66 CJ5 good deal?

Hey all, got rid of the Wrangler decided on round headlights. Wanted something someone else spent the money on. Was not really ready to buy just yet but found one that I'm affraid I will regret passing on.

66 CJ5 304, auto, holly pro injection, shift kit, dual exhaust, alum radiator. D44 detroit, D27 easy locker. pwr steering/ pwr brakes. fuel cell and dual uptima batt. 2 1/2 superlift, newer 33x 12.5 pro comp mud terrains has a tilt glass front end on it. Nice after market alum wheels. Is painted yellow, even the color I wanted.

needs soft top only has bikini and half soft doors, no heat or radio. guy will take $2800 for it. Seems like a great deal but have only messed with a CJ5 once the seat was bolted to the floor and I did not fit well in it. I'm 6 foot and others have said that I will be fine, although not as much room as a wrangler. I've got the cash for it but was planning on paying off bills with the $$$$. The Jeep is set up how I want V8, auto, lockers, 33's, yellow, tilt glass front pwr steering and brakes. Its about 6 hrs from Seattle, down in Oregon. The price seems too good to be true. The parts and time someone put into it make it hard to pass up. Are the D27's good front ends?? I assume its priced right if everything was done correctly.

 

For what it's worth, Mike Boyink has a good howto on his site about moving that driver's seat back for us big folks. I think Mike's 6'3", I'm 6'4" with a 67 CJ5, it's a tight fit but I think I'll be ok when I follow Mike's instructions.

 

If everything you've been told is true, BUY IT!!! I'd take the time and look at it if at all possible. You're always better off seeing it...

Brians right, I've used the boyink wheelhouse notch to move my seat back and it works great. Only took a couple of hours...

 

The one I looked at before, had a cable clutch and manual brakes, sitting so far forward I could'nt work the brake or clutch comfortably. With the auto and power brakes I think all will be well. Owner said that he's 5'9 and its fine. Was not sure if the seat was back all the way. Looks like a road trip this weekend. I thought if everything was as said it was a great deal. Sounded like the wife wanted him to get rid of it. He said because of 2 little kids.

 

i'm 6 foot and have no problem with the seat in my 69 (clutch and all)

steel or fiberglass body? looks really nice from here but then i'm 2000 mi away.

check and smell the auto tranny fluid for burning etc.

 

steel body, tilt glass front. I think it looks good as well. Seems priced to low so I'm wondering whats wrong with it. Is 350 miles from me. Will check for the burned trans smell.

 

would offer $2000. also check for bent axle houseings, while your undernith look for oil leaks and twisted or misalinged driveshafts.

 

Content looks good for the money. It seems now days that $2500 is as low as it goes for a somewhat road worthy Jeep with decent upgrades. Most people want alot more to recover what they put into it.

You always have to do alot of changes to a Jeep purchase to make it "yours". Plenty of hidden glitches you won't find now but that's Jeep reality.

 

I think its a great deal, MSD ignition, Fuel Cell, etc. guy said the tires have 150 miles on em 33x12.5 mud terrains. Also says the engine had the top end done or was all rebuilt before he got it. I cant remember which. This is what makes me nervous, it seems to good a deal. but as others say offer less. In the Pacific Northwest Jeeps/Early Broncos are usually 4-5 for a nice one up to 6-7. And you still may end up replacing worn out broken parts. Talked to the guy again today, he said the frame is frame is good no rust holes or cracks, that it came from Utah before he got it. Is in E. Oregon, fairly dry there as well. He said there is surface rust on the inside of the tub but nothing serious. I was planning to drive back but he said that with the way its geared at 60 mph you are at 3000 rpm and does not think it would be good for it to do that for 6 or so hours. Now I know that you have to read between the lines when purchasing something. Is this my hint that maybe the tranny needs work orr......, he says when he hit the trails he always trailered it. He says that you just dont want to drive on the highway that long geared the way it is. I'm comming from a Wrangler 6 cyl 5 spd with 31's and it would go on the highway all day long. a strictly trail jeep is new to me. I think Micihgan Pinstripes said it already, "plenty of glitches".

 

sounds like it has very low gearing. a 66 could be had with both 5.38s and 4.27s. either way that would make lots of rpms at speed. is there a U-haul in his town. If so you could rent a tow dolly or flat tow it back with a tow bar. If it runs and drives, I dont think you could ever get hurt for that price. Of course less is better....

 

Probably use to be a 4cyl with 5.38's

U-haul car hauler 1 way should be under $100 or $49 take it with you "local 24 hour".

Don't drive it home, you don't know it good enough. don't be concerned about him "trailering it". That is what most of us do. I don't go wheeling with my ride home

Did you git it yet?
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How bout now ?

 

I'm pick up less as well, the flatbed trailer and truck from budget is 220 one way. I can handle that. So far though no one wants to do the road trip so is looking like I'll have to grayhound it. I'v talked to the guy enough he said it runs, drives good, seems like a straight shooter. I think I'll take the chance and head down there. When I went out with the local 4 wheel drive club some of the rigs were trailered in, but they all had 38's or 40's on em, so I was surpried that some that looks streetable requires trailering, I guess streetable and highway is different though. Thanks for the info guys. I guess we'll see in a couple days. I'm planning on heading down thurs night.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I was going to go look at it tomorrow but is about 6 hours one way. Dont want to go for nothin. I said earlier it has a 304 and an auto. From what I have read 66's only had an 81 in. wheel base, shorter than the later 84 in. CJ5's and shorter than the 94 in. CJ7/Wranglers. CJ5's never came with autos due to the short wheelbase. Owner says the drive shaft is only about a foot and half long and has big u joints. Am I about to run out and buy something that will be breaking drive shafts/U joints all the time? Anyone have experience with this?

 

I have done alot of research on this and my conclusion is that the only way to get by with an auto in a cj5 is to have high angle U joint and to move the motor forward, Not really that plausable with an amc motor due to their long length anyway. I have seen one with a chevy v8 and t350 trans that was done very well by moving the motor 4-5 inches forward and using a custon driveline. I have checked out a few with autos installed and a really short rear driveshaft was all I found. I like to articulate and have plenty of spring movement so i am looking for a manual trans for my jeep. Dont take my advice or anyone elses here as the bible for this, just our humble input. Hope it all works out.

 

sometimes things are too good to be true, 67CJ5 what you said makes sence too bad, its a good price and all. Is in your state over in Bend. If it was closer I'd go mess with it but 6 hours from Seattle is too far. I think I'm gonna pass on this one. Thanks for the feedback guys.

 

Living in Portland, OR, the land of overpriced Jeeps, I'd say buy it for that money. Doesn't hurt to make an offer though! . If you found that it has way too many problems you can always re-sell it, probably at a profit, or part it out and make money on it. A clean straight tub is worth around $500 in this area by itself. Nickmil.

 

If I had a garage I could play with it but at this time I cant get any projects. Talked with owner yesterday. He said it has a high pinion 44 in the rear but from reading about them, they are a front end, reverse rotation off a ford, modified to work on the rear but since its turning in the wrong direction the pinion bearings have oil problems. Sounds like it may have a 1 in engine raise as well. It would cost another 400 or so to get it up to Seattle with rental car, rental truck and trailer. I dont know enough to know if I'm getting a problem or not. But for you guys in Oregon its in the auto trader and it sure looks nice.

 

Ill Tell You Here In Utah It Would Go For 6+ Id Pick It Up In A Second. Just Check And See What Kind Of Mods They Made To Make That Rear Drive Shaft Fit, It Must Be Ike Six Inches Long.