Talk me out of an old cj5 v8

[jonp]

I ran across an old co-worker of mine the other day and he mentioned his son was selling his jeep as he was moving, had bought a new car and didn't need it anymore. It's an old CJ-5 in great shape as "Fred" used to drive it into work. It has the V8 and needs little to no work. "Fred" just doesn't want to mess with it.

He strongly hinted his son would take $1 ,750 for this Jeep.

Yes or no?

[jcren]

In a heart beat.

[Minerat]

Before he comes to his senses.

[KMac]

If you would give me his contact info I would work real hard to talk you out of it.
If you have the money snap it up quick before someone else does.

[Mk42gunner]

I'm not a big fan of real Jeeps as road vehicles, I think they have such a short and narrow wheelbase they are very twitchy i.e. you really have to pay attention while driving them at speed.

With that said, $1,750 sounds like it would be easy to double your money on.

Robert

[square butte]

Just like prying up a rotten board in Vermont - Don't buy it unless you are prepared to go all the way to china to fix it :) All of the funin aside - i'd probably buy it

[bdicki]

Check the frame by the rear axle for rot.

[Hossfly]

I would get it but then i like jeeps. Have 3 now 1945 type.

[Shawlerbrook]

I have a 1971 cj5 with a V6 Buick engine. I would only talk you out of it if I could buy it.

[Blammer]

I used to have a 78 CJ5 v-8 3 spd stick.

oh what fun I had in that thing!

so no, in the interest of reliving my youth vicariously through your jeep. Can't talk you out of it. :)

[Houndog]

I'd jump on it with both feet! You could part it out and get your money back, at least around here! I've been looking for one with a 4 cylinder in rebuildable shape and have been getting prices higher than that for junk!

[lefty o]

i dont care for jeeps in the least, but if it runs and drives, for that money its a good beater if nothing else.

[jonp]

lol, I knew you bunch of enablers would advise me to buy this. Fred is a good guy and the Jeep has been south it's whole life so no rust. He just want's it out of his yard.

Along with the $500 Gold Wing I've run across a couple of great deals this fall

[jonp]

Just like prying up a rotten board in Vermont - Don't buy it unless you are prepared to go all the way to china to fix it :) All of the funin aside - i'd probably buy it

lol, from the Island Pond corner I hear ya! Deer Camp Jeep coming up haha

[MyFlatline]

Wish I still had my 77" Golden Eagle CJ 7 304 was a great little engine, would buy it in a heart beat. Not sure why you need to go to china for parts, as it was part of the big three Manufacturers. Ford distributor and Chevy timing order..Go figure..

[sigep1764]

Buy it and buy it now. The 4x4's from the 70's and 80's are getting hot. 5 years ago, you could've bought a good no rust K5 Blazer for 5k. They are 15 to 20k now. Buy it, fix anything that needs fixing and paint it sometime. You'll have a nice driver, you'll have fun, and you won't lose money.

[Idaho45guy]

When I got a wild hair and decided that I wanted an old Jeep, I was shocked at the prices.

I found several old CJ5s and CJ7s that were below average in condition and they wanted $6k to $8k for them. I ended up buying an `89 Wrangler for $5700. Drove it a year, put another grand into it, and sold it for $5750 to a friend.

I'd snatch that thing up in a second and at least triple your money in the Spring.

[dpoe001]

sold where do i have to go to pick it up? lol I sold my CJ5 to fund a build on my Comanche,I sold the Comanche to fund the build on my YJ,i won't sell the YJ to fund my build on my 57 Willys pickup!

[MaryB]

Where is it and I will be there tomorrow to buy it! I was pricing accident jeeps on co-parts and they start at $2k with bad front end damage!

[RP]

Around here they are not cheap I have a 83 CJ 7 sitting under my shelter that needs a new windshield frame and some other pieces here and there. I have not started it in years and I would not take less then 5 K for it if I was in a pinch. A grand into it I could get some crazy money for it So if I were you and had the money I snatch it up if you like it keep it if not double your money easy I bet.
Best parts come off other Jeeps found in the AZ and places if you can find them.

[HangFireW8]

Check on the insurance rates of a cj-5 if you plan to put it on the road. That might talk you out of it!

[Plate plinker]

I would buy it right away. Old jeeps are fun.

[Chad5005]

buy it quickly,if its in good shape its worth 3 times that,ive had them from 6 cylinders to 304,360 and 401,

[dubber123]

I live in Vt. too, and if it really is a no rust CJ-5, you won't find many like it in this state. I'd strongly suggest you put it up in the winter, the amount of salt they use here and what it will do to an older rig in short order is horrifying. I work in a shop that does a fair amount of rust repair, and even 5 year old vehicles can have significant rust damage to them. I have a 69 CJ-5, and its tucked away until spring.

[Thin Man]

I started with a 1961 CJ5 with the Hurricane 4 cylinder engine. Called it a "gutless wonder" as it had little power but nothing could stop it in the woods. Next came a 1970 CJ5 with the V-6 engine. Wow, what a powerhouse. Kept that one for 30 years driving it to-from work. With rust damage it had to go. Next was a 1969 CJ5 with another V-6, it went to the deer camp for about 3 years until the state's regulators shut down all off-road driving in their wildlife management areas. The one lasting memory of all this history is that if the buyer is not a mechanic when he first buys a CJ series Jeep, he will be one soon. I learned early just which parts were the most prone to failure and assembled a "rescue kit" of these parts and tools for installation, kept it inside the Jeep. That kit kept growing but it was a comfort (more than once) to have this handy. There is no better fun than exploring mountain trails in a Jeep, either for hunting or general recreation.

[Greg S]

I sold an 86 Jeep CJ-7 5 Speed Hard Top that needed a timing chain for 1750 8 years ago. The 5s were the holy grail let alone a v8.

[rockrat]

Stick that Jeep on a corner in town here, in the morning, with a $5K price on it and it probably would be sold by evening. People probably would brag about the bargain they got.

[Petrol & Powder]

If it's rust free I would pay that asking price even if it didn't have an engine in it !

The 304 wasn't a bad engine and AMC sort of used that extra power to make the old CJ's a bit more drivable on the highway. The down side was the V-8 made it a little more likely to break drive train parts.
In addition to a bit more hp, the V-8 was a shorter engine than the in-lines and some Jeep fans claim it helped to move the center of gravity a little more towards the center of the vehicle. I don't know if there's any truth to that claim.

The old 258 in-line six was bullet proof and all the power one needs in that narrow track/short wheelbase design.

The CJ-5 was never as refined as the later YJ and TJ but as an off-road vehicle it excelled. Rust is the killer of those CJ's.

[rockrat]

Friend of mine, in High School, put a Chevy 327 in his CJ5. Rode with him it in, ONCE, and only once. Its a wonder he survived to manhood, but I guess that could have been said about many of us.

[Petrol & Powder]

Friend of mine, in High School, put a Chevy 327 in his CJ5. Rode with him it in, ONCE, and only once. Its a wonder he survived to manhood, but I guess that could have been said about many of us.

It's a wonder any of us survived :p

And YES, a V-8 Jeep can be a bit interesting, particularly an old CJ with a strong V-8.

[slim1836]

You bought it yet?

Slim

[Budzilla 19]

Grab it, quick!!! Real dang quick!!! If it’s a true southern Jeep, do not be scared to put a hefty price tag on it!! It’s deer season, after all, and somebody will pay your price,and brag about a good deal!
Or........ just drive it!!! I was looking for one, but went a different direction after pricing some junk!
This is a gift, just my opinion.

[MT Gianni]

A friend bought a used 72 CJ with the V8. The previous owner threw in a brazed oil filter bracket. Good thing as we broke the one that was on it on a forest road the second week out.

[jonp]

Called my friend to go take a look. It has the 8 cylinder and is an automatic, yellow with a soft top and in great shape. I may go for it

[jsizemore]

There's one on our local craigslist for $2850. Lots of rust and a 6 cylinder that smokes. Heavily.

[wlc]

If its a rust free jeep and runs, I wouldn't be on here asking if I needed to buy it at that asking price. I'd already have it at my house. First vehicle was a 81 CJ5 have another one in the old shop at my FIL's back in GA. 77 CJ5, bought it, drove it down to his shop and started tearing it apart. Had it almost torn down to start the restoration when we packed up and moved to AK 13 years ago. Doubt it ever gets done now. No plans on ever moving back to GA.

[Lloyd Smale]

im with the others. If its not already in your driveway drop what you doing immediately and drive as fast as you can to that buddys house and buy it. Buddy in school had a cj5 with a factory 304 v8 and a 3 speed. those 304s were powerhouses stock but could be made to run and even stock in a short cj that had plenty enough to get you in trouble. It was actually a pretty good motor. jeep collectors would snatch up a factory v8 cj in a heart beat and my guess is you could buy and and double your money over night and if its in the shape you said and not a rust bucket easily triple your money

[mattw]

In a heart beat! When I built my '76 I went with a Buick V6 turbo and never looked back. I used the extra space under the hood to add an air compressor and the front bumper was a schedule 80 weld pipe tank. Best off roader I ever built. Added a 4 speed stick and low gears and it went anywhere I dared to take it.

[Smoke4320]

I would be over there checking out that CJ as fast as possible

[Beerd]

jonp,
What year CJ5 is it? A lot of us here have different ideas of exactly what qualifies as an "old" vehicle.
That being said, if it's as described it's a bargain.

(You can't hardly fill it up with gas for much less than that)

And we will expect a photo when you bring it home.
..