Old Jeeps...CJ5 or CJ7?

[OdieWon]

THAT is truly a thing of beauty. Period. I love jeeps, and always wanted a Willys.

[dcbo]

I'm sure they list my 1946 Willys CJ2A in the uncivilized, limited and not very useful catagory....Smiles per mile is hard to put a price on!

Wow! Talk about a trip down memory lane. I had a 1948 CJ. Had to finally give her up when the years of driving through road salt finally took it's toll. Thirty five mph was top-top speed. When I threw those two levers, into 4wd and low range, I could go anywhere. I swear if I had wanted, she would have climbed up the side of a building. I can still see the little green machine with the dog box and our hounds in the back, headed for a rabbit swamp. Thanks for the pictures. They made my day. Sorry, if this is one of those hijacks.

[BigEd63]

CJ-7 my first ehicle and stil have it though in storage for now. It's gonna get ressurected soon. The last upgarde it got was a Chevy 350 V-8 rebuilt for nothing but low end torque. This time it's gonna be done over end to end top to bottom but a section at a time as I can afford.

Sorry no pics yet.

[Netpackrat]

70cj5.jpg

I've got this one salted away for a future project. 1970 CJ-5 with the 225ci Buick Dauntless V-6 engine. It's got the somewhat rare D44 offset pumpkin rear with one piece, 30 spline axles. I've also got a CJ-6 frame that I may build up using the parts from the -5 instead.

[KaiserJeep]

I love old Jeeps, and I have a '52 CJ-2A on Nantucket Island, the wife inherited it from her Father. I also have a restored 1967 Jeepster with a V-6 in the garage, and the wife drives a 2001 Grand Cherokee, while I drive a 2003 Wrangler Rubicon. I had another Wrangler TJ in the past, a Cherokee XJ, and a few others.

I feel obligated to mention that a Wrangler TJ is a much more usable and reliable vehicle to drive. It starts with it has 12v electricals, where a Willys is 6v. Then there are the coil springs, the lap/shoulder belts, the working heater, and the airbags. It rides much better than any leaf-springed vehicle, and will actually traverse more rugged terrain with the flexy coil springs, especially if you disconnect the front swaybar offroad.

You can acquire and drive a 4-cylinder TJ from any year for less money than restoring a CJ. It will not leave you stranded like 50+ year old Willys are prone to do. It won't beat your body into one big bruise on the road either.

[randyho]

Love (!) the old jeeps. But, Kaiser's right. The TJ, in comparison, is probably a better/cheaper jeep.

[Netpackrat]

Absolutely. My daily driver is an '01 TJ; there are pics of it in some of the other threads. I just figured that this thread is for the older rigs. FWIW, the ride can be improved on most of them with the right selection of suspension components. A shackle reversal kit will go a long ways towards making them ride and handle better, plus the long wheelbase versions (CJ-6, CJ-8) are a lot better than the -5 and -7 to begin with.

[choirboy]

The best farm truck that I ever owned was a '66 Jeep 1/2 ton.. The previous owner had put a 455 (I think) Buick engine in her. I was red line at just over 60 on the road. It had true posi trac front and rear. It would smoke all 4 tires on pavement. I still have an old 680 Case Backhoe, they don't make them any more. That backhoe weighs 20K plus. I beefed up the frame and that old Jeep would tow it up and down the mountain. That weight is way too much for a 1/2 ton, so down hill was always an adventure. I backed it into a rock and messed up the rear differential and just ran it front wheel until it was too wrecked to use. I gave the motor to my neighbor. I should have kept that front drive.

Choirboy

[Netpackrat]

A lot of the Jeeps in the mid to late 60's during the Kaiser period had Buick engines as original equipment.

[choirboy]

A lot of the Jeeps in the mid to late 60's during the Kaiser period had Buick engines as original equipment.

I did not know that. With that big engine, low gear ratio and only a 3 speed tyranny, I seem to recall it getting about 6MPG on the road. I know that I was always putting gas in it :)