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

That tub isn't that bad at all. I'm rebuilding one far worse. Its a good solid jeep. I would say do what your budget allows.

 

When I brought my 59 home and literally tore the body off by hand, the only tool I needed was a claw hammer the break one head of one bolt to get the bed off, I re-tubbed. You do not HAVE to and you must repair those strut pieces under the front floor. Oil Good idea.

 

Heck, that's in WAY better shape than the one I hopped in and drove cross-country a few months ago.

Because it's in such an unmolested state, I'd hate to see it get chopped up in any way. I vote for making it as safe as plausible, replacing the parts that bother you, and drive it as-is. Down the road if it becomes too far gone or embarrassing to keep it going, then make a bigger decision about replacing the body. As it is, it really isn't that bad.

I see the mounts, did it come with the back seat?

 

Yes, I have the seat, it just has a few tears in the fabric so I have it out right now.

 

here is what we started with the boys 70 | EarlyCJ5.com

 

I was thinking the same thing.

 

I paid a little more for one that had better floors but rife with mechanical problems. If it were mine, I'd pull the tub, fix the floors and put it back together. Restoration would cost more than it's worth IMO.

 

Were it mine, I'd drive it as it is once it's safe and use it to learn with. Fix what you know how to fix. Don't do anything drastic like take it apart. Just fix stuff on a Saturday and drive it the rest of the week. When you are ready and have a few days off, learn how to fix something you don't know. Learn to weld.

 

I would leave it and enjoy it as is. When you ask people if you should do something before you even begin, that indicates a lack of real desire to do it in the first place. Many times that results in a loss of interest, a half finished project and asking the same people " now what do I do"? On the flipside, the satisfaction of seeing a project to conclusion can erase the doubts you had when you began the project.