1972 Cj5 Year Of The Intermediate Of Intermediates

It would not have a tailgate, D slot rims, rollbar.

 

So I have been reading all the new posts on this thread. I enjoy this group as I am not a "Jeep guy" like all of you. The Plum Renegade is my first CJ5 project ever. That said I've know it for close to 30 years. Since you bring up the heater controls in the Plum Renegade being "surprising" That jogged my memory. The last time I saw the Plum Renegade before it was dropped off to me to get going again it had an aftermarket underdash A/C setup in it. Someone in the family had pulled it out recently. SO maybe years and years ago someone relocated the heater controls to the dash panel to fit the A/C unit. I'll look at it again tomorrow to see if there are any clues.

 

Seems likely.

 

This Jeep has so much "wrong" with it that I would assume it was put together from a wreck and available parts, or some similar scenario. The offset rear axle with 4.88 gears stands out as an "impossible" configuration for a '72. 4.88s went away for 1972, and the offset axle would only function for a short time with the Dana 20 transfer case. The offset axle needs the offset Dana 18 transfer case, which was already obsolete by the time AMC took over. The D20 is so central to the "new" V8 CJ-5 that I can't imagine that the factory delivered this Jeep with a 1972 VIN.

Another possibility (which we have seen here) somebody wanted your original axles and swapped them for axles they had on hand. Happens, not just with axles but other desirable drivetrain parts too.

What front axle do you have? Are you sure the ratios match front to rear? The production window for the offset flanged 44 was short enough that I think the production date does not tell you much, considering the supposed build date of the Jeep.

Having worked on and off for the second-largest dealership in the USA from ca '72 through '76, I experienced first-hand the timing of the new models. The '71-72 transition happened before I arrived, but I know the factory would have shut down to retool for the summer, and the last '71s were probably delivered in May or June - and no special orders well before that. That's like a 3-month gap between the end of the '71s and the '72s.

The tailgate was not an option, it was factory equipment in 1972. The Renegade was a package, with unique features that were only available with the package in 1972 - solid back panel, rear mounted spare, special wheels, oil and amp gauges, roll bar, stripes, colors, likely others I have not recalled. Jeep was cooperative about special order stuff, but I expect they would not have accepted the order for the Jeep as you describe it. Also, special orders were not routinely accepted until after the new model year introduction was completed. Thus a combination of non-standard features with a low serial number seems additionally far fetched.

 

The block lettering ended with the '71 model year. Jeep then went to a Jeep script lettering centered in the cowl area. In 1974-ish they went to a different Jeep script located lower on the body. This design continued to the end of the CJs IIRC.


Block Lettering


'72-73 script


'74-ish up script

 

The '72 Renegade gauges would be paired on the opposite side of the steering column from the speedo cluster. You can look under the dash at the wiring to compare with the Plum Renegade above. The original OP gauge from Jeep was electric. The greenish-yellow color was a popular Renegade color, and would have come with the 999 paint code as I recall. Whatever color you see under the dash is the original color. The paint and trim tag on a '72 is a glued-on foil tag on the passenger side of the firewall, often lost. As mentioned, solid back panel with rear mounted spare, D-slots, roll bar. The Renegade was popular but so were similarly equipped CJ-5s. My 'new 73 back in the day was equipped exactly like a Renegade except for the stripes, color and wheels.

1972 was the last year for the really exclusive goodies that came with the Renegade package. As mentioned, my loaded '73 had everything a '73 Renegade would except the appearance. In 1974 they even relaxed the color requirement, and you could get the Renegade package with any of the factory colors as well as the special colors.

 

Thanks! Being the owner of 13 Jeeps of various years I am well aware of the differences in lettering and when it changed. I consider the pic you show for 72-73 block lettering and haven't figured out how to post pics to show what I was talking about so thanks for that. I have seen 74's with that lettering and I have seen 73's with the script you show in the last pic so I have always been confused. Maybe the owners were confused and the Jeeps really weren't the years they thought they were. My thought has always been it changed in 73. Personally it's my favorite lettering.

 

I would agree with timgr. Someone swapped the axle. I don't see if you mention what transfer case you have, it may be the same setup I have in my 79 rock crawler and be a model 20 with 18 guts. If so IMO this is as good as it gets and your lucky. It would be interesting to know what the angle of you drive shaft is and where it is attached to the transfer case.

People do odd things like has been said. I have a 66 with a Dauntless, offset axle and a dana 20. Not sure of the tranny, but the drive shaft angle is crazy. Didn't notice it until I got it home.

 

NP! These kinds of questions seem to raise a lot of discussion. Glad you're interested.

I have some confidence that the transition in lettering styles was late '74. It's what I remember, and I believe the '74-80 factory parts book agrees with me. When the parts book was published, each style of panel was superceded by the part for '75, which is the last style I showed above. There was an incident back in the day which I vaguely remember, where only the '75 style panels were available through the Jeep dealership parts counter. As we discussed above, a lot happens in 50 years, and I think the only replacement panels available to this day are in the '75 style. Made me curious - if you look at random pictures of 1974 CJ5s, there are lots of examples of each style. 1974 Jeep CJ-5 - Bing images

 

Careful Gordon with the fan blade and pulleys. The 1972 had a "short" water pump that is different from every other 304 made after 1972. Mixing and matching can cause some headache. Only a few people offer them now and if yours is original, have it rebuilt.

My 1972 CJ5 is a low mile original owned since 1978. Has oil and amp gauges to the left of the steering wheel in the dash. Heater controls hang.

 

Thanks for the pics and the info. Currently our original water pump is still doing it's job. We plan to get a suitable replacement soon just in case. And we hope to get the original rebuilt to not change the jeep too much if possible. We will see how it goes.

 

Julep Green Poly (metallic) - should be paint code 491. Very nice. Seems like an unusual color choice for 1972. Seems like there were more Avocado Mist Poly than this green.

Gauges in this Jeep suggest that the amp and oil gauges were available on the regular option list. No doubt these are factory installed.

The short T-15 shifter stalk is also characteristic. I recall they got longer for '73, or maybe late '72. Cool. No padded dash, also an option and part of the Renegade package.

Good advice about the water pump - covered earlier in another of Gordon's threads. Amc 304 Water Pump Rebuild??

 

Got the Jeep in 1978 with 47,000 miles. It now has 57,000 miles. I've driven the jeep every year since, hunting on our 2000 acre property in Cazadero near "Willys America". I just rebuilt the upper end of the engine. The jeep has never left me stranded in the last 40+ years. A great jeep with the best options (4.27 gears) for my needs. I use the jeep to hunt the steep and rugged roads of Cazadero Ca. Plan on doing so in this jeep the rest of my life.

Awesome vehicle - they don't make them like this anymore. 4x's like no other and the comfort is perfectly 1972 V8... Won't find the same with a newer Jeep.

Love the Julep green - gonna touch up the exterior and refresh the interior next.

Nor Cal

 

This creates envy(in a positive manner)and stating the word "hunting" tells us its not all flat farmland.

 

I took another good look at the Plum Renegade and I can say with good certainty that the heater controls were relocated into the dash. Previously I had no reason to look it over. But I can tell that the holes were drilled, and even though they are pretty straight. They aren't perfectly straight. As well one of the cables is pulled about as tight as you would want to have one.