For some reason, I decided it was a good idea...

[BIGSLVRXJ]

to buy a CJ-5. I think in the long run I will probably either regret it and or end up selling it, but it seems to have some potential to be fun once summer rolls back around .

It does need immediate help. The 3 speed transmission will not let me hold it in gear, it keeps popping out. Dustin (comancheon33) has a 4 speed lined up to sell me that should fit in nicely for the time being. It has been cobbled in several areas including the dash and antenna areas that I can see badly so far. When I get done with finals tomorrow, I plan to post up more pictures of some of the debaucherie so you guys can check out the hackjob.

As of right now plans are either to make it a FI 4.0/AW4/Dana300 using an XJ center console or going SB Chevy. Also going to use an extra set of ZJ seats I have laying around. Still a little open to it in general. Have any of you guys done up CJs before?

 

[nick86]

PLEASE,PLEASE, don't fock-up that CJ. Let me look at it first. PLEASE

 

[BIGSLVRXJ]

PLEASE,PLEASE, don't fock-up that CJ. Let me look at it first. PLEASE

What do you consider focking it up? Have I really done anything that unagreeable on my XJ ? It is already molested anyway, like I said, she's going to need some work.

 

[kunaji]

Welcome to the intermediate cj-5 owners group. My '72 has been in the rebuild stages for the last year.

 

[besthaticouldo]

mmmm cj luv

 

[BIGSLVRXJ]

Welcome to the intermediate cj-5 owners group. My '72 has been in the rebuild stages for the last year.

Glad to know there are a few more floating around . I still like XJs and MJs much better for what they are, but I figure this will be a fun distraction for a while. Kunaji, do you know what the main difference was starting in '76? All the cool parts I've been finding are for 76< CJs. Mine's a '74 by the way.

 

[kunaji]

There's quite a few differences between the intermediates and both the early and late cj5s. They were only made between 72 and 75 and are the result of AMC buying Jeep from Willys. I'm at work right now and can't get too far into detail, but I'll post up some more general info on them and why they're such a pain to get parts for.

 

[BIGSLVRXJ]

There's quite a few differences between the intermediates and both the early and late cj5s. They were only made between 72 and 75 and are the result of AMC buying Jeep from Willys. I'm at work right now and can't get too far into detail, but I'll post up some more general info on them and why they're such a pain to get parts for.

Ahh crap, so you're saying I bought a lemon year, I wondered what the whole intermediate thing meant. Yeah explaining as much of it to me as you can would be awesome, like I said this thing is definitely a bit on the odd side from what I can tell. Thanks a lot!

 

[Fore Wheeler]

oh, those were the days... I did a frame off restore on a 79. don't try to be a purist, sbc the thing and have fun. don't forget that that jeep, (short and narrow) is the one that gave jeep a bad name for roll overs. build a cage and tie it to the frame, they're alot of fun for around town driving, they suck if you have to drive any distance.

 

[BIGSLVRXJ]

oh, those were the days... I did a frame off restore on a 79. don't try to be a purist, sbc the thing and have fun. don't forget that that jeep, (short and narrow) is the one that gave jeep a bad name for roll overs. build a cage and tie it to the frame, they're alot of fun for around town driving, they suck if you have to drive any distance.

Thanks for the heads up/reminder on that. This one I don't plan to wheel though, atleast nothing involving hill climbs, it will be more of a restomod/car show type deal if I get that far. I am thinking about the SBC but can't decide if I'd rather just do a 4.0 with an XJ wiring harness. Still too up in the air on it all, I need to really examine it and find out how bad the body is, if it's a complete rotted out POS there's probably no point in me putting much work into it at all.

 

[kunaji]

Ahh crap, so you're saying I bought a lemon year, I wondered what the whole intermediate thing meant. Yeah explaining as much of it to me as you can would be awesome, like I said this thing is definitely a bit on the odd side from what I can tell. Thanks a lot!

It's not that it's a lemon year, or range of years. The intermediates have many parts that are specific to the 72-75 model year range vs the 55-71 and 76-83ish range. The intermediates were basically 55-71 with stretched frames, saginaw steering, and stronger axles. For example, the steering box mount for a 71 will not work on a a 72. A 72 steering box mount will not work on a 76. The fenders are all the same from 72-83. You could swap any windshield from 55-75 and use the same soft tops but you cannot use a top from a 76-83 unless you swap the windshield frames. The AMC v-8 were first offered in the 72. There are precious few places to get windshield hinges for the intermediates vs a billion places for the later models. The problem for parts is alot of them were only made for four model years. Fortunately, it is possible to mix and match replacements for many of those parts.

Personally, I chose to rebuild vs build or restore mine. My springs were broken and shot so I put a small lift on it for less than stock springs would have cost. About the only changes I think I'll be making is converting to an electric fan and putting a cherokee tilt steering column in. It definately ramped the price up because of my wanting mostly original parts.

For your swap, remember you are dealing with a 73 inch wheelbase. It's probably not impossible to swap in an automatic, but keeping a short drivetrain usually means using a manual. You probably have a t-14 trans right now, and depending on the 4-speed you get, your clutch and driveshafts will probably need to be replaced, and possibly tranny crossmember.

Earlycj5.com has a good forum with a wealth of information on the intermediates. Or if you have specific questions, feel free to ask. I've done a fair amount of research myself.

 

[BIGSLVRXJ]

It's not that it's a lemon year, or range of years. The intermediates have many parts that are specific to the 72-75 model year range vs the 55-71 and 76-83ish range. The intermediates were basically 55-71 with stretched frames, saginaw steering, and stronger axles. For example, the steering box mount for a 71 will not work on a a 72. A 72 steering box mount will not work on a 76. The fenders are all the same from 72-83. You could swap any windshield from 55-75 and use the same soft tops but you cannot use a top from a 76-83 unless you swap the windshield frames. The AMC v-8 were first offered in the 72. There are precious few places to get windshield hinges for the intermediates vs a billion places for the later models. The problem for parts is alot of them were only made for four model years. Fortunately, it is possible to mix and match replacements for many of those parts.

Personally, I chose to rebuild vs build or restore mine. My springs were broken and shot so I put a small lift on it for less than stock springs would have cost. About the only changes I think I'll be making is converting to an electric fan and putting a cherokee tilt steering column in. It definately ramped the price up because of my wanting mostly original parts.

For your swap, remember you are dealing with a 73 inch wheelbase. It's probably not impossible to swap in an automatic, but keeping a short drivetrain usually means using a manual. You probably have a t-14 trans right now, and depending on the 4-speed you get, your clutch and driveshafts will probably need to be replaced, and possibly tranny crossmember.

Earlycj5.com has a good forum with a wealth of information on the intermediates. Or if you have specific questions, feel free to ask. I've done a fair amount of research myself.

That's a ton of good information, I definitely have more questions for you though. Feel free to answer them at your leisure, I don't want you to get fired over helping a fellow Jeep guy. I too was thinking about the Cherokee GM tilt column, how easily can it be adapted to the intermediate CJ dash? Didn't the later CJs come with GM columns? Also, have you found any aftermarket bumpers that will fit on yours? I can only seem to find them for after 76. I know there will be more questions, that's all I'm coming up with right now though. Thanks again.

 

[kunaji]

From what I read on earlycj5, it's a fairly easy swap as far as getting it mounted. Nobody seems to have done the wiring portion of it on a write up though. If you really wanted to, you could swap the hanging pedals from a 76 or newer cj and basically bolt the thing in. Then you need to see if the clutch linkage and brakes will still work. I'm going for a more rebuild look so I'll be modifying the mount at the dash to mount it and using a u-bolt instead of a strap at the base of the column.

Don't quote me, but front bumpers are the same from 72-86 at least, maybe even into the yj years. The rear bumper MAY be the same as the earlier models. The later models have a wider crossmember in the rear due to their wider frame. I actually haven't looked too deeply into it since I don't plan on getting aftermarket bumpers.

 

[nick86]

78CJ-5 here. Did a frame off resto back in 95.

 

[kunaji]

Kunaji, do you know what the main difference was starting in '76? All the cool parts I've been finding are for 76< CJs. Mine's a '74 by the way.

The large change in '76 was the frame, rear axle and windshield with a bunch of smaller changes like different transmissions and steering gear. This also coincided with the death of the cj6 in the US and the introduction of the cj7.

The intermediates have a d30 front and centered d44 rear axle. The 76-up cjs used the same d30 and amc model 20 rear axle with two piece axleshafts that are prone to spinning the tubes and stripping hubs.

A 74 will have a frame that is more flexible than a 76 and newer since it is only fully boxed for the first 1/3 of it and open C channel with crossmembers for the rest.

Intermediates use leaf springs that are 1 3/4" wide instead of 2" front and 2.5" rear leaves in newer models. Since the d30 and centered d44 were only offered 71-75, finding new spring plates is a challenge if you need them. The only place I found them was at Ruffstuff. He's also a sponsor vendor and is highly recommended. It will take true abuse to even bend those things.

 

[BIGSLVRXJ]

Fantastic, this is all great info. I will definitely be working on this thing and posting pictures tomorrow of the problem areas. Thanks again.

 

[BIGSLVRXJ]

Driving to Omaha to get these wheels/tires tomorrow...

They may not exactly fit the vintage of the Jeep all that well but they're good lookin wheels and 33" tires for $175, so I guess I won't complain.

 

[nick86]

Hate to pop your bubble Collin, but your gonna need a lift to get those to fit a CJ. I have 2 inch suspension, 1 inch body lift to clear 32's. Just in case you didn't know CJ's are 5X5 1/2 with the larger center hole.

 

[BIGSLVRXJ]

Hate to pop your bubble Collin, but your gonna need a lift to get those to fit a CJ. I have 2 inch suspension, 1 inch body lift to clear 32's. Just in case you didn't know CJ's are 5X5 1/2 with the larger center hole.

Hahah I know about the pattern, I kept getting confused at first thinking I could run XJ wheels on it and then realized it was 5x5.5. My POS already has a 2" body lift cobbled on it and possibly a suspension lift, I can't tell, but the 235s look tiny under it. I don't know if the fairly bald 33"s will clear or not, but either way I like the wheels pretty well. What do you think of em Bob? He's giving me center caps for the back and trim rings for the front too, they came off of a CJ-7 I guess.

 

[nick86]

Hahah I know about the pattern, I kept getting confused at first thinking I could run XJ wheels on it and then realized it was 5x5.5. My POS already has a 2" body lift cobbled on it and possibly a suspension lift, I can't tell, but the 235s look tiny under it. I don't know if the fairly bald 33"s will clear or not, but either way I like the wheels pretty well. What do you think of em Bob? He's giving me center caps for the back and trim rings for the front too, they came off of a CJ-7 I guess.

They look alright & the price is right. I'm not a big fan of a 2 inch body lift, too many steering column, radiator shroud, bumper mount issues. But that's just me & I get a bit anal with my CJ. I would rather see smaller body lift & more suspension lift.