Ok, please help me with this...

After your help I have come to find out my free CJ5 is a '65 Tuxedo Park Mark VI. It has the following;

• •Dana 30 front axle, unknown gears
  •AMC 20 rear axle, unknown gears
  •Some form of a Chevy or Buick V6 w/ a 2 bbl carb
  •TH78 three speed tranny and adapter
  •bad/gone clutch
  •D20 transfer case
  •unknown steering box welded to the frame
  •Ford Pinto bucket seats mated off camber to the body
  •various origional Tuxedo Park badges & painted over crome
  •so-so top & soft doors
  •great condition windshield frame and glass
  •homemade shackles
  •a nightmare in wiring, lighting, and bolt on crapola

All of the drivetrain has been taken apart and I know there are numerous missing parts/nuts/bolts to try and reassemble.

I was going to try and use the frame and drivetrain under my CJ2A tub. For a fun little Jeep I thought the AMC 20 and the D30 would suffice for standard running around. If I take to the mountains of my area, I'll take my TJ so this isn't some high falutin' rock crawler project for me. I just want a fun flattie to work on with my kids. Being a bit over my head on this stuff now, I ask for your thoughts as to whether I part out the CJ5 as much as possible and can the rest or do you think what I have would work and be easy enough without costing me an arm and a leg for my project? Here is a pic of my drivetrain as it sits in my driveway right now...



TIA!

 

I believe scrap is up around $75 a ton now. That's what you've got. Sell the tub.

JB

 

Hey I think you can work with it. This project depends on three things:
1. How much time you can afford to dump in to this.
2. How much money you don't want to spend on your loved ones on Christmas gifts this year.
3. How much initiative you are willing to put forth.

As for help regarding assembly, part's sources, opinions you're in the right place. I wish I had pictures of my pile of junk before I turned it into an expensive "working" pile of junk. But as everybody here can agree on, there have been several times when I came this close to packing the '68 up and selling it for whatever it was worth or whatever I could get. There are still those days and I can't say that I won't but I'm not going to anytime soon. In a sick way its fun putting together junk and making it work. My two cents anyway.

 

First of all is to get that flag flying again then, sit back with a cold one and inventory everything and try figger out what the heck it's gona cost ya to sell it on ebay.

 

Honestly, that appears to be a 2-3 year project. You kinda know what you have but it is difficult to figure out what's missing. That is what takes time and money. Money wise, it could nickel and dime you way beyond your estimates. Is it worth it? I dunno, that is up to the individual owners perspective.

I too have a pile of components in the garage awaiting a build up. Most were free and ready to go but in the end, unexpected things will all add up. I am estimating a $2500 additional budget to finish it above and beyond where I am today. A $3000 investment for a good road/trail worthy Jeep that looks great is a good deal but it will take time.

The other thought is low investment rigs like Animal or Whimpy. Very worthy on the road and trail, minimal investment. Is it a show Jeep? No, but who cares --it's fun anyways! It all depends what you want your end result to look like.

Good luck on your decision!

 

In the words of Gene Krantz "Tell me what we have that's good."

1) In theory, you have more than enough parts to build a single Jeep.
2) The Tux title is worth something. Save all the bits that go along with that.
3) The axles are trivial to figure out. A Dana 30 is fine; the gear ratio is stamped into the outside edge of the ring gear. The 20 is ok, but doesn't have a great reputation. I don't know that much about it, but I think you can fix it up with a little welding and some one-piece axles.
4) The Dana 20 txfr case goes with a centered axle, here the AMC 20.
5) The flattie body would be a good place to start from.
6) You have a Tuxedo Park body and frame that could also be a place to start from.
7) Both Chevy and Buick V6 motors are good - we'll help you identify it from pics.

I've always been taught that when the task seems overwhelming, start dividing it up into smaller parts. Maybe you can start laying out the parts and lableing them as to what you think they are, or put them in groups. Then decide if you want to use the D30/AMC20 axles, or look for something else. Then either plan how you're going to make the flatty body fit the frame, or find a flattie frame. There are lots of folks here that will be happy to help you chase parts.

Just continue like that. Some big decisions have to be made now (CJ5-like or CJ3A-like) but the rest of the systems can be planned as you go.

hth Tim

 

Hmm, tough decision. The time it'd take to price, package, and sell the parts, you could have much of it identified and assembled. The hardest part is to get all the insides super-clean.

New opportunities and deals always seem to surface in the newspapers, etc., so if you do part out what you have, just be on the lookout for an already-assembled CJ.

 

Flag blew down off the 2A during the rain, flying proud again. Fixed that right after I took those pics.

 

Done. I appologize as I forget not everybody has a big monitor.


Thanks for all the help/input guys. I guess with a welder and the gumption I'll plug ahead with this. Be prepared for questions! Know anybody who would want or a good place to list the Tuxedo Park stuff? I have the id plate, title, and all of the painted over crome stuff as well as the two good condition hood badges?

Also, how much should I expect for the windshield & frame? And the beat soft top & doors? Realistically, as I don't want to get taken. Thanks again!

 

put'em in the for sale section.

 

cccc

HERE! Good Tuxedo chrome, over here. Depending on it's condition, I'm usually interested.

 

Well, I appriciate all of the input I've gotten so far. With your help I've come to the following conclusions;
1) the body is too far gone and there is too much red neck fabrication on the CJ5 to try and return it into anything worth while.
2) the title, serial # badge, Tuxedo Park hood emblems, and the various painted over crome are worth hanging onto for some future resto project. Even the Warden agrees that a stock '65 would be cool to have. Thanks to Binky & his site to help sway her.
3) the frame and hopefully usable drive train/engine will go under the 2A for an "el cheapo" military build up that my 11 year old son can help and enjoy me play with.

Thanks again guys!!!