Back On The Road After Over 40 Years

Took the 67 CJ5 for a first drive down the road today.

From what I was told this is the first time it has moved under its own power since 1979.

It ran and drove very well, with no bad noises.

Still have some few little things to do to it but it seems to be mechanically sound.

I have serviced all the wheel bearings including new seals and upgraded to 11" brakes all around. It stops very well. All of the Jeeps I have had before were flat fenders with the L134, so this is my first Jeep with the F-134. I am impressed, it has some get up and go to it. Of course the gearing is part of it compared to the older Jeeps I am used to, but this old gal has some pep.

Next up will be new gaskets for the valve and rocker covers, which are leaking, and I need to connect the new parking brake and speedometer cables, but that is all minor stuff.

Always exciting to me when I first get one rolling again.

 

Congrats!

 

That's awesome! Got a picture?

 

Great to hear, Andy. Glad you're enjoying it. Is it coming to the reunion ?

 

Randy,

This Jeep is possibly coming to the reunion. I have sold the seats out of it and made arrangements to deliver these two weeks from now. I had new ones ordered which were supposed to be here last week, but I got an update last week saying the shipping date is being pushed out to the last week of August. So, I will not have seats for the time between. I have another set of original seats that the foam is terrible on but I may use some other cushions to make temporary seats in case the new ones don't arrive on time.

I started the rebuild of a T-90 for my CJ2A, and I may end up bringing it to the reunion depending on how far I get with it. The one that is in it now is close to failure and sounds like a rock crusher going down the road. Otherwise this CJ2A is in overall good mechanical shape. I have rebuilt the complete steering system and front suspension, with a NOS front axle, and have serviced everything on it. Brakes have been upgraded to 11" self adjusting.





Truckee4X4,

The 67 Jeep is in a lot better shape than the pictures show, has only 33K miles on it, and a nearly perfect body with only one quarter sized rust hole in the cargo bed where an old battery sat for decades. I have been working on the mechanical stuff and wiring and have everything working with the exception of the speedometer and parking brake. I have also upgraded the brakes on this Jeep to 11" self adjusting.

I drove the CJ5 all around my back pastures today, testing the 4 wheel drive. It performs like a low mileage Jeep should. Coming back up the fairly steep hill from there I gave it the gas and it climbed that hill like a champ. Had fun playing around with it in the back pastures, even got some mud thrown around.

I plan to start some cosmetic rehab this Summer, with a full repaint sometime this Fall.

 

You have a couple really nice toys there,sir! Can't wait to see them. I may have to park in the back row at the reunion!

 

Well, in pictures the CJ2A looks a lot better than it really is, and the CJ5 looks a lot worse than it is, you won't need to park in the back row no matter which one I bring.

Working on the CJ5 yesterday I found that trying to get my big old arthritic hand in there to start the keeper nut on the speedometer cable is impossible. I think I will have to unbutton the crossmember and drop it down a bit. After that the only other thing for being road worthy is to install the taillights. To get it trail ready I have to also install the roll bar and seat belts, but that is no big deal and doesn't require getting down under it so easier on my old bones.

 

Excellent. Expect to have a good time here. The reunion family here is great. I'm ready now, but that's just because my old CJ is my daily driver.

 

Took the wife for a ride down the road in the CJ5. She kept saying "Don't go so fast!".

I think we we hit 40 mph at one down hill stretch but mainly ran at about 30 mph.

She just isn't used to riding in an open vehicle with no seat belts. At least she is able to get in and out of this Jeep better than the CJ2A.

I do have plans to add a roll bar and seat belts soon.

 

Seat belts and the roll bar for sure. Oddly enough, they didn't even check them on us last time. I'm still on track here except my Rochester 2g crapped out on me today. Got right on the phone and ordered a new one to be here next week. Should be ok, just some minor adjustments.

 

Glad the Jeeps are doing well. That first drive is exciting.
I want to make the Reunion, maybe next year after I retire.
Drove the M38A1 on the road Sunday and I got up to about 40, but felt more stable at 35 or less. Got to get used to the short wheelbase at speed. I find getting in the M38A1 is harder now than when I was younger also. Man is it fun to drive though.
I will also probably add some seat belts at some point. Maybe make them easily removable for shows.
When I get the 64 CJ5 back together, it will have the 11in brakes.
I plan to make it more of a daily driver type vehicle with more some more modern upgrades.

These posts help to motivate me to get out and work on those Jeeps (When it cools off a little).

Thanks for posting this.


Dave

 

Olpappy. I am so glad to here you got her on the road again! Did you by chance find yourself a parking brake? I'm sorry my dad and I (matt johnson) couldn't find it, he must of sold it a while back.

 

No worries about the parking brake, thanks for looking for it. I did find one down in the barn when I went down to cut up that blue body for the panels and pieces folks wanted.

It is pretty rusty but the bakelite handle is not busted. I removed the cane and have it soaking in Evaporust inside a piece of PVC pipe. I wasn't sure what that stuff might do to the handle, so the pipe keeps it only on the metal. The bracket on my Jeep is in nice shape, just had a busted handle on the cane.

My wife thinks I am a hoarder, and when it comes to car parts I probably am, but sometimes it pays to keep stuff. I think that parking brake probably came with the disassembled 67 I just cut up, but don't know it may have been down there for decades. It was in a big box full of all sorts of things, including an air horn probably for a CCKW "Deuce and a Half".

 

It always pays to keep parts on hand.
Finally got the new batteries in the 54, and then the starter goes out. Got a spare, just got to get cool enough to dig through the storage container and get it out. Always something to replace. My wife's helping me organize all my spare parts.




Glad you are able to drive those.


Dave

 

Andy , I see you have bows for a top on the 5. Do you have a good top and doors? I think I have a never been used Bestop for early CJ's but don't have any hardware for it. Could you use it? If you want it, I'll bring it to the reunion.

 

The Jeep sat outside for over a year at the 4X4 where I found it. The top that was on it had filled with water and collapsed. The Jeep was in a barn since 1979 and the top probably predates that. Sitting full of water and rotting leaves didn't help the old material, and the windows are very brittle and cloudy.

So, If you have the fabric top I could certainly use it. The top that was on it was a Bestop "Supertop", but it isn't that different from the "Tigertop" on my Cj2A. I am pretty sure I can make the hardware I have fit yours. We can possibly work out a trade or I will just buy it from you.

 

I'll bring you the top. No charge. This one is like new. Not sure it was ever installed. It does have a couple damaged areas on the side of one door. I have the material to fix that. All snaps are good. The plastic (windows) are very clear. You can call me if you want. (660)998-4708