff like winch and lights sorted out, I decided that making the Jeep run and drive would be next on the list. The front axle bearings were packed and new axle U-joints installed since one was clanking apart. Removing the 38-year-old spindle was a chore.With the important stuff like winch and lights sorted out, I decided that making the Jeep The factory lights of the CJ were in rough shape, but when I replaced bulbs and patched some frayed wires everything started to work again.The factory lights of the CJ were in rough shape, but when I replaced bulbs and patched so One taillight had some old aluminum foil inside as a reflector; I replaced it with new foil.One taillight had some old aluminum foil inside as a reflector; I replaced it with new foi Cooling is an important consideration on a trip across the U.S. in mid August, so I sourced a new water pump from Quadratec. The old impeller was partially rusted away.Cooling is an important consideration on a trip across the U.S. in mid August, so I source The original four-blade fan was also replaced with a Quadratec part when I found a few small cracks around the bolt holes. It may have been fine, but I didn’t want to chance the fan coming apart at highway speeds.The original four-blade fan was also replaced with a Quadratec part when I found a few sma The stock radiator had seen better days, so I called a local radiator shop about sprucing it up. Upon arrival they suggested building a new one. Brassworks/FlowKooler makes performance waterpumps, and high-end brass radiators for luxury car restorations. They are exploring the off-road market and used my old radiator as a template.The stock radiator had seen better days, so I called a local radiator shop about sprucing A brass and copper radiator can actually dissipate more heat than an aluminum one. Sure, it’s heavier, but weight is not a concern when cooling an iron-block inline-six. The new radiator is three-core and should easily cool the old 258ci on hot days.A brass and copper radiator can actually dissipate more heat than an aluminum one. Sure, i I installed the radiator without a fan shroud, but will be returning for one after the trip. I also added a small fan spacer to clear the blade from the new belts, but not get too close to the radiator.I installed the radiator without a fan shroud, but will be returning for one after the tri The thermostat housing had a bad leak that I assumed was the gasket. I replaced it and filled the whole system, and it still leaked. It took two more tries before I finally found the small crack in the casting, and I replaced the whole piece with a parts store import.The thermostat housing had a bad leak that I assumed was the gasket. I replaced it and fil Next, every zerk fitting was filled with new grease. All the steering, driveshaft, and pedal pivot points were filled with new lube.Next, every zerk fitting was filled with new grease. All the steering, driveshaft, and ped Every bit of oil was replaced in the old Jeep. Axles (Dana 44 rear, Dana 30 front), gearboxes (T-14 three-speed and Spicer 20 transfer case), and engine (258 straight-six). The steering and brakes are all manual.Every bit of oil was replaced in the old Jeep. Axles (Dana 44 rear, Dana 30 front), gearbo The engine had two issues that I didn’t get completely fixed before I left and would haunt me on my trip. One was an exhaust leak at the base of the intake manifold. I tried to seal it with various high-temperature sealants, but none worked. The other was the valve cover gasket that I ran out of time to fix before leaving.The engine had two issues that I didn’t get completely fixed before I left and would haunt A new exhaust system from Quadratec should have been an easy install, but a rusty bolt broke off at the exhaust manifold, resulting in two days of heating, beating, cursing, drilling, and screaming. I finally drilled it out and replaced it with a bolt and nut.A new exhaust system from Quadratec should have been an easy install, but a rusty bolt bro With the drivetrain coming together I opted to upgrade the interior for my overland adventure. First, the seats were covered with Bestop seat covers to match my old Bestop bikini top. Though old and battered, the new seats weren’t worn out, just worn. The covers made them presentable for my cross-country adventure.With the drivetrain coming together I opted to upgrade the interior for my overland advent There is nothing wrong with driving an open 4x4 across America, but security can be an issue. I sourced some Tuffy Security boxes for keeping my stuff mine and giving me a place to stash papers that could blow out while cruising down the road. The big box is a center console, the midsize one attaches under the hood for tools, and the small one is an underseat drawer for registration and insurance cards.There is nothing wrong with driving an open 4x4 across America, but security can be an iss This was the Jeep two days prior to leaving to drive across America. The wiring was 99 percent original and marginal at best, the speedo was the only gauges that worked, the alternator was old, the brakes and steering had been given just a look over but no new bits, and the most I had driven it was around the block a few times and never at highway speeds. Next month: CA to PA in a CJ—will I be driving or walking?This was the Jeep two days prior to leaving to drive across America. The wiring was 99 per SOURCES Bestop P.O. Box 307 Broomfield CO 80038 800-845-3567 www.bestop.com Optima Batteries, Inc. 5757 N. Green Bay Ave. Milwaukee WI 53209 8-88/-867-8462 www.optimabatteries.com Quadratec 1028 Saunders Court West Chester PA 19380 800-745-2348 www.quadratec.com The Offroad Connection 1417 Decatur Hwy. Fultondale AL 35068 800-792-2280 www.offrdconnection.com Warn Industries 12900 S.E. Capps Road Clackamas OR 97015 800-910-1122 www.warn.com Tuffy Security Products 970-564-1762 http://www.tuffyproducts.com KC Hilites P.O. Box 155 Williams AZ 86046 928-635-2486 www.kchilites.com Brassworks/FlowKooler N/A www.thebrassworks.net By Fred Williams Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
emilio73 1/31/2012 at 5:25 PM great find on lemon pie. i to have a 1980 cj5 that i an starting to bring back to life those little jeeps are alot of fun and cant wait to get mine on the road. myself my 12 year old son and my 9 year daughter are doing all the work while mommie supervises.
