Found a 1955 CJ5, CJ6

I found two jeeps, a CJ5 and a CJ6. I'm interested in the 5 and probably will sell the 6.
I currently have a CJ3B (54) that I will sell if I buy the other two.

My question to you all is, the CJ5 comes with a OHV four and I have a 231 odd fire V6 that I can install in place of the four. Would I be better off leaving the stock four in the CJ5?

If the four cyclinder motor is in good running condition, would it be enough motor to live with?

The CJ5 is in very good shape. There are very few dents, most of the body is perfect. It comes with a 3 speed trans, transfer case and a Warn overdrive. I noticed it has been converted to a 12v electrical system, has two heaters, newer bucket seats from something other than a jeep, a roll bar. The spare tire mount is on the passenger side.

I would like to do a detailed restoratin on this jeep and ride it on the many forest service roads in my neck of the woods.

 

JMHO, but for this plan I personally would stick with the four, but that's just me. I'm restoring a '56 CJ5 with the same basic plan, and have no intention of changing to a different engine. That little four will putt me all over the Colorado mountains just fine, thank you. My Jeep will be for scenic trails and local errands in town, and that's it. Nothing extreme in my plans.

There's no question that the V6 is the better engine for street driving though, if you'd ever want to go over 45mph that is.

 

Ron,
Thanks for the reply. My intended use is much like yours. With the overdrive unit it has, would it be able to cruise at 55, maybe even 60 mph?

I visualize driving to distant locations from my home, like maybe to the Reno area to drive out in the desert near there and I wouldn't want to have to drive it at a max speed of 45 mph.

 

I had a 59 CJ5 Jeep with 4 cylinder and overdrive. I was 19 when I got it69)(back in 197. I drove the jeep to college and on several 100 mile each way trips. The 4 cylinder with overdrive could do 65 on the flat in overdrive, if you dared. It was one noisy, and quite unstable vehicle at that speed. Much better at 50 or less. Of course, that was back in the day with stock tires (670-15) (about 6 inches wide or less), nylon cord tires, with tubes.

I can tell you that driving 100 miles in a jeep to get somewhere is an experience, and that you are ready to get out of the jeep for a while, before jumping back in for the ride home. Mine had a full metal top, which made the noise worse and the center of gravity a little higher, making the jeep a little more unstable on a quick turn.

That was 40 years ago. I now have a 68 jeep that I flat tow to where I want to go and have fun with when I get there.

Something to consider is if you are intending on putting larger (diameter) tires on the jeep, the result will be a reduction in power. Wider tires will have greater footprint and be harder to steer on dry pavement. Also wider tires will put more strain on the steering box and tie rods. Larger or wider tires will be harder to stop with the standard drum brakes.

I run 2" spacers on the front of my jeep to widen the footprint with stock size tires, to give the jeep 4" wider stance without changing tire size. (I don't have them on the back because I have duals on the back).

 

Unless I was restoring a Jeep to original I'd go with the v6. That said I'd fix the Jeep up with the :hurrican: drive it around for a while and then deside. Oh and if it where me I'd Keep the CJ6, put the OD on it and run that! it will be much more roadable with the extra wheel base.

 

The only thing I see is

:uwop:

But I would drive it like it is a little and see if the little 4 is enough.......

 

If this choice were up to me, I'd build the CJ-6 and restore/preserve the CJ-5. A '55 is the first year of production, and has some nice vintage features that are worth preserving. Most people would not put up with the low top speed and limited highway power of the F134 CJ-5. Plus the rest of the mechanicals are very dated ... brakes and steering in particular.

The CJ-6 is the more valuable vehicle, and would be a better start if you want to build the Jeep to your specifications.

 

Here are some photos of the CJ5.









I will post a couple of the CJ6. By the way the CJ6 is a 1963 model.

 

Here is a picture of the CJ6.

 

This is true a 55 has a lot of stuff they didn't do in 56 mine has a military body with the worst cut on the tailgate and taillights like the willys employee came to work with a few drinks in him. My air cleaner sits way further to the left then a normal civi cleaner. Lots of little things are just slightly changed which makes it much cooler then any other year. I kept mine as original as possible with the money I had and the time I had. That means Ross steering and 9 inch drum brakes and right now 7 inch wide tires on it, all that means for some very interesting driving and most people don't like it, and nothing beats a look on someones face when you ask them if they know how to double clutch into first (I am 18 so all my friends are around the same age, the automatic age.)

That being said I really enjoy the jeep more than most modern vehicles and I think a restore looks better then a full out rock crawler but to each his own.
If you haven't seen my build here is a link. http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77185

 

Personally, I'd restore the CJ5 for a toy and build the CJ6 as a driver, with the V6 in it. My '56 ain't gonna go fast, but it has a tow bar! I'll be towing it to the playgrounds.

 

I've decided to buy these two jeeps. I will keep the CJ5 to restore it and sell off the CJ6. I will post it in the classifieds and list it on craigslist later today.

 

Additionally, I will also list my 54 flattie today.

 

Well, it's been a week or so and I have both jeeps at home. I covered up the CJ6 to be worked on some time in the far distant future. The CJ5 will be my current project.
The day before yesterday I pushed the jeep out of the garage and washed it in the rain. I wonder what the neighbors were thinking. Yesterday I continued the cleaning process by spraying degreaser on the engine and front suspension and scrubbing with a scratch pad. I hate working of dirty parts, so a thorough cleaning is in order before I begin its path to restoration.
I flushed the cooling system and replaced it with new anti-freeze. I would have just put water back in for now, but it's too cold even in my garage to take a chance of freeze damage. I checked the oil and for a motor that hasn't run for over 12 years, I thought it looked pretty good. I will leave it for the test fire. I pulled the spark plugs and poured in some mystery oil to lubricate the cylinders. Then I turned the motor over with a socket wrench, it turned over very nicely. Next, I pulled the carb to open it up and see how bad it looked inside. Not the bad either, but I took it apart and dropped it in the can of carb cleaner. Now I need a carb rebuild kit to put it back together.
The reason the previous owner stopped driving this jeep was due to an electrical problem, the wiring is a mess. I will have to sort it out before I start the engine, at least sort it out at the very basic level of operating the motor.
The braking system probably needs a complete overhaul.
My goal is to bring the jeep up to a basic running order so I can drive it around as I restore it in segments. At some point I will probably lift the body off the frame, but I would like to drive it a little before going to that step. I hate the thought of bringing home this jeep and spending the next two to three years restoring it before I have a chance to drive and enjoy it.
So, there's where I am at this point of my first jeep ownership.
I am having a blast so far.

 

How much for the CJ-6? More info on it or link to the craigs sale, please.

Edit - seriously - if the price is right I'll be up this week with my trailer. PM me or hit me at christian.hazel@jpmagazine.com

Oh, and put the V-6 in the CJ-5. You'll enjoy it much more IMHO.

 

Hatari II!

Man I love that cj6 with the winch and all!:drool:

 

x2 on the six. But it's pink? Uuuuggggg.

I love the cj6

 

It really isn't pink, it is a faded red.

 

Today I decided to wash the barn dust off the CJ6 to really get a better look at what I have. I have to do so some serious thinking about keeping the CJ6 and what I will do with it. It is in much better shape than I thought. Look and judge for yourself.









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