Those are just stickers put on by a previous owners.

Much has been changed on that, paint, bumpers, flares, etc.

There should be a metal tag on the firewall, next to the brake booster with some numbers that will show the original color, and interior style color, but thats it.

Post a bunch of pics, both inside and outside, we can probably help give you an idea of what it was, and or what had been changed

Hoss

 

Thank you for teaching me how to locate that. I found an original Jeep color code online from 1981. The color code i am pretty positive, is OK. I will know more tomorrow once I get a chance to clean it off. I just now got a chance to really look at it.

 

I wish those were stickers haha. They are stenciled I believe. I also think, this is the factory color. I will get all of that when I get home. I am traveling, and have been away from it for 9 days. Only got to even look it at it for 2. So I am literally foaming at the mouth to dig into it. It will be my daily driver, so I want to make sure it is good to go. I figured, here is a great place to start. Thank you.
CJ

 

Trim package really doesn't matter for mechanical parts/repairs.

Nice looking '5, I like that top

 

That one is a Besttop, I believe fairly new. It came with a bikini top, and a top that has the corners, and no windows. It was owned by an old guy who towed it behind his motor home. He recently decided when the registration expired, he told his son to sell it. I got lucky. 115k original miles. He said half are tow from him not disconnecting it right. So we will see.

 

Invasion Star

Here is just one explanation (of many) Basically all are for the same subject from WWII

The WWII Allied & U.S. Star

The WWII Allied & U.S. Star - Army Vehicle Marking . com © by FDY Design - WWII Allied & U.S. Star,Invasion Star,US Star,Allied Star,WW2 star - WWII Allied & U.S. Star - 1942 AR 850-5, 1942 Star, 1943 Star, 1944 Star, Allied Star, American Luftwaffe, AR 850-5, Army Vehicle Marking...

armyvehiclemarking.com

My 1946 (Civilian CJ2A) came out the year after WWII ---- with no insignia

I had been seeking a WWII MB for a while, I found the '46 needing lots of lovin'

which had been abandoned and left to die in a cornfield in 1974.

I took him home in 1991

------JEEPFELLER

Same Jeep "Willy" in 2025

 

That is amazing. I need to do some research, that way I can figure out some things on it. That is great info.

 

See Post 4980 in here https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/the-breakfast-club.4459760/page-249?post_id=41754497#post-41754497

-----JEEPFELLER

 

That is a pretty cool story.

 

Welcome from fellow Utahn exiled to West Texas (Air Force plan).

Cool Jeep! I was also thinking there was something familiar about those mountains, and then I saw your tow vehicle's LP. Looks like you're toward the southern end of the Wasatch Front, maybe even closer to Cedar City?

As was mentioned, the top, flares, bumpers and nerf bars were added-on, as well as the wheels were painted black (they were only either white, chrome, or gold - if it was a Golden Eagle). If you have a factory tach and clock in the dash panel, there's a chance it could be a Renegade or Golden Eagle - I don't recall any CJ-5s that had the Laredo package... which could be rare if so. Looks like the previous owner might've had a grille protector installed at one point as well.

More pics, please!

 

I'm pretty sure, I am more excited to get home to see it and take pics. I found it on a Sunday, bought it on a Monday, drove home, then had to pack me and my wife up for a 10 day trip to California for work. I am still 2 hours away lmao. I am just excited.

 

Nice 5! Welcome!

 

FYI - 1981 Technical Service Manual (TSM):

https://oljeep.com/edge_81_tsm.html

 

That is awesome. This will be very helpful. I threw mine out years ago.

 

Thank you!!

 

I'm not sure where the pictures I posted went, I don't see them. I don't now. Here ar
e pictures.

 

I also have a '77 CJ-5 (and 5 others in the past)

Looks really GREAT, 'cept for those stupid extra 3 bars welded onto

the original roll bar.

I've ridden in/ driven a few with awful modification

The 1st thing I would do is cut them puppies off and throw 'em away. (keeping the original roll bar)

They are nothing but in the way of your feet sitting comfortably in the floor.

Not to mention getting in and out.

But that's just my take on them.

-----JEEPFELLER

 

I thought that was harder to get in and out of. I didn't remember them being that way.

 

Nice cj. A couple of cutoff wheels and a bit of grinding to rid yourself of the xtra bars. I did on mine. 5s are hard enough to get in and out of anyway. Good looking old jeep and it looks fairly solid.

 

Thanks, I just went through it and licensed it as my new commuter. Figure i will take the long way to work everyday.

 

Congrats on the new to you CJ! Looks relatively rust free and hopefully will be a fun project. I had to rebody mine it was so rusted out, funny enough the frame was perfect.

Looks like it's been repainted inside and out (original color). The bolts on the dash should be silver. The wheels look period correct but don't seem to be stock. Mentioned above, the stock wheels have a more dimpled cutout. And stock wheels will have a manufacture date stamped on the inside.

Regardless excited for you to get it running and cruise it around. If you want to go crazy with it - I'm running Holley EFI and Hyperspark ignition and highly recommend the upgrade.

 

I may have to reach out to you as it gets farther in. For now, it is a legal daily driver for me. I will upgrade and rebuild as I can

 

The 1st thing I do with my new to me vehicles is to

Inspect or replace them depending on what's there.

I also change every fluid in it.

This insures the right stuff is in there (we have info for the correct fluids), at the correct levels,

and now I have a Firm/ known record of when it was "actually" performed.

I really can only trust myself, not the feller that used to have it!

Your Jeep juices could have been in there forever, the wrong stuff, and too low.

See post 5 in here https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/n...front-and-rear-ends-transfer-case-trans.4464925/?post_id=41519333#post-41519333


See Post 5 in here https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/n...front-and-rear-ends-transfer-case-trans.4464925/?post_id=41519333#post-41519333

----JEEPFELLER

 

I am going to go through these this afternoon and make sure. The only leak I see is a little seepage on the rear end, as it is wet. The drain plug from the oil pan is dripping. I will change the oil and check all fluids today. The only noise I hear, is the throw out bearing is a little noisy, the clutch is strong.

 

Let's make sure you have that 1 inch of play in/ at the top of your clutch pedal

As in, the throw out bearing should not spin/ engage and spin until you push your foot in

and pass that 1 inch of nothingness and are now at the beginning of disengaging the

clutch disc so that you can shift gears.

Otherwise it spins constantly and it will wear out prematurely.

----JEEPFELLER

 

Good morning. My plan is to check fluids in all areas this weekend, check the play in the pedal, check brakes, and just do a full go through before I start driving it. Took it out yesterday, and it did amazing. I appreciate all your advise, and look forward to hopefully picking your brain more,,and using this foundation to make it beautiful.

 

Spark plugs looked a little sketch. Not sure if they are the original, or the second set. Either way, they are new now.

 

Those plugs don't look horrible. The ash deposits could indicate your engine is burning a little oil, or a PO might have been using additives in the fuel. I don't see anything that would give me much concern.

Check your new plugs after a few hundred miles. This is what they should look like.