Buying 1972 CJ5 - need some input

I have a WT D30 in the front of my CJ8, and a NT D44 in the back. It looks like you have a similar setup.

It will handle just fine.

 

based on the pics and what the drivetrain may/may not be, I'm sorry, I'd pass on it
the amount of dust on the w/shield tells me this Jeep has been sitting for a while; I hate to rain on your parade, but I think this Jeep will just be too much hassle. Too many mods for my liking. For a first time CJ owner, I just don't know.
I guess a bright spot might be the engine, and the rest of the Jeep for parts also;
you certainly can't build it for that price, but one has to wonder why so low a price.
sometimes the lowest price doesn't mean the best deal
Anyone notice the position of the hood latches; never seen that before
Anyway, all the above MY OPINION !

 

noticed this too....also agree that jeep looks like its been sitting a while...a shot from underneath, from the rear, and under the hood might help....

 

Just a pair of hood pins, see them quite often on modified rigs.

If it runs and drives well, and the frame rails are good, go for it.

 

that's the plan. Like I said, this is only one sale to me for 2k. Again, I feel this is a great price seeing as how a family friend is selling it. True, it has sat for abour 2 years, but prior to that saw regular maitenance and care. Its being sold to me with a 16ft trailer with electric brakes, all for 2k. Its hard to pass up. The rig is not beat - it would go on sale for about 4500 if not to be. So, pending a solid frame, and no other horrible things, it will hopefully be mine. its been registered and on the road in the past 2 years. Thanks for the input. i was happy to find out that the front axle is WT = disc brakes.

 

I agree with above, the pics are dark to really tell for sure what everything is, if you have a shot of the rear wheel from the side that'll clue me in to the axle whether two piece or not, Mine had factory D44 one piece axle in real D30 up front.

I have the fiberglass tub on mine, it really didnt want to fit using the factory size body rubber so check that,I am having to use 2" rubber to get everything to fit right, it gives the body a good lift, on mine this is combined with a 1 1/2 shackle lift so that may be what you have, its just hard to tell in the pictures

I do see the fact the front tires are WAY farther out than the rears, I would look for either spacers or tags on the diff for what it may be from, the 72 had narrows and tucked the wheels up under the fenders unless you used spacers.

the windshield looks like mine with the housing for the wiper motor on the outside left, I do notice the hood tiedowns are in the rear, is it a front flip? when I bought my tub the guy had a one piece fiberglass front nose on it and it looked like that, but it looks like yours is not one piece or glass from the dents in the fender.

Custom cage is ok as long as its A: tied to the frame (glass easily breaks) and B: welded properly. It looks like its wrapped with something, I would want to take all that off and inspect the welds before I trusted it. if anyone watches it, Stacy on Trucks! had a Bronco with a bar wrapped like that, it was PVC! surely thats not the case here, but I would definitly check those welds and make sure you had tie ins for the cage before trusting it in a situation where you may need it, remember those are for safety not just a pretty bar to look at or use as grab handles.


thats my .02 from what I can see in those pictures

 

Oh yeah, welcome to the forum from east TN

 

If you live in California I would definitly say BUY it No smog. I love my little 72 CJ 5. if you are wishing to convert the axles back to stock Rear D44 and Front D 30 I will be converting mine over to Fullwidth Waggonneer dana 44 axles in a few months and will be wanting to sell mine. rip out the cage and seat mounts (the seats look to be Poly racing seats. Build a new Cage with seat mounts tied in to the cage modify your dash with a flip down access to the guages With a full cage and Short wheel base you have to remove the roll cage to access the Back side of your dash. ( will be posting pics of mine in about a month as I am working the Aluminum Diamond Plate presently for a custom dash.) It being a CJ5 and KNowing how short mine is I doubt very seriously if you have stock suspension It would have been a Really really really tight fit with a 350 Th350 D300 drivetrain. The angle on the rear drive shaft will be atrocious.

IF you want a fun procject and a great little jeep to cruise the hills mountains and deserts with I firmly believe you cant go wrong with it, if you dont want to wrench on it and just wheel it dont buy it

 

Welcome from Norwalk! The seats are not corvette, but an older style drag racing seat. I figured I'd offer that tid-bit

 

So what is the verdict Buy or not?

 

it's up to you, how much time/money are you wanting/willing to put into it?

 

NO I was asking Bleach if he bought or not

 

Heading home from school on Friday to check it out, and probably buy. I'll let everyone know how it turns out.