Kind of depends on what you're primary use of the jeep is. I had a 1982 cj5, straight six with the 4 speed and dana 300. It was an awesome jeep....for driving around town. My 1955 cj5, more better g or off highway driving!!!
I have owned 3 of the 3rd generation..wish I didn't sell them..I'm currently building a custom commando style body after cutting the original body off of an 82 wagoneer...love the goats !
My current Jeep is an '83 CJ5. I'm partial to the early 80s CJ5s, although I've owned a 1970 CJ5. My '83 has a (I think) factory steering box brace that clamps around it, and extends to the passenger side front spring mount and connects to the frame there. One of the five CJ5s I've owned was a 1980, and it had manual steering, manual brakes, Iron Duke 4-cyl. engine, and pathetic SR4 transmission. It was still fun to drive, but I prefer having the power steering, and brakes. The skidplate ecosystem and goats from different planets comments were funny. I noticed you were missing a lugnut on the front driver's side wheel.
Great video, wish i would have seen it prior to my purchase. I bought a 1975 cj5 a year ago and i cant believe how hard of a restoration/refurbishment it is. Very hard if not impossible to find parts. Its a battle. 72 to 75 being the intermediates. My jeep is just like any other jeep when it comes to how much money you will put in... but its just more difficult and unfortunately less desired. If anyone is getting into a CJ id say anything 76 to 86 (correct me if im wrong). If anyone knows which parts are interchangeable please reach out to me. Thanks.
many parts inter change but the seats are way different, 76 and up no tailgate and no passenger under seat tool box, 76 and up frame and cross member way different, power steering brackets are way way different
Cool video. Seems no single year is the perfect Jeep. I own a '77 CJ 5. 258, t-18 wide ratio, 4.10 gears, power steering, Dana 30 with discs, Dana 20 t case, AMC 20 with Moser 1 piece axles. Not a bad set up, basically factory except the Mosers. But to make it closer to my idea of a better CJ I have a narrow track Dana 44, a Tera 3.15 gear set for the Dana 20 and an Advance Adapters output shaft upgrade for the t case also. Of course its got a winch, modest lift, full cage and other bits. But you know what happens. You make the upgrades you have and then youll see a whole new set of things that could be improved. Limited slips need to be true lockers, 33s need to be 35s, how difficult can it be to cut a tailgate into this thing? It never ends. Just Empty Every Pocket.
I bought a 1980 with 4 cylinder, new, and drove it for four years -- never took it off road. I'd do that again. I assume there are aftermarket frames available if the frame breaks.
dang I would be scared to death at 100 mph in cj5, I had the brown one there in video up to 80 once , it drove fine at that speed but if I hit a pot hole or curb, man it would be game over for me
This is an awesome video, I was almost regretting just purchasing my 74 until I seen this. MY current dilema is that I have 33" tires on it though and I think the lift was done poorly. Way too long of front shackles are being used so it would be great to know what springs... you are runing with your 33" tires. I only see 4" kits for 76 and above, they're are known that I know of for this era Jeep. What is that? Thanks though and great video!
Super - that's what I am trying to understand - "how much to lift it for 33". I was or am considering an EMU YJ conversion but not sure. Good to know you have sufficient clearance with your setup. I am not looking to rock crawl... - just DNR trails in MI and OH mostly, which are mostly pretty mild.
this brown jeep goes straight as an arrow at 90 mph but super dangerous if I hit a pot hole or blow a tire, especially with a half cage, don't think ill crank her up to 90 again
@@junkyardjeep744 What would be a good one to go thru loose sand. I need something to and from work. My workplace has a rough driveway about a quarter mile of twists and turns and most of it is just plain loose sand and unpacked unless it rains but it dont last long. They laid gravel down on the hill going up and down and is not to bad now it is more the loose sand. About 90% of their clients have gotten stuck in thier sand driveway. I have gotten stuck 4 times now and 3 of those times was with a chevy s10. Any ideas?
@@someguyto4675 well if u want a cj5 that's goes through sand a lot, u ned a factory Mac 304 v8 for the torque and get a 76 or later, they have disc from brakes, way better fro sand
@@junkyardjeep744 I had a 76cj5 and tried to put a 80’s Cj5 body on it and the outrigger on the frame right behind the front seat didn’t line up with the frame and I never finished it
I don't think any one is perfect. Most any motor is fine. Granny trannies rule. Non-amc Dana 20 rears. They're like Legos. Replace with better parts where necessary.
Kind of depends on what you're primary use of the jeep is.
I had a 1982 cj5, straight six with the 4 speed and dana 300. It was an awesome jeep....for driving around town. My 1955 cj5, more better g or off highway driving!!!
yea need the t-18 cj5 with amc c8 with 4 barrel intake with power steering for good off roader
I’ve owned a 68 v6, 73 strait 6,77 v8 qaudratrac auto cj7 and an 82 cj5 v 8 four spd . The 68 was my favorite all time
I have owned 3 of the 3rd generation..wish I didn't sell them..I'm currently building a custom commando style body after cutting the original body off of an 82 wagoneer...love the goats !
My current Jeep is an '83 CJ5. I'm partial to the early 80s CJ5s, although I've owned a 1970 CJ5. My '83 has a (I think) factory steering box brace that clamps around it, and extends to the passenger side front spring mount and connects to the frame there. One of the five CJ5s I've owned was a 1980, and it had manual steering, manual brakes, Iron Duke 4-cyl. engine, and pathetic SR4 transmission. It was still fun to drive, but I prefer having the power steering, and brakes. The skidplate ecosystem and goats from different planets comments were funny. I noticed you were missing a lugnut on the front driver's side wheel.
ya my 76 cj5 was missing the steering brace so the steering box kept breaking off the frame without it
So happy I found your channel !
Great video, wish i would have seen it prior to my purchase. I bought a 1975 cj5 a year ago and i cant believe how hard of a restoration/refurbishment it is. Very hard if not impossible to find parts. Its a battle. 72 to 75 being the intermediates. My jeep is just like any other jeep when it comes to how much money you will put in... but its just more difficult and unfortunately less desired. If anyone is getting into a CJ id say anything 76 to 86 (correct me if im wrong). If anyone knows which parts are interchangeable please reach out to me. Thanks.
ya not many 72-75 cj jeeps around, seems to be 76 and up year cj's were made in much greater numbers and have more abundant used parts
many parts inter change but the seats are way different, 76 and up no tailgate and no passenger under seat tool box, 76 and up frame and cross member way different, power steering brackets are way way different
Love my ‘72 CJ5 with 304-V8 & T-15
ya , nice and torquey, good rock crawl motor
@@junkyardjeep744 right! And the Dana 44 & 30 axles are nice
@@The_Temple ya the rear 44 is 100% better then the 76 and up model 20 rear end
1976-1986 the best streetable jeeps for daily driving
my dad and I recently picked up a '74 cj5 with the 304 AMC things scary to drive down the freeway but fun on the trail.
I had a 72 CJ5 and a 1980 CJ5 too.
Cool video. Seems no single year is the perfect Jeep. I own a '77 CJ 5. 258, t-18 wide ratio, 4.10 gears, power steering, Dana 30 with discs, Dana 20 t case, AMC 20 with Moser 1 piece axles. Not a bad set up, basically factory except the Mosers. But to make it closer to my idea of a better CJ I have a narrow track Dana 44, a Tera 3.15 gear set for the Dana 20 and an Advance Adapters output shaft upgrade for the t case also. Of course its got a winch, modest lift, full cage and other bits. But you know what happens. You make the upgrades you have and then youll see a whole new set of things that could be improved. Limited slips need to be true lockers, 33s need to be 35s, how difficult can it be to cut a tailgate into this thing? It never ends. Just Empty Every Pocket.
ya no matter the year there is upgrades or corrections that have to be done on these amc era jeeps
Cj5 if you get the right one
I bought a 1980 with 4 cylinder, new, and drove it for four years -- never took it off road. I'd do that again. I assume there are aftermarket frames available if the frame breaks.
My '79 Scout II was full length box frame. Very stiff, it would roll down the road straight and flat.
ya full length box frames are way less twisty and less prone to cracking 4 sure
i have a 77 cj5 304 3 sp trans bad frame redone sealed and rustproofed rear axle positrack great offroad and on highway run 100 mph no problem
dang I would be scared to death at 100 mph in cj5, I had the brown one there in video up to 80 once , it drove fine at that speed but if I hit a pot hole or curb, man it would be game over for me
100mph in a CJ5 is suicidal crazy! @@junkyardjeep744
I have both. You forgot to mention the tailgate.
yes !!! I did forget, the tail gate delete on the 76 and up !!!!!!!!!
This is an awesome video, I was almost regretting just purchasing my 74 until I seen this. MY current dilema is that I have 33" tires on it though and I think the lift was done poorly. Way too long of front shackles are being used so it would be great to know what springs... you are runing with your 33" tires. I only see 4" kits for 76 and above, they're are known that I know of for this era Jeep. What is that? Thanks though and great video!
ya long front shackles will destroy you're drivability if u don't re angle the front diff, mine just had 2 inch lift springs and stock shackles
Super - that's what I am trying to understand - "how much to lift it for 33". I was or am considering an EMU YJ conversion but not sure. Good to know you have sufficient clearance with your setup. I am not looking to rock crawl... - just DNR trails in MI and OH mostly, which are mostly pretty mild.
Used motor oil works great for in side the boxed frame what I use on my 80 cj5
oh yea that would totally work, now I gotta clean out 30 years of dirt and mud 1st !
Yeah would definitely need all dirt and mud cleaned out before
Bought my 73’ new had it to about 85 but would not do that again just a bit too far to the left .
this brown jeep goes straight as an arrow at 90 mph but super dangerous if I hit a pot hole or blow a tire, especially with a half cage, don't think ill crank her up to 90 again
@@junkyardjeep744 What would be a good one to go thru loose sand. I need something to and from work. My workplace has a rough driveway about a quarter mile of twists and turns and most of it is just plain loose sand and unpacked unless it rains but it dont last long. They laid gravel down on the hill going up and down and is not to bad now it is more the loose sand. About 90% of their clients have gotten stuck in thier sand driveway. I have gotten stuck 4 times now and 3 of those times was with a chevy s10. Any ideas?
@@someguyto4675 well if u want a cj5 that's goes through sand a lot, u ned a factory Mac 304 v8 for the torque and get a 76 or later, they have disc from brakes, way better fro sand
I have a client in Oro Valley that has 3 70's cjsfor sale with v8s
ohhh ya, im going look into this matter straight away here and post the findings for sure !!! thanx or the lead !!!
Didn’t some early 76 frames have later 75 similarity’s
the engine bay frame width was about the same, but all different other then that
@@junkyardjeep744 I had a 76cj5 and tried to put a 80’s Cj5 body on it and the outrigger on the frame right behind the front seat didn’t line up with the frame and I never finished it
@@newriver8940 ya the 76 and up cj5 frame is weird, its fat and wide under the cab, but narrow under the hood
If you live in California pre smog.
I don't think any one is perfect. Most any motor is fine. Granny trannies rule. Non-amc Dana 20 rears. They're like Legos. Replace with better parts where necessary.
Btw, my build: 1975 CJ5, AMC 360, T18a, Scout D300, D30, D44, locker/spool, 4 disc brakes. PS, fiberglass body, electric fan, 2.5" springs, 36" TSLs, Warn 8274.