1978 Jeep CJ-5 350ci Chevy, TH350 trans, 2.46:1 transfer case, fr. locker
Vehicle Description
This 1978 Jeep CJ-5 is a restomod with updates to the exterior, interior and drivetrain. The owner has had it for 4 years. The vehicle runs great and is used as a daily driver.
Vehicle Details
1978 CJ-5. My personal daily driver for 4 years, including a few trips a year to the off-road park, which is 3 hrs away. I drive 60-70mph on the freeway, and my kids ride in this. It's well sorted. I bought it in Sept. of 2021, and spent about 6 months fixing and sorting out all the major stuff, then 4 months working on improvements. Almost everything has been gone through or inspected while I've owned this.
So you can spend $5000 on a project, or $10K-20K on some showy Jeep that no one actually drives, and get nickle+dimed "sorting out” issues, like asking how to fix steering issues. Then you can throw a few more grand at it doing upgrades. Or you can buy mine and just enjoy it, which also has every practical add-on you can think of (even some you didn't).
Too much too list, but you can message me for a million pictures, videos, nd details. I have more than 20k in it, not including ANY labor, and I'm only listing because I bought an early bronco, and can't keep both trucks.
-Chevy 350ci. Aluminum trickflow heads, Edelbrock dual plane manifold, Edelbrock AVS2 with off-road needles, HEI distributor, Sanderson ceramicoated headers and custom dual exhaust. Energy Suspension motor mount. Finned aluminum Valve covers with REAL Silicone gaskets. Scorpion 1.5 ratio roller rocker arms.
-MISC Engine- Aluminum cross-flow radiator (Jegs). Mechanical fan+shroud.
-TH350 Transmission. Basically bulletproof. Filter, fluid, and kickdown cable in February 2022. Energy Suspension mount w/ custom crossmember. Everyone thinks stick is fun around town, but I can tell you automatic is where it's at off-road (whether you think it's a cop-out or not). Advance Adapters adapter
-Rebuilt dana 20 t-case has JB Fabrication Stainless twin sticks, also converted to 2.46:1 ratio in 2022 (stock ratio is only 2.0:1), plus front or rear only shifting. Advance Adapters billet oil pan.
-Gearing- Axles are stock 3.54:1, so with the TH350 you can cruise on the hiway at 70mph at 2400rpm. Around town or off-road there's zero issues b/c the nature of the automatic is that is it is a torque multiplier. And with the Transfer Case being a 2.46:1, low range is like having switched to a 4:56:1 gears in the axles and kept the stock Dana 20. So you get the best of both worlds.
-BODY isn't perfect, but it's ALL ORIGINAL steel, including the floors (so that should say enough). There's some crust where the floorboards meet the rockers (I crawl underneath and wire brush and fluid film all the books and crannies every six months to keep things from spreading), and some minor bubbling in the paint in the usually spots where inner fenders meet the outers (front+rear), but NOTHING that's worth replacing metal. Has nice low profile step bars that also protect the rockers off-road, but dont eat up ground clearance.
-Frame- great shape. I pressure wash the inside of the frame with a wand each year and spray in Fluid Film. It's a ‘78, so it's fully boxed.
-Gas tank clean with new sender/pickup/hoses
-front bumper has a winch plate, thoughtfully mounted for easy access to everything, and tied into frame rails and crossmember. Tow hooks too. (I removed my winch prior to selling)
-Custom canoe rack w/ some misc. QuickFist clamps (shovels, fishing rods, whatever). Also great for keeping trees and branches away from the jeep when off-roading. Also some extra protection in case of a rollover.
-Tomken Machine swing away tire carrier, w/Jerrycan and custom rack+storage for a Karnage Welder or Pelican case. Also a mount for traction boards and a base for the Hi-Lift jack.
-tilt column for you big guys, not that that makes much difference. New Bearings top and bottom, and the “special”screws are tightened. And a new ignition rack installed recently.
-LIFT- Skyjacker 3.5-4" Lift with M95 Performance shocks (J40K-M). Shackles+bushings are all replaced with stock length greasable/poly versions. Previous owner installed new shackle mounts.
-Rear Driveshaft- Double Cardan Joint, and axle is clocked upward to match.
-Interior is devoid of carpet to keep any future rust down. It has a bedliner paint (not done by me), and Quadratec mats in the front, and a floor mat in the back to keep the mud and foot prints off.
-Lots of Kentrol stainless hinges, mirrors, and brackets.
-Sport (Roll) Bar has custom tie-ins to the windshield, and to the cowl (a structural part of the Jeep). So, while not a full cage, it's significantly stronger, WITHOUT the loss of visibility or legroom, with grab handles. I also put aluminum strips under the Sport Cage mounts in the fender well, to prevent pull-through on the bolts.
-High output headlights (brights and indicator work)
-Extras- Hi-lift Hood mounts, and harbor freight farm Jack is included. Cooking/whatever shelf on tailgate. Tow bar mounts (use generic Curt tow bar)
-New SmittyBilt front seats (passenger seat has slider). New Shoulder belts up front, and lap belts in back.
-New Smittybilt Rear seat. Flip and fold, or remove easily.
-Power steering (new Cardone box, new hoses, new pump, new fluid, new Borgeson shaft, new column bearing). Heavy duty M.O.R.E steering bracket. Upgraded tie rod and drag link.
-Power brakes (disk/drum). New fluid, new/longer soft lines for lift. New calipers+pads. New rear wheel cylinders. New diaphragm/booster (2023) .
-Storage- big lockablelockable Smittybilt Center console), and custom locking rod behind the rear seat to limit access to what little you can stuff back there.
-Dana 30 front axle and hubs entirely gone through (fluid, seals, bearings, u-joints). PowerTrax No-Slip lunchbox LOCKER. New Milemarker Hubs, and Warn Hub stud kit. Sway bar with quick disconnects.
-AMC 20 Rear Axle. Inspected and new fluid. Alloy USA One-Piece Axle conversion, with new bearings/seals (11/21). $100 Spare Bearing included for next owner.
-Stereo: Sony Marine MBEX with Bluetooth. Rear Polk 6x9 speakers mounted to rollbar, and a 5.25" speaker in the stock dash. Also a JBL underseat Subwoofer.
-Bestop SuperTop with 2-pc doors. Plus some minor mods to help keep the water out. Nice shape.
-Wheels are Pro-Comp steelies with holes, and 33x10.50.15 BFG KO2. I have 1" spacers in front and 2" spacers in back to get the the later Wide-trac axles for stability, but you don't need the spacers. Fullsize spare included.
-CB radio and antenna (I realize no one uses this anymore)
-Optima Yellow Top Battery
-basically everything works: gauges, lights, signals, wipers, heater, defroster, etc.
-the list goes on, and on
This isn't someone's project, or "drive to cars-n-coffee" jeep, Everything is well sorted, well tested, and functional for both street and offroad. Perfect? No. It has scratches, minor oil drips, minor quirks, etc. But look: there's no stupid glasspack mufflers hanging under the rockers, lights work, gauges work, heater/defrost works, flashers work, and there's no steering and brake issues to be sorted out: Nuff said.
Bottom line, you can take your kids to pre-school, or commute to work (so long as you can stand the noise of the softop), or go offroading and camping for a week, all in the same vehicle.
