'72 Cj-5 304 V8 Initial Startup After Sitting For 20+ Years

Newbie here guys,
I inherited this awesome Jeep via my girlfriend. By inheriting, I mean getting back in running condition so my girlfriend and her friends can re-live those teenage years again. This 1972 CJ-5 has been parked in our garage for the last 22 years at which time is was running great prior to parking it. My father used to build stock cars from the ground up, but the only thing I picked up from those years was handing him tools from the toolbox as he needed them while he was under the cars. I love a challenge and would love to be able to turn this Jeep, that is so full of memories, over to my Girlfriend and her family. Ok enough of all that. My initial question is, "What steps should I follow for the initial startup in order to to avoid or minimize any damage to the engine that has been sitting in a garage for 22 years?". I want to thank you in advance for any suggestions and comments you may have.

D. Petty

 

As it's been setting for so long,

Step 1: Does the engine turn over? Or is it froze up?

Step 2? Carefully examine the body, frame, etc for rust.

 

I just started the same process with my old k5 that has been sitting since 01.

1. Try turning the crankshaft with a ratchet and socket. If the motor turns great if not you will have to free it up.

2. Pull the spark plugs and put a tablespoon of oil in each cylinder

3. Turn the motor over atleast 2 revolutions by hand. This makes sure you dont have a valve sticking that will hit a piston and bend.

4. Pull the carb and rebuild it.

5. Change the oil.

6. Check the trans fluid.

7. Disconnect the fuel feed line from the pump.

8. Hook a remote gas tank to the carb. Not the pump, keep it above the carb.

9. Install a battery and crank it over.

Btw clean the points if it has them.

 

I've done this several times and just completed doing it to our cj5. I follow a very similar process as above.
Remove spark plugs and (with oil squirt can squirt diesel mixed with atf 50/50 and let sit for a couple days. Get a fully charged battery. as the soaking commences, I like to loosen and tighten all electrical connections dealing with grounding and power of the battery, charging, start and ignition circuits. I also use dielecrtic grease on spark and coil leads. with spark plugs installed but loose, rotate engine by hand with wrench on crank, or pull coil lead and bump the starter a couple revolutions and let sit again. tighten down spark plugs. Drain fuel tank, replace fuel pump and all fuel filters, rebuild carb, change oil and filter (put a half cup of oil in filter before screwng it on). install new points, rotor, cap, gap points with feeler gauge and pcv valve. This is also a good time to check all vacuum and breather lines, drain and refill coolant. at this point I like to prime the oil pump, put about 4 gallons fuel in tank and with coil still disconnected crank the motor several revolutions until you observe fuel spraying into the carb venturi when you work the linkage by hand. Now install a clean air filter and the housing, re-attach the coil lead, pull the choke 1/2 on (easier to pull choke while you step on the accelerator (otherwise the steps will prevent it from pulling out)). cross your fingers and hope it fires.
Be prepared with a fire extinguisher in case a fuel supply or return leak occurs. Also have replacement filters (one by fuel pumo, another at carb inlet.
Oh, if you do not have a set of flare wrenches do get and use them. also to dislodge the fuel supply to carb fitting have two wrenches proberly oriented so that you can squeeze them together. I've seen too many carb inlets messed up by people trying to use a single crescent wrench.
lastly kroil, or other penetrating oil is your friend through out this process. Spray, let sit overnight or longer then loosen.
This is just to get it running. Road worthy, trans, tires, brakes, diffrentials, etc.

 

One more thing I like to do is pull the coil wire off, pull the plugs and crank it over until the oil light goes out, to make sure everything is well oiled before you start it. I have a kill switch on my Jeep, so if I let it set for a month, I crank it until I know the oil pressure is up, then turn the ignition on. Just a suggestion, Good Luck

 

Hi Dwayne - Welcome from Boston.

1972 was the first year of the "intermediate" model for Jeep CJs. There's a sub-forum specifically for these Jeeps here. This sub-forum is for 1971 and earlier CJ-5s and CJ-6s.

 

After confirming free, after oil change, I'd prime the oil system before running the starter or starting it. That's just me.