Went to the dark side....

[dagr8tim]

I had been talking with a guy who had a 75 CJ5 that he was getting ready to part. I wanted the 258 out of it for some donor parts for a stoker. He didn't have the time to part it and he didn't want to deal with people nagging him for parts. One day we were talking and he said he'd let it go for $500. During the course of the conversation, he mentioned he was looking for a 231 to rebuild with a 4:1 kit. This morning for $400 and a transfer case, he dropped this off.

It's your run of the mill CJ5. 258, T15 (or so the PO claims, everyone tells me the T14 was factory), Dana 20, Dana 30 & Dana 44 axles.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/901137_10152793032485131_1423525124_o.jpg
My 4 year olds playing on it.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/919251_10152793035060131_1786857080_o.jpg
Sitting next to the XJ. The CJ has 33's and the XJ has 31's.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/466647_10152793034360131_1842801051_o.jpg
Had been sitting in a barn for the last few years. Somebody went through the effort to put this on.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/463922_10152793031760131_1861267247_o.jpg
Free set of doors. They'll probably be up for sale/trade soon.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/464885_10152793031160131_1611448173_o.jpg
Picked this up on CL for $50 last night to replace the missing windshield.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/459369_10152793034185131_144162788_o.jpg
New dash and a complete rewire is in the future.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/459187_10152793033740131_1882599920_o.jpg
The mighty 258

And so the adventure begins........

[4.3LXJ]

Nice find. I'm an old CJ5 guy. Soooooo, I notice a few things, like the tub is 76 and up. Also that fender makes me su****ious that the frame is bent there. No big deal, mine was too from too much air. So if you want to make a top fit, you will at least need the later doors to fit the square opening. Frame looks like it was a 73. Can't quite tell for sure since I cannot see the front springs clearly. But hey, great find. Does it have the D44 rear or the AMC 20?

[dagr8tim]

It's funny that you mention the tub. Somebody else told me it looked like a 76 tub. Atleast that means the 78 CJ7 windshield I picked up should fit. I thought 76+ frames were wider in the rear making a tub swap difficult because the body mounts don't line up.

As for the frame, should I start looking for a new one, or can they be straightened?

I've got some pics of the front and rear springs, I can post later. Is there a vin on the frame above the rear passenger wheel?

Dana 30/44 combo with 3.73's.

[cantab27]

That's rather cool .. Save the old girl if ya can ... Yeah the guards and gap say something not straight .. No biggie .. Good score I say ..

[4.3LXJ]

That combo is standard for 72 - 75. And yes, probably has a T14 with a D20 tcase. Reverse is real weak on those. I knocked out two of them. Then went to a T15 which is a nice strong tranny that will not pop out of gear, unless the tcase falls off. Did that once too. As far as the frame goes, it can be fixed. Cut the bottom and up one side with a very narrow pie slice shape. Re weld and gusset and you are good to go. When I was a fireman, I redid mine at work while getting paid for it :D

[dagr8tim]

Nice find. I'm an old CJ5 guy. Soooooo, I notice a few things, like the tub is 76 and up. Also that fender makes me su****ious that the frame is bent there. No big deal, mine was too from too much air. So if you want to make a top fit, you will at least need the later doors to fit the square opening. Frame looks like it was a 73. Can't quite tell for sure since I cannot see the front springs clearly. But hey, great find. Does it have the D44 rear or the AMC 20?

Here's the best pic of the front springs. I was wondering if this was the standard amount of leafs or not.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/472589_10152793035545131_325726037_o.jpg

[4.3LXJ]

Those are the 72 - 75 springs. They are 1.75" wide. The later ones were 2" front and 2.5" rear. Both came with two choices: standard and heavy duty. What you have is the heavy duty

[dagr8tim]

Those are the 72 - 75 springs. They are 1.75" wide. The later ones were 2" front and 2.5" rear. Both came with two choices: standard and heavy duty. What you have is the heavy duty

So you think I have a 72 - 75 frame and a non 72 - 75 tub?

[4.3LXJ]

72-75 frame and running gear with 76-78 tub

[XJ Wheeler]

Nice score! Hope it goes well, should be a good project. I might su****ious of a CJ5 with a CJ7 tub. The wheelbase is different, so not sure how they made that work.

[dagr8tim]

Nice score! Hope it goes well, should be a good project. I might su****ious of a CJ5 with a CJ7 tub. The wheelbase is different, so not sure how they made that work.

I didn't think it was possible to use a 7 tub on a 5. Maybe that explains why the wheels are not centered in the wheel wells.

[XJ Wheeler]

Haha, just noticed it *'d the word su****ious... s u s p i c i o u s

Yeah, Tim. I bet that's it. If that frame is bent it might be worth it to find a '7 frame and transplant everything to that. Just my opinion.

[bluedragon436]

Looks like could be a good project for sure... Hope to see her transformed back into a good looking girl!!

[dagr8tim]

Haha, just noticed it *'d the word su****ious... s u s p i c i o u s

Yeah, Tim. I bet that's it. If that frame is bent it might be worth it to find a '7 frame and transplant everything to that. Just my opinion.

I'm pondering a fiberglass CJ5 tub. There's also afew pre 76 CJ5's on CL right now. One is complete and stock for $700. I'm almost considering getting another and using this as donor parts.

I'm still up in the air what to do with it. I'm torn between mild lift for light trail riding or do a rat rod Jeep.

[XJ Wheeler]

All good ideas, should be cool.

[dagr8tim]

Nice find. I'm an old CJ5 guy. Soooooo, I notice a few things, like the tub is 76 and up. Also that fender makes me su****ious that the frame is bent there. No big deal, mine was too from too much air. So if you want to make a top fit, you will at least need the later doors to fit the square opening. Frame looks like it was a 73. Can't quite tell for sure since I cannot see the front springs clearly. But hey, great find. Does it have the D44 rear or the AMC 20?

I've been thinking about something and wanted to run an idea past you.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/481007_10152793057305131_85842311_n.jpg

It's hard to see in this pic, but the head of the bolt for the body mount comes through the floor. In my mind, this drops the front of the tub atleast an inch. Is it possible that's where the gap comes from?