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"505 - morphine not found" (morphine500) 02/26/2015 at 13:19 • Filed to: Jeep CJ-5

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I'm doing an article on this marvelous CJ-5, and would love if you could chime in on a few points, as i don't really know what kind of regard they are held in the US of A.

Yes, that's me cos-playing Mr. Toad right there. Anyway, this is from 1966, and was originally ordered by the Swiss Army. So it's a CJ, with a heater and 12V electronics, but it has a rifle mount for the driver. It was made even more special for me by the fact it has a Hurricane under the hood, and three on the floor, so is as close to the original MB design, as possible in a CJ-5. I love this car, and can completely see why would someone keep it as a classic. However, there are questions.

For instance I would love to know what you think about the CJ-5, if it's a workhorse, or already a classic or maybe a hobby vehicle used for off-roading? Are there still many on the road, and how are values? And what would be the engine of choice in a CJ-5?

I was also thinking about the CJ-7. It would seem to me from what i gather, that that was a more fun oriented, almost an SUV, with road usability and interior space also taken in regard - in effect the idea behind the Wrangler, in nascent form. What's your take on that?

Oh, and is a Wrangler a worthy successor in light of the CJ series, or should one just go original, for that true Jeep feeling?

And a technical thing. I read in spec sheets that before 1976 the CJ-5 had a Dana 44 rear axle, and then read about some modern-day off-roading application, and this Dana 44 crops up again. I admit to be completely in the blank when it comes to live axles, so enlighten me: is this really the same Dana 44 half a century later, or is this just a name, but a much more modern design behind it?

cheers all

505Turbeaux > 505 - morphine not found 02/26/2015 at 13:25

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The consensus in the US is the CJ5 is prone to flipping. That is what everyone remembers though. And they rust

HammerheadFistpunch > 505 - morphine not found 02/26/2015 at 13:27

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The dana 44 has been slightly modernized, but its basically the same axle you get in the rubicon. i.e. extremely stout for the CJ, and little weak for something as big and heavy as a JK unlimited.

505 - morphine not found > 505Turbeaux 02/26/2015 at 13:33

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oh i saw that. this was army surplus back in 1998, but still needed a good sandblast and respray right then. and it has some rust spots now again.

Flipping as in selling for profit, or as in landing on your head...? Guess you must mean the former :-)

505Turbeaux > 505 - morphine not found 02/26/2015 at 13:35

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haha no the latter. Tendency to flip over

Nonster > 505 - morphine not found 02/26/2015 at 14:11

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The CJ series of Jeeps are often defined by who owned Jeep at the time since from CJ-1 to CJ-7 spanned 1944-1986. Three different companies owned Jeep through those years. So there are quite a wide variety of engines, transmissions, transfercases, and axles.

Willy's Overland (1944-53)

Kaiser (1953-70)

AMC (1970-86)

These represent dividing era's in Jeeps. so you'll see changes made as the company switched hands. For instance AMC put the 258 ci straight six into the CJ-5 and CJ-7.

The CJ-5 had the longest production run from 1954-1983. In the early years it was built along with the CJ-3B and along with the CJ-7 in its later years. So depending on year, it can have a few different 4 cylinders, a buick V6, the AMC straight six or the AMC V8.

The CJ-5 and CJ-7 are very similar, the primary difference is the CJ-7 has a longer wheelbase and in 82 they put wider axles on the CJ-7 to reduce the risk of rollovers.

The CJ-5 is like a swiss army knife. It is easy to modify or build it with a variety of other Jeep parts to make it suit whatever job you need it to do. From simple little runabouts to mail trucks, hardcore rock crawlers or swamp buggies or just simple farm trucks.

As for the Dana 44. yeah its still the same design. The materials have improved but the basic design is virtually unchanged.

Nonster > Nonster 02/26/2015 at 14:13

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Oh yeah forgot to mention. I used to own a 1982 CJ-7

Here she is when I first bought her

and after a lot of blood, sweat, and tears and money

Garrett Davis > 505 - morphine not found 02/27/2015 at 03:31

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I have way too much to say about this. Will update tomorrow.

505 - morphine not found > Garrett Davis 02/27/2015 at 07:03

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looking forward to it :-)

505 - morphine not found > Nonster 02/27/2015 at 07:06

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thanks for the info, very cool jeep. is that the jack behind the spare wheel?

Also, i know about all the different engines available during the 28 years production run of the CJ-5, but if you were looking to buy one, which is the one to have?

Nonster > 505 - morphine not found 02/27/2015 at 08:43

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Yeah that's a high-lift jack, its mounted to the spare tire carrier that I built.

As for the engine, I have experience working on the AMC 258 I6 and its a damn near indestructible engine with plenty of torque and pretty good aftermarket support so I'd be drawn to that or the AMC 304 V8.

But my favorite CJ-5 is the Renegade with the 304 V8