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What Year Is This Cj5?

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by HugeHugh, Oct 29, 2019.

  1. Oct 29, 2019
    HugeHugh

    HugeHugh New Member

    Austin County Texas
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    Oct 11, 2019
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    I have a 1979 CJ5 based on the title. I ordered a new master cylinder from an auto parts store, but the ports are on the driver side of the master cylinder. The ports on the existing master cylinder are on the passenger side.
    I searched online for master cylinders for 1979 CJ5s and they show the ports on the driver side.

    Do I really have a 1979 CJ5?
     

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  2. Oct 29, 2019
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    Might need to post more detail & photos of the Jeep. Some older rigs got re-titled if they didn't sell. Or there's always the chance of mods by a PO.
     
  3. Oct 29, 2019
    HugeHugh

    HugeHugh New Member

    Austin County Texas
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    More pics are here. The front spring perches are 28" apart and the rear perches are 36" apart. The axles are 1970 vintage but I thought that was because a PO took them from a Commando.
     

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  4. Oct 29, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Body looks right for '79. The frames from '76 on (including '79) splay out to the rear, with wider spacing for the spring perches. Likely the frame is right too - not much else that a '79 CJ-5 body will fit on without a lot of changes. If you have the '74-80 parts book, it contains a lot of illustrations, and you can cross the Jeep part numbers to aftermarket parts, sometimes. Swapping the axles like this is a major change, and would not be surprising if similar changes were made elsewhere in the Jeep. At work now, can't go any further with this.
     
  5. Oct 29, 2019
    dane71

    dane71 Member

    USA
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    May 11, 2017
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    My 79 with non-power brakes has the ports on the drivers side
     
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  6. Oct 29, 2019
    HugeHugh

    HugeHugh New Member

    Austin County Texas
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    I read through the 79 service manual and saw the ports on the driver side as well. I will dig through the manuals for other years to see if I find a master cylinder with ports on the passenger side. I’m still hoping someone on this site will reply with a year that had the ports on the passenger side.
     
  7. Oct 29, 2019
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    Don't try and date your entire jeep from a single part. Its was probably just replaced at some time or maybe it's just oddball. Jeep looks about right for 79. Is that a 304 in it?
     
    Focker likes this.
  8. Oct 29, 2019
    HugeHugh

    HugeHugh New Member

    Austin County Texas
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    Oct 11, 2019
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    Yes, it is a 304. The tag on the right valve cover has 103H15. I’m still hunting for what that means. The brake lines were run correctly as far as rear reservoir to front brakes, but the lines don’t match the new master cylinder’s ports. I’m ordering a brake line kit for a 79 CJ5 and I’ll see what side of the reservoir those end up being. The old and new master cylinders match in size and bolt pattern and rod length. The new MC has in integrated rod where the old MC doesn’t. I’m guessing the brake line kit will be on the drivers side.

    Update to brake lines:
    The new brake lines are kind of pointed in the general direction of the proportioning valve. The lines will need to be bent to reach either side of the M/C. :)
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2019
  9. Oct 29, 2019
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Do your existing brake lines show any sign of modification to fit the existing M/C? As noted there's a probability someone didn't use the correct part.
     
    Last edited: Oct 29, 2019
    dane71 likes this.
  10. Oct 29, 2019
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    engine code decipher:
    1 = YEAR =1977
    03 = Month = March
    H = CID= 304 V8 8.40 to 1 comp
    15 = Day of Month = 15th

    What is the Jeep VIN or serial number please ?
     
  11. Nov 1, 2019
    HugeHugh

    HugeHugh New Member

    Austin County Texas
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    Oct 11, 2019
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    The brake lines that are left on the Jeep look correct for the Jeep. The front two lines run in the correct location. The left front line is cut as it exits the outside of the frame. The right front line runs to the fitting on the frame where the rubber brake line to a disc brake hangs. The front axle is a Dana 27A with drum brakes and had only the two small Z bend brake lines.

    The front to rear break line runs in the correct location to the back and terminates at the male flare connection. There are no brake lines on the rear axle.
    The emergency brake line terminates at the u shaped equalizer fitting.

    It is obvious the axles have never been used to drive this jeep. Someone pieced together a roller.

    The lines to the M/C look like they run normally but they are old and anyone could have reshaped them to fit the opposite side of the M/C. The two fittings on the existing M/C brake lines do not fit a 1979 M/C. I received my new brake lines today and they do fit the 1979 M/C ports, but they do not look like go straight to the proportioning value without some reshaping which is fine with me. I can bend the lines.
     
  12. Nov 1, 2019
    HugeHugh

    HugeHugh New Member

    Austin County Texas
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    The VIN tag is from a 1979 jeep cj5: J9F83EH8...
    The VIN tag is screwed to the top of the grill near the radiator.

    Where else did Jeep put the VIN tag? Any other?
    My Mack B61 has the VIN engraved in the frame behind the front axle, so verifying it against the door tag is easy.
    It would be nice to have a VIN on the Jeep frame somewhere, but with body switching even that wouldn't really matter. This is fun. :) Buying parts that sometimes fit.
     
  13. Nov 1, 2019
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
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    I installed a Corvette master cylinder in my 75 CJ.
     
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  14. Nov 2, 2019
    HugeHugh

    HugeHugh New Member

    Austin County Texas
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    I like it! Did it go faster or look sleeker?
     
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  15. Nov 2, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    The sequential serial number part of the VIN should be stamped into the top of the frame, near the right front shock mount. Not easy to see. Note this is only the last 6 or 7 digits of the VIN. You can also look at the engine for a build date. Normally the VIN plate is on the firewall next to the master cylinder.

    upload_2019-11-2_10-31-15.png
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2019
  16. Nov 2, 2019
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
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    Cool factor. But it was the right price and fit. Only Corvette thing I can afford.
     
  17. Nov 5, 2019
    Jeff Bromberger

    Jeff Bromberger Quarantined in the Garage

    Dallas Metroplex...
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    Ask, and you may be surprised with what you get...

    My 1974 Jeep DJ-5 (RHD, postal jeep) has the master cylinder mounted SUPER LOW on the right hand side, barely nosing out from the firewall. It's got both output ports on the "passenger" side, which is the driver's side in my case. :rofl:
     
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  18. Nov 6, 2019
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
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    My 75 as I remember has the ports on the passenger side. The replacement MC I bought has ports on both sides. I plugged the unused ones. I also have an unused MC with ports on the pass side only. Yours for shipping cost.
     
  19. Nov 8, 2019
    HugeHugh

    HugeHugh New Member

    Austin County Texas
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    Near the master cylinder is where I remember the VIN tag being. This jeep doesn't have a VIN tag near the master cylinder. I cleaned the right frame rail near the front shock, but no number found. I'll keep an eye out for it. What does the 103H15 tag on the right side valve cover translate to?
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2019
  20. Nov 8, 2019
    HugeHugh

    HugeHugh New Member

    Austin County Texas
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    Thanks for the offer of the MC. I installed one I bought from a local auto parts store. The new hard lines reach the driver side ports, but it is a stretch partly because a PO put a 4" body lift on it.
     
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