Putting it all together. A 55 and a 71

I was gifted a (what I believe to be a 55) Willys CJ5. The four banger runs well, but that is about all I know about it. The transmission works, but I am not sure the clutch is adjusted correctly. The brakes are not working at all, and I am told that they have been that way since the 1970s. The body is Swiss cheese. As much as I would like to restore the body I am going to say that it is beyond repair.

I am going to pick up a 71 CJ5 today. It has a V6 that turns over, but I am told that it is missing the carb. I am buying it for the body and may try to sell off the motor, frame, transmission, etc.

My plan is to do a frame off restoration. Once the frame is off I would like to address the brakes first. Do any of you have a starting point that I should look at for the brakes?

After that I was thinking about either a slight body lift or a spring over axel lift? What are your thoughts on that? Will I have to mess with a lot of steering issues if I flip the springs? Is flipping the springs a bad Idea?

Where is the best place to pick up a body bushing kit?

I plan on draining all fluids (axels, transmission, motor, brake). Do any of you have recommendations of the fluids that should go back in?

At what points do you suspect that I will run into any problems?

Thanks,

Chris

 

if the brakes havnt worked since the 70s chances are nearly everything is shot. cylenders can be rebuilt if the bores are in real good shape but youll likely need new ones. shoes can be used if theres still meat on them and rust hasnt seperated the pads. you should be able to piece together one good jeep out of the both of them. as for the lift. spring over will give you about 5 or 6 inches of lift which is crazy and not what your after. for a small lift you either have to do body lift or new springs.
standard gear oil for the axles and transfer case and tranny. it almost sounds to me like your better off fixing up the 71 with the v6 and all but i guess thats not what your after

 

Unless you are emotionally attached to the '55, the '71 would make a better starting point. The '71 has a superior drivetrain, aside from the V6. Better transmission, better transfer case (big hole vs small hole D18), better axles, better brakes. The only downside to the '71 may be the axle ratio, which probably won't make any difference to you since you're just starting out.

A '55 can be cool because it was the first year of production for the CJ-5... but that will only matter if you want to restore it to original condition.

If this Jeep has to keep its identity as a '55, I'd would not use much more from the '55 than than the frame and title. You may want cosmetic features such as the '55 seat and fuel tank (under the driver's seat) and dash, so the Jeep still looks like a '55 to anyone who can tell. You won't have much to sell of the '71 once you're finished.

Realize too that the rest of the '55 is likely to be in similar condition to its body. You could keep the engine, transmission, transfer case and axles, but I would expect that they all need to be rebuilt. There are lots of moving parts in a Jeep drivetrain, roughly twice as many as in a comparable 2WD vehicle. So expect to spend a lot of money to keep the original pieces - and the '71 pieces are both nearly 2 decades newer, and from the overall condition of the vehicle, likely to be in better condition... aside from being superior mechanically.

 

I would be disowned by my family if I tried to fix the 71. I have said for years that I want the 55, and now that I have it (my grandmother told my mom to give it to me. There is a lot behind this that we shall not go into.)


The motor in the 55 really purrrrrrs. I think that that the best way to honor the wishes of my grandmother is to put it in a condition where it drives on a daily basis. I just want something that I can drive a few miles to work, go camping, and hunt deer.

Thanks for the advice on the fluids!!!!

You are right about the lift, I do not want that much. I do not want to stress the little 4 banger very much. If I can get some 31s under there for now I would be happy. The jeep will need body bushings, so an inch or two body lift may be the ticket. Any good vendors?

Will I be able to rob brake parts off the 71 and use them for the 55?

Will the V6 bolt up to the 55 transmission? (In case it dies or I want to swap later)

Is there a vendor that I can get a wiring harness from?

I am sorry that I have so many questions!

Best,

Chris

 

Tim,
You sir make very valid points. I have to pick up the 71 after work today. I admit that I have a lot of work ahead of me(I can't find a VIN or a SN. I do have the number on the block!), and a lot of choices to make. I really do not think that I will be able to get it back to original condition. I do not want to put it in car shows.

I want to build something that I can drive in the summer. I want to hand this off to my kid in 11 years.

It may be better to swap the motor into the 71 body. If the 71 would be safer that may be the ticket.

Below are some pictures of the 71. I will post some 55 photos later.

 

Yes, but I would not swap on the 10" brakes from the '71 unless they were perfect. Parts are too scarce and expensive. The 11" brakes from '72 and later are a better choice, and parts are cheap and plentiful.

No. But the '71 transmission and engine will bolt up to the '55 transfer case. I would use all three parts from the '71 (engine, trans, transfer case) should it come to that.

Check the "where to buy parts" sticky thread at the top of the forum.

No need to apologize. That's why we and the forum are here.

 

What's the VIN on the '71? A '71 should have the gas filler in the back. And it has the wrong rear axle for a '71.

Also, I'd put some thought into which tires I wanted, if I kept the F134. Look at the Jeeps in the 2001 ECJ5 calender for inspiration.

 

8305c16213146 I tried to look it up and I think that the "c" stands for Canadian model. I really am trying to do some research without pestering people. Please do not think that i am being lazy. I am interested in this project, and I cannot wait to have something that drives.

The 55 also has this neat add on to the bed. It looks like a factory option. All you do is remove the tailgate, add this extra box, and then add the tailgate back on. I will post pictures later today.

 

Please do not be concerned about asking too many questions.

There is a thread at the top of the forum with information about serial numbers. The early CJs did not have year identifiers in their VINs, but from the sequential number, you can narrow it down.

The bed extension is a great accessory.

 

The guy that is selling me the 71 is not really sure that it is a 71. Like my 55 it sat on a ranch for years and years and years. I will look at the VIN number list and see what I can come up with for the 71. If you have a moment my number is 979-571-5396.

 

I would prefer to keep the conversation here - it goes into the archive and other readers can benefit. It's not you - it's a policy I have. Generally I send technical questions back to the forum, for that reason.

 

Tim,

No worries man. I am young enough to do a lot of communication via e-mail, forums, etc. However, I am also old enough that I grew up talking on the phone. Exchange of information is often faster over the phone, but as you pointed out it leaves no record at all for others to befit from.

More than anything I just wanted to talk to someone that has a lot of experience with these Jeeps. That invite is open to anyone reading this.

More photos to come!

Respectfully,

Chris

 

Hi Chris,
A location would also help us if you wanted to make any face to face contacts.

Don

 

DJ,

Sorry about that. I added some of the personal data.

I am a bit excited about all of this. Starting today I have a week or so that I can use to mess with these vehicles.

Thanks for all of the help guys!

Best,

Chris

 

As far as the brakes are concerned, I wouldn't use any of the stock stuff-use the dual master cylinder setup off the "71". This is an important saftey upgrade. Unless you plan a disc conversion, I'd get the 11" drum brake setup off a intermediate year Jeep. This will give you bigger, self adjusting brakes and it's an easy & inexpensive swap.

 

Parking lights don't say " I'm a '71!" either. Anxious for pics of the 55 too. It may have the factory shackle reversal which can be a plus depending on your intended use for the JEEP.

 

Ok, so here I am coming clean! Here are the photos. I have done what little research I know to do and I do not really know what I have. My grandmother told me that the Jeep was a 51 or a 52. After a bit of research I told her that there was no way that it could be a 51 or 52. The only numbers that I have on the "55" are on the block.

After looking at the 71 it seems that the frame from the 55 may be better (less crud welded to it). I do want the the snorkel cut out for the hood on the 55.

These are 55 photos, and if you can tell that it is not please let me know. I have no ego rapped up in this project. I just need to find parts and get it rolling.

 

I'm not positive, but the speedometer looks like a '55 too. I can't comment on your possible '71 but it looks like you have a good starting point on both of them!