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Late CJ5; got it bought!

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by bcurtman, Feb 22, 2016.

  1. Feb 22, 2016
    bcurtman

    bcurtman Member

    Rosebud, MO
    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2014
    Messages:
    283
    Well, I've been after this jeep for the better part of 10 years, and yesterday I got it bought. 1979 CJ-5, factory or dealer installed metal half-cab has never been off. 4 speed with granny low 1st. Have to assume it is a T-18. 30,060 original miles. 60 / 40 bench seat. Original wheels and maybe even tires are intact including passenger side mounted spare. 258 cu in 6 cylinder. Black with white top. 8000 lb winch that might get removed. It has a few barn bumps on it, as it was purchased new in St. Louis and was driven to the farm where it lived most of its life fixing fence and checking cows. It sold several years ago, and I got first dibs on it if they ever wanted to sell it. I am the 3rd owner. I plan to clean it up, fix or have fixed all of the dings and dents, and maybe have it painted. This one will stay stock. Don't have it home yet. Have to make the trip to go get it. Pictures will follow.
     
    ITLKSEZ and piffey263 like this.
  2. Feb 22, 2016
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
    Joined:
    May 25, 2011
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    1,188
    Ya tease!
     
    Shad Rogers likes this.
  3. Feb 22, 2016
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
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    Mar 29, 2007
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    Patience wills out. Good for you.
     
  4. Feb 23, 2016
    bcurtman

    bcurtman Member

    Rosebud, MO
    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2014
    Messages:
    283
    J9M83EC02xxxx

    J=jeep
    9= year, 1979
    M=4 speed transmission (Warner T-18)
    83=model, cj-5
    E=gvw, 4150
    C=engine, 258, 2 bbl
    Balance of numbers sequential build number

    Hope to have it home this weekend if the weather allows.
     
  5. Feb 26, 2016
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2014
    Messages:
    215
    Well done, hope it's all in one piece with no major issues.
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2016
  6. Feb 26, 2016
    rusty

    rusty Well-Known Member

    norfolk,va
    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2006
    Messages:
    1,652
    Glad you got it. Can't wait to see it.
     
  7. Feb 26, 2016
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
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    Oct 21, 2012
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    2,327
    VEry nice, take photos during the travel!
     
  8. Feb 26, 2016
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    Mar 6, 2004
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    4,491
    :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: Can't wait to see this. A friend in high school had a '79 Golden Eagle. 304 3 speed. Tan. I liked that JeeP a lot.
     
  9. Feb 26, 2016
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2013
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    5,593
    Where is our 'this thread is worthless without pics' graphic...
     
    Shad Rogers likes this.
  10. Feb 26, 2016
    Mike C

    Mike C Member

    Austin, TX
    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2007
    Messages:
    743
    While we are waiting patiently.... Here's my '79. :)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    jeepermc likes this.
  11. Feb 28, 2016
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2014
    Messages:
    215
    ...and this is my '78
    [​IMG]
     
    Shad Rogers likes this.
  12. Feb 28, 2016
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
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    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
  13. Feb 29, 2016
    bcurtman

    bcurtman Member

    Rosebud, MO
    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2014
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    283
    Well, she's not quite parade ready. I powerwashed 37 years of farm off of her Saturday. We went to pick it up and it had been sitting so long the clutch was stuck to the flywheel. A short tug with a tractor and it broke loose. Engine ran well enough, considering how old the gas was. I drove it onto the trailer. When I got it home, the first thing I did was put some fresh gas and some Stabil in the tank. Then, I drove it. My wife and I hopped in for a short test drive. Windshield was so dirty you could hardly see out. We ran it about 10 miles. Brakes are great. Steering is a bit loose, but not like most-and I suspect either a tie rod or a quarter turn of the worm adjuster will fix that. Clutch is great, shifts well. 3.54 gears with the 258 and it pulls hills well-also helped by those short 7.00-15 tires, which are not the originals, but the spare is. Cleaned it up well Saturday afternoon. Taped up the drivers side of the seat for now. Looks like I'm ordering 2 front fenders and a set of tail lights today. I decided its easier just to bolt on a new set than beat on those. Top has never been off. Lights all work-other than broken one on drivers rear. It will get the body massaged and some fresh paint in the original color. Frame will get either POR or quality undercoating applied. No rust in floors. One dime sized spot on drivers side below tail light. I thought it was BLACK. I had never seen it out of the dark barn it was in. Its actually a metallic brown. All gauges work, as does heater, blower (lots of mud dobber nests to blow out), wipers, etc. I drove it about 30 miles Sunday after she was cleaned up, and it just purrs. All that work I went through to get a T-18 in my CJ-6, and here is one from the factory. Just love driving it. That shifter nearly sticks up as high as the windshield. Transfer case shifts smoothly too. No lockouts and it was in 4 hi when I got in it. Might have spent most of its life in 4wd. Here are a few pics and a copy of the sales ticket. I got the owners manual, tire brochure and warranty, jeep warranty, original invoice, snow plow brochure, window sticker, etc all in a nice file. It does have 36,085 miles on it after I drove it this weekend. I had a number transposed before when I said 30,060.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  14. Feb 29, 2016
    bcurtman

    bcurtman Member

    Rosebud, MO
    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2014
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    283
    And a few more.....

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

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  15. Feb 29, 2016
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
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    814
    That's pretty sweet!! That's a good one to keep original
     
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  16. Feb 29, 2016
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Aug 10, 2003
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    Excellent. 258/T-18 is a great combo. Cool half cab.

    Re the front fenders, I'd fix those rather than buy repops. The repops don't compare in quality with the originals. Should be easy since you can get to the back side of the panel so easily.

    Interesting to see the sales ticket. I recall I paid ca $4400 for my '73 new, and about $5500 for my first '75 new (not my current Jeep).
     
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  17. Feb 29, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Aug 13, 2015
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    Nice piece of history!

    That's interesting they put a used half cab on a new jeep. I wish I could find one for $200!

    Not to mention a bench seat for $37, a new T-18 for $161, a trac-loc for $87....
     
  18. Feb 29, 2016
    58 willys

    58 willys Sponsor

    Millsboro, Delaware
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    a good buy
     
  19. Feb 29, 2016
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
    Joined:
    May 25, 2011
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    1,188
    Damn good buy! I'm with Timgr. I'd fix the front fenders rather than repops. Those don't look that bad, and re-pops just aren't OE quality.
     
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  20. Feb 29, 2016
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
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    Re. Undercoating is a bad choice it tends to trap moisture. Paint or paint and fluid film no more rust.
     
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