there's a 1980 cj5 on Craigslist for $800 in my area, should I buy it? its all original, except for some body panels welded on from a newer wrangler
Should I buy this CJ?
- Thread starter thekidwithquestions
- Start date
Might be a question only you can answer, obviously needs a ton of work. You able to do the work or have to pay to have it done?
OP
oh I wanna work on it, im thinkin ill buy it and clean it up and take some of the rust off then sell it for 2k
Shuttlesworth
TJ Enthusiast
The entire tub is from a YJ and there is a fair amount of rust in the foot wells. It also seems like someone has already welded the passenger side, and didn't prep well before paint, and now that too has rusted. There is some rust on the frame, that is a good sign that the entire frame may be too far gone.
As for the whole thing, its not entirely out of the question to be rebuilt. But it is like @2001slvrstntj said "You able to do the work or have to pay to have it done?"
As for the whole thing, its not entirely out of the question to be rebuilt. But it is like @2001slvrstntj said "You able to do the work or have to pay to have it done?"
Taking the rust off is the easy part, it's putting the steel back that gives you the most trouble.
(it would be a fun project, I'm really just kidding, still wouldn't personally do it)
OP
I decided to not buy it, I kinda gotta save for some control arms rn, but... savvy vs mc lol
Jackman
TJ Enthusiast
OP
02GreenTJ
TJ Enthusiast
02GreenTJ
TJ Enthusiast
i realize you chose wisely already -
that is the kind of project you get for 800, sell for 1500.00 and only lose about a grand after you throw 1700.00 in it and still couldn’t straighten it out- it is a mess, not original, weathered, rusted, non restorable with the yj tub and will have endless dry rot, rat chewed wires, dirt daubers and lord knows what -it will take a small fortune to see if it will even roll under its own power.
that is the kind of project you get for 800, sell for 1500.00 and only lose about a grand after you throw 1700.00 in it and still couldn’t straighten it out- it is a mess, not original, weathered, rusted, non restorable with the yj tub and will have endless dry rot, rat chewed wires, dirt daubers and lord knows what -it will take a small fortune to see if it will even roll under its own power.
Nobody's asked the most important question, Does it run? 
The first picture had me almost say that it isn't a CJ-5.
The second picture shows the squared off wheel wells and the Wrangler name, so not a CJ-7.
After noticing the shortened doors I have to call that a CJ-5.5
The first picture had me almost say that it isn't a CJ-5.
The second picture shows the squared off wheel wells and the Wrangler name, so not a CJ-7.
After noticing the shortened doors I have to call that a CJ-5.5
Mudflat
TJ Enthusiast
Well … you couldn’t hurt it.
Just be sure your tetanus booster is up to date before you start working on it.