1966 Jeep CJ5 CJ-5 from North America - Comments

I bought the jeep as a project. Many things I found wrong with it were after I got it running. Here is what I had to do. The carb was spilling fuel over the top. So I rebuilt it, but that didn't help, so I replaced it with a wrecking yard carb; cost was about $5 or $10. Complete tune-up. Replaced the electric fuel pump with a new one from J. C Whitney cost about $25? not real sure about the cost there. I noticed it heated up real bad so, I checked the radiator and found I had a one row core radiator. Had the core replaced with a three row and that solved the heat problem. New shocks from J.C. Whitney.

Cost about $8 each. There were no turn signals in the jeep, so I wired those in myself. I used universal type trailer lights for the rear, front lights were fine. Paid about $8 each for the lights. The turn signal box with a flasher (the universal mount type) I bought from J. C Whitney cost about $40 or so. Cost me an afternoon wiring everything in, but it was worth it to have street legal lighting. New seat covers. Repainted the jeep myself in the backyard with wal-mart $1 a can spray paint. Went through about $15 worth of paint and primer, but, at about 20 feet away it doesn't look too bad. (I take a real low-buck approach at how it keep this old heap on the road.) Bought 2 used chrome wheels at the wrecking yard for $25. Bought two new chrome wheels at local tire shop cost about $40 each. (had to spend some big money for a change there.) Chrome air cleaner from J. C Whitney cost around $10 I'm guessing. There is about a million little things I'm forgeting. These here stand out the most from what I remember.

Wow, what a ride! A Chevy 327 V-8 was swapped into this jeep when I bought and it is a real screaming machine. Everything is about accelleration! First gear is only handy to launch the jeep, this thing is demon in second gear, just hang on! However at highway speeds it is terrible. Gas mileage is about 8 mpg. There isn't even enough space to hardly carry a bag of groceries. The short wheel-base makes the streeing a little twitchy at highway speeds. the engine isn't very happy on the highway eithier, this jeep is very low geared. The locker in the differential will bang and lurch a low speeds. The jeep is a great weekend play-toy. I wouldn't reccommend this jeep be used as a daily driver. In summer I use it as that. Jeeps are not the type of vechile for everyone, there are too many compromises that must be meet, ie; no room for groceries, not much room for passengers, get used to wearing your hat backwards like a teenager, the wind will blow your hat right off (it happended to me, I had to turn around and go back and get it), they are really the most fun with the top off, impossibleto drive off road with top off and now look like a human dirt clod when you get back home, can't keep a part in your hair either, or talk to your passenger at highway speeds.

However if you are a brave, rugged type of soul and the previous drawbacks haven't scared you off...well, Hello fellow jeep brother/sister! Only other jeepers can fully understand these wonderful machines. There is nothing like trecking down back roads; the sun shining, listening to the birds sing, exploring trails, just driving... the kind of driving that can only be fully appreciated in a jeep. Traveling trails that leather seated suvs dare not tread is the beauty of these mechanized mountain goats. I had the jeep in places only jeeps can go and they really are the most capable 4X4's there is.

Great review! Sound like you know what your talking about.. It all give you a good idea of how the beast really is.. I'll have a CJ-5 within the next couple weeks.. I picked it because it's a true offroad beast! Has a AMC 360 in it.. Its all good cause it has the T-15 tranny. Great review brought tears to my eyes!

Cheers,

Greg B.

Great write-up on your jeep! I just picked up a 66 cj5 with the original Dauntless 225 V-6, & 3spd with o/d. Just starting to finish it up with my son. I'll keep in mind your jeep economics, thanks.

Wow I just today traded a 1981 Honda 650 motor cycle for a 1966 cj5. the bike was cherry and the jeep... well it needs a lot of work, but I got it due to all the good I have heard. it also has the factory v6 and transmission. I see a lot to do, but I see the end result and I can already see the trails my blazer is afraid to try.

I bought a 73 CJ5 for $500 this past summer. It is very rough, but I have come to love it. My 17 year old son & I are rebuilding it without the need to have it "perfect". I don't think Jeeps were ever perfect. After a couple hundred dollars replacing the engine electronics the little 304 AMC V-8 runs great. Very strong.

If you are looking for a good family project and don't have the skills or experience to do a really quality job this is the car for you.

Lots of fun & they even run. I have not been able to get it stuck & I am not a 4X4 driving pro.

Enjoy.

Doug.

How many mpg does the 304 v8 in the cj5 get? Please let me know

I own a 66 CJ-5 with the Buick Dauntless V-6 and the T-86aa 3 speed tranny. I also have a Gleason - Torsen set up in the rear. (they call this rear end the "bomb", when it go it takes everything with it!) I got the Jeep as a 16th birthday present! Right now I am re-doing it from the frame up, and I can say I wouldn't swap the V-6 for another engine! I may swap the Original 3 speed for a Chevy turbo 350, you can get an adapter kit for it through Advanced Adapters. The swap is pretty straight forward with very little hassle. I want to swap the original model 27 front diff/axle with a model 30 eventually.

So here are the plus factors for the CJ-5: It is a Kaiser era Jeep and built to last, The CJ-5 will turn 3' inside of a CJ-7, the original V-6 has plenty of power, most came with the Dana 44 out back and a spicer tranny. The Low gear in these Jeeps is rock crushing LOOOOOOWWW, Most trails that newer 4x'S give up on you don't even flip the hubs over for, I've driven mine down trails so narrow they could be labeled as bike paths! Even at stock height the clearance is generous, and my experience with a 1" lift is even better. Rock hopping is a piece of cake and High centering is Nooo problem! (I've never rolled it) Chicks dig them!!!

And the down side to owning any CJ...

Never enough room, inclement weather is no fun, you could get a sore throat trying to have a conversation, Things disappear a lot if left unattended for long, fuel tanks are generally small, and things get kicked up off the highway and sometimes hit you. High winds through passes and canyons blow you all over the road!

All in all the CJ-5 is the ultimate 4x4 for the price. I will never get rid of mine! "There's only one JEEP"

Well I bought a 66 jeep cj5 with a pto wench and 4 wheel drive. I hadnt gotten stuck yet and had to pull a few people out. I just need to do a few minor things to it and she will b ready to ride. that's my bot jutin.

Got me a '66 CJ5 with a Buick 232 V6, orig trans, t-case and diff. Big enough lift to squeeze some 33" pro-comps on it (body & shackle). Had it over a year with 31's. Lots of fun chirping the tires though to 2nd gear. Never stuck, sometimes swamped. Now I have a hole in my bell housing, no brakes, no brake lights, no horn, no turn signals, no speedo, no seat belts, etc... but its still insured and I'm still drivin it to the river on the weekends. Chicks dig it, cops seem to not mind it. I live right by the ocean and still no major rust even with all the scrapes and dents. I will NEVER sell this Jeep it is worth so much more in my mind as I can run circles around those annoying suzukis and tracker pos's.