Is this old jalopy worth fixing? My '66 CJ5. Need opinions.

First off, sorry for all the photos, just trying to convey the whole picture of this rig's health. It's a '66 with original Dauntless, and a newer model 3spd transmission with synchro'd first, but not reverse. Otherwise just a little bit taller leaf springs, later 15x8 wheels, and a roll bar are the only mods as far as I can tell. Allegedly most of the paint is original other than the two rear quarter panel repairs.

It cranks up and drives just fine, but the body is pretty bad on the under side, and only a couple body mounts are even functional anymore. It lived a life of staying muddy and it shows. Both floor pans have been replaced with what looks like riveted in aluminum panels, but somehow I missed that when taking the photos.

So I'm wondering if it's worth really getting into the thing and trying to restore stuff or just let it live the rest of it's life as-is. I don't personally have the ability to do metal work so I would have to farm out pretty much everything.

I'd just like to get thoughts from everyone here on the overall situation on this Jeep. Does it make sense to pay someone to do a mild restoration (who? how much $?) or should I just leave well enough alone and enjoy it for what it is? I gave $2500 for it, so I don't know if that's a good price, then I bought tires so I'm in for $3k right now.

 

The Jeep has some sentimental value as well. I bought off my buddy who has owned it for twenty years. He bought it off his best friend's dad growing up who bought it brand new. I agreed to not sell it to anyone unless it was back to him. In a perfect world I'd love to have someone restore it, but I'm not interested in pissing money away just for the sake of doing it. Would a resto-mod make more sense? Like tearing it all down, having the powertrain rebuilt, and then putting a reproduction tub on?

Since I can't do the work properly myself I'd have to be 100% confident in an old Jeep specialty shop, not just Bubba's collision shop or something. Are there any shops like that around the Atlanta area that anyone is aware of?

 

I don't know about the Atlanta area, but decent, early CJ5 tubs out here (Napa, CA) come up for sale pretty regularly at a decent price. If you are handy with a wrench and have some lifting buddies you can swap a tub pretty easily. I bet it would be cheaper than fixing/replacing the hat channels if you are paying someone to do that. I vote for keep it.

Maybe this guy will sell you just the tub?
CJ-5

 

Very complete and mostly original. A little more rust then I started with but I'd call it a winner.

 

Please get it safe to drive (brakes, fluids, belts and hoses) and drive it. Very few Jeeps are left in that much of an original condition. Far too many Jeeps get taken apart only to never see the road again. With best intentions people over estimate their mechanical abilities and a realistic budget for a project that is very low on the priority list of the wife only to let an old Jeep go to pieces. This is a 50 year old Jeep. Your best first move is to locate a factory service manual and a Jeep CJ rebuilders manual by Moses Ludel. Drive it and have fun.

 

I have started with less....all has been said,take the body alone and have some one do repairs or buy a repro body and do some wrenching,not a big project,when the body is of you will want to paint the frame rails,etc.,etc......and so it begins.If you dismantle it take lots of pics as you go,even a machine as simple as these can be confusing as it goes back together......or just do the mechanicals to make it safe to drive and have the underside sprayed with oil,not undercoating,that willstop the rusting and help with future wrenching,good luck have fun and drive it.

 

I'll toss my vote in for just fixing/repairing what's there. You've really got a solid jeep there, from what I can see.

I wish mine had been in good a shape when I got it =]

 

X2

 

I missed a few points of things that have already been done.

1. Starter rebuilt
2. Carb rebuilt
3. New Points
4. Brake S-lines replaced, new pads, bled. etc.

As it stands it's a fine Saturday afternoon cruiser. Getting down to the real basics, I'd like to have the hat-channel and whatnot replaced with proper body mounts. I'd like to fix whatever is leaking oil from the engine. The fuel tank leaks around the top plate/hatch when it's totally full so I'd like to fix that. The fuel gauge does not work so it needs to be fixed.

I like the original paint and patina (overused word) but hate the frame rust so having that cleaned up and painted, floor pans replaced properly, and other rust removed would get me to a better place.

Eventually I'd like to source proper '66 wheels and skinny tires, and aesthetically I'd like to remove the roll bar but I realize it's nearly a necessity from a safety standpoint.


In a perfect world I'd give someone $5k and they'd give me back this, but I don't think that's feasible.

 

Throwback, that's a great using Jeep and learning "the Jeep thing" experience. I vote-- care for any safety issues--and take her to the boondocks! Scratches will add character. I throw farm fencing wire on the hood of this one.

 

My'49 was a little worst than yours, and I was able to save it. Just takes time and patience.

 

drive it and keep an eye out for a tub....

save along the way..

these things bolt together like Ikea furniture and there is way more support out there to help you along the way...

 

What's the best source for the original looking wheels? Like Dave B's picture above.

Would it be beneficial to spray some kind of oil on the underside of the tub now to stop further rust development?

 

Just repair what you can repair, find a guy who can do it, do not look for perferction, and with 2 or 3000$ it will be perfect.
Not useful to do all at the same time, make a program.

 

My CJ6 tub was so bad it had wood floors and even part way up the sides were wood. Oh, and casket trim, lots of casket trim. The previous owner worked part time for a casket manufacturer. I scrimped, saved, and bought an Aqualu body. If you were to redo it, I'd start fresh with a repro steel body if trying to keep it original, but I'd look at an Aqualu body if you were going to restomod it. I like fiberglas too. OK, I like anything except rust. I drove such bad vehicles as a youngster that I think I'm allergic to rust now. Just my 2 cents. Good luck any way you do it, and remember, if you do it, you just might save it from a kid getting it, beating it to death and scrapping it.

 

Thanks! Do you have any pics of yours you can share? I'd like to see the process you went through.

 

To stop the rust look for a product called fluid film all natural and biodegradable. Body shop safe. Works amazing. Make it safe and enjoy it.

 

I would say it is a very nice jeep . Fix the necessary parts and drive it . Find a good tub and sell the one you have who has less ! Believe me there is not much to these jeeps .I wish you where closer i would take the project on . I had a bad one , i feel .