Barn Find!

All,
I made a Barn Find!

Well, not quite still in the barn but...
According to the PO it did spend 20 years in their quonset hut on a remote property.

I found a 1970 CJ5 on Craig's list in Sacramento last Thursday, they wanted $3250 for it. I went Thursday evening and looked it over, managed to get the engine to start and run on the stale gas. It sounded OK, no rod knocks. I asked if they would take $3000. They accepted the offer, and I went back Friday morning and came home with...











This thing is most original unmolested uncut unrusted early CJ5 I have ever seen. I can't believe my luck in finding this before someone else did.
According to the PO, her father-in-law bought it around '71 after it had been rolled and totaled. He spent probably a pile of money to buy a new body from Jeep, had the body put on and the frame damage fixed. He drove it for a few years and either gave or sold it to his daughter in law. They drove it on at least 5 Jeepers Jamboree trips, but stored it since '90 in their quonset hut.














What's up with the Bungee cord? The PO said there was an issue with the transfer case shifter popping out of gear. I think that is why it got parked back in 1990. I have since found out it won't engage 4WD low range at all.












Dammit, a Prestolite distributor. I'll have to run a classified for a Delco.








This thing is clearly a veteran of Rubicon rock rash. Gives it character!


It has the flanged axle, and there is a Powr-Lok in there.




This is the first windshield washer bag I have seen still there.


The original top has suffered with the passage of years, I had a hard time removing it without the fabric tearing around the snaps. There is a guy on this list that recently found a bunch of NOS tops, I sent him a PM asking if he has another white Whitco.


I got the top off yesterday and spent some quality time with the pressure washer...










The floors only have surface rust, and the hat channels show none at all.

This Jeep isn't going to be another build project right now. Today I'll work on taking out the transfer case and replace it with another one I have in the storage shed. The carburetor needs a rebuild, and some fuel lines need to be replumbed. There are a few wiring issues to look at, the wipers don't work. The lights and turn signals do work, and the charging system seems to work because I see the Amp light in the speedometer cluster go out when I get the engine to run. The gas gauge works, after I found the plastic float was filled with gas and sunk. The Ross steering is still reasonably tight, the original exhast doesn't leak, the radiator still holds coolant.

I think I'll be Jeeping this Summer!!

Don

 

sweet find!!

 

Dang nice.

 

Always nice to see a virtually rust free jeep!

 

Lots of history on that one. Sweet find!

 

You DOG!

That thing is tip top and virtually unmolested.

 

I hate you west coast guys. Rust free Jeeps.

 

Congratulations!

 

I like it - the body damage is so cool. :driving:

I'm not so keen on the bumper stickers on the paint, but the tags on the dash are great. I'd just stabilize it and drive it. Looks like Jeep! :v6:

 

Looks like a nice Jeep! Congratulations.

Interesting that is appears to have renegade seats in it.

 

Nice score, Congrats.

 

You know, I saw that same ad, and resisted calling.

Thanks for saving me from it.

 

Congratulations!

gerald

 

Very cool find. I don't think I would change a thing. I like it just the way it is, body damage and all.

 

gerald

 

On that one, I would do the drive-line repairs, safety stuff and drive and drive and drive it. That was a good buy. Don't think you will ever be sorry.

 

Nice. Hope you keep all the stickers and such.

 

Congrats!! What a find.

 

I have to say the dings give it character. nice find. October, I guess that is a pre AMC 1970 Jeep, my 70 is a AMC

 

That looks almost exactly like mine including the paint color. My father in law used a bungee strap to keep his transfer case in low range also. Congrats on such a good find.