Possible Factory 4spd. 1971 Cj5

Alright 4-speed CJ5 guru's out there, I'm trying to verify that my 50 year old Jeep came from the factory this way. The long-time owner of it is no longer around to get all the details on the mods he made to it over the 40+ years he owned it. I've done some searching here and have come up with a few points of interest to look at but I may have missed a few things. Working 84 hours a week at my real job has prevented me from trying to get this old gal up and running again but my thirst for knowledge it still there. It has the factory homemade looking shift tunnel cover which I believe looks correct. No adapter between the engine and bellhousing. A approximately 1/2" plate between the bellhousing and transmission. A plate between the trans and T-case which also looks like the crossmember mount. Sorry for the quality of the undercarriage pics, it was a long day...
Anything else to look for? I truly believe this Barn Find is one of the original "Unicorn" 1971 Factory 4spd. CJ5's. Whatca think???

 

They were available in '71, though you realize it will be the "close ratio" T-18 with a 4:1 1st gear. The floor plates are factory. I don't see anything that suggests it's not original.

When you say unicorn, I don't think they are that scarce. We've seen something like a dozen of these Jeeps over the years, thus I'd say production numbers were probably few hundred, maybe more. April '71 was late in the '71 model year - it would be interesting to know how early the option was offered.

The following year, the 258 with the same close ratio T-18 became a very popular combo.

Nice Jeep - looks like a good, original example. What's the axle ratio? I'd tidy it up and enjoy!

 

I would have to say your correct

 

This is a California car moved to Missouri? Santa Maria 4 Wheelers

The under-seat tank is not original for a '71. It was common to add that tank for extra range.

 

Yep, he added the under seat tank, it has both. It was a California Jeep it's whole life until his passing. His daughter inherited it and I brought it from her in Utah.

 

I just have been researching in other CJ5 forums and comments were made that in 1971 very few 4-speed's were built and I love the fact that it is the last year for the Dauntless. 4.88 gears with the Warn OD.

 

Yes, I would hope for 4.88s. I saw the shift lever. It's clearly seen some trail use. The owner knew what he wanted when it was purchased. It should have posi in the rear axle too. The patch in the floor was likely done to repair where the body buckled or pulled through from being twisted up on the trail. I suspect the roll cage will make the body stiffer and add to that problem. Without the cage, the body steel tends to buckle in the door openings.

 

Yep, this Jeep has been a worker since it was a baby! Love the history of it and even though it has a few bumps on it there is virtually no rust on it. The paint underneath looks just about the same as the whole Jeep. At this point I'd just like to get it mechanically back to snuff and get some correct low backs for it. The gal told me that even though her dad took it on the Rubicon many times he didn't like to dent the "Green Machine!" Feel honored to be the steward of this piece of Jeep history for the rest of my days...

 

In March of 1970 I tried to buy a 4spd Cj5 and could not. Had to purchase a 3 spd with with 4.88 gears and warn overdrive. Still have today, this has worked out ok. Overdrive has been good with V6. My jeep is same factory color.

 

What Tim said x2.
Transmission tunnel cover looks to be factory.
But transfer case boot cover is not.
The dash decal suggests a factory original T18.
The shift tower knob should have the shift pattern engraved upon it and highlighted in white.
The transfer case mounting plate should be 7/8” thick and the insulator attaches at the bottom.
1971 was the last year for the 4.89 option and IMHO it’s an ideal ratio with overdrive.

 

i didnt realize there was so much off roading in that area of Cali, wish i'd had the jeep when we were still there.

 

Many areas have been closed to vehicles since the time of those badges. You can still go lots of places on established roads and trails. I never ran out of places to go when I was living there, but I left in '87 and things have gotten very much more restricted since then. I recall some areas were already off-limits, like Kelso Dunes? But Glamis was open and still is AFAIK, and Pismo? Also, these clubs were organized and would go on actual trail rides, where the route is already established. Then, like now, they were aware of their image and would not have allowed roughshod travel over some untouched countryside. When I was there, in most of the desert you could pick an arbitrary place and go camp, or go up the side of a mountain and just try to get there; I suspect there's not much of that unconstrained driving allowed now.

 

Pismo is still open.....for now.

 

Thanks for the tips! My parts list grows... I'm also in need of the cable operated controls that run the Bellview style Warn winch. I've heard that Herm the overdrive guy is the expert in that field. It has fenderwell headers on it that are showing their age along with the side exit exhaust. From the great resources here I believe the answer is pretty clear on that as I would love to haul passengers around also. Sales invoices included with the Jeep included the names of Detroit Locker, LA Locker, a intermediate shaft bearing kit for the Spicer 18 as well as a Saginaw Steering conversion. Much more to learn on this Jeep but I really appreciate the help so far from this group. Thanks!

 

Steve's 71 had a bunch of those same plaques in it when we drug it home. I'm willing to bet that your new to you jeep and his jeep were at the same events at some point back in the day.

 

The original single exhaust would have exited on the driver's side. I'm not a fan of tubing headers - hot, noisy, leaky, fragile, expensive race car tech - otherwise they are great. If you want iron manifolds, search old posts - it's been covered a lot. I think your steering would interfere with the original front dump LHS manifold? Steering may be linked to the headers that way. There are also block-hugger headers available for these Jeeps. A good custom exhaust shop could make a rear-exit system to work with them.

 

Very cool!

 

And it had a Myers hard top on it also.

 

I have a 71 (well whats left of it anyway) that had the 4-speed. I posted in Tims post a while back about it. Yep not many out there. I'd love to get one of those shift stickers.....but maybe for twin stick.

 

They are made I think. Someone is making them but I don't recall who. Maybe search it here and something will turn up.