Re: Newbie question regarding CJ models

On or about 25 Nov 2003, Steve of [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

> 'New' 1975 CJ-5 owner with perhaps a very simple question...
>
> In the process of restoring a 1975 Jeep CJ-5.  So far so good.  I've
> never done one before and have spent most of my time restoring 66/67
> Box Novas.  Seems that there is a strong delineation between the 1975
> CJ-5 and the 1976 and later CJ-5 models at least with respect to parts
> availability.

Jeep went through a retooling for the CJ series between model years 1975
and 1976, that's why you see a cut-off.  Some things stayed the same, some
things changed, and some things only look like they'll bolt up.  If you
leaf through a couple of Jeep catalogues, you'll see similar breaks at
1968, 1972, 1979, 1983, and so on.  One of the good things about restoring
Jeeps is that they used outside suppliers and bought a lot of
off-the-shelf parts (like GM steering columns for my `79), and these
assemblies tend to not change for long periods.  The bad thing about
working on Jeeps is that the supplier for the week before yours was
assembled might not be the supplier for the week after yours was
assembled.  I've been told that they changed power brake assemblies three
times in one year -- complete master cylinders and boosters are
interchangable but parts are not.

An example:  I'm looking in a catalogue right now at a page of parts for
the Model 44 rear axle.  The parts cover CJ model years 1970 through 1975,
plus 1986 and 1997 through 2003, with very few year exceptions.


> To my (perhaps untrained) eye, both the 75 and the 76 look very much
> alike, have much of the same drive components too - so why are parts
> availabilty typically listed as 76-later.

The windshield angle changed after 1975, for one important cosmetic
difference, even though an early-70s tub will easily replace a late 70s
one.  I'm pretty sure that they went from an open-channel frame to
the infamous salt-retaining box frame then too.


> Example - I have a major problem with the Jeep wandering (I'll post
> that problem in another note :-)).  I've read other notes in the
> conferences to see if there were any others suffering from same
> problem and discovered that a steering box support might help.  The
> only one that *may* work with my 75 Jeep is listed as a part for the
> 76-86 CJ models - not the 75.

Jeep changed steering columns between 1975-76, along with the frame and
spring packs.  4wd lists the same manual steering box as covering 1972
through 1986.  It probably also fits something wacky like aircraft tugs
and road graders.  But the shaft assembly listed only fits 1976 through
1986.  Their vintage jeep catalogue shows the 1972 through 1975 shafts
being interchange items.

Good luck.