Highly Modified Jeep CJ5 Now Available Exclusively from Hemmings Make Offer

With a Chevrolet 5.0-liter TPI V8, a four-speed manual and just about every component rebuilt or replaced, this unique Jeep appears ready to tackle any road or trail.

Is it possible to leave a Jeep dealership with a new Wrangler not equipped with thousands of dollars in upgrades and accessories? Probably not. And it’s equally unlikely that a classic CJ5 owner can leave his Jeep stock, either. Customization and the Jeep life go hand in hand.

Take this 1973 Jeep CJ5 now listed exclusively on Hemmings Make Offer. To call it customized would be understatement. The builder of this vintage Jeep pulled out all the stops when it came to making this off-roader more capable and more powerful than stock.

Chevy 305 TPI V8 Swap

Let’s start with the powertrain. The “H” in the eighth position of this CJ5’s VIN tells us that it was originally equipped with AMC’s two-barrel 304-cu.in. V8, which was rated at 150 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque. In its place is a Chevrolet 5.0-liter (305-cu.in.) V8 with tuned port injection from a third-gen Camaro IROC-Z. Depending on the car it came out of, the 5.0-liter TPI was rated at anywhere from 190 to 225 horsepower. There’s no indication of any modifications to the GM small-block V8. Dual exhaust, dual batteries and an electric fan are also part of the package.

Backing that V8 is a Borg Warner T-18 four-speed manual transmission with an ultra-low “granny” first gear for the toughest terrain. The original would have been a three-speed manual based on the “F” in the third position of the VIN. The rest of the powertrain is where the build gets serious. There are Dana 44 axles front and rear, open in front and with a Detroit locker in the rear. Both axles feature 4.10:1 gears and what the seller promises as “smooth performance at high speeds.” A Dana 20 transfer case and new driveshafts are also detailed in the listing.  Power is put to the pavement—or mud, dirt and rocks—via Super Swamper Bogger 35 x 15.5-inch tires that appear to have a significant amount of tread remaining.

Upgraded Suspension and a Fiberglass Tub

In the suspension department, the seller indicates a “springs over axles conversion” along with the installation of long-travel shocks and TeraFlex Revolver shackles. Energy Suspension components are part of the package. The notes also list “heavy-duty front and rear spring shackles” and new nickel-alloy brake lines. The entire body rides on a 4-inch lift and the seller also shares that the steering system was “completely rebuilt.”

The body itself features a fiberglass tub with steel front fenders, hood and grille. In true rugged style, the body is finished in a desert taupe liner material from Raptor and the inside and underside get the same treatment, but in black. The frame was “completely cleaned and painted,” as well as undercoated. The windshield frame was also replaced, as were the wiper motor and related parts. The Jeep certainly looks the part of a formidable off-roader, particularly with the 8,000-pound Ramsey winch mounted in front.

Custom Interior

The details of the build continue with a “rebuilt” electrical system that included a new fuse panel and the replacement of “all gauges and switches.” Inside, there are “new” bucket seats with four-point harnesses as well as a locking center console with a “secure stereo compartment.” The rear seats use quick-disconnect mounts for those times when it’s just two that want to go on an adventure. Interior illumination includes a lighted glove box, red floor lights, and an overhead dome light.

The thoroughness of the build here has the seller listing additional details, such as a new gas tank, fuel pumps, and filters, along with “all fluids” being replaced. New front lockout hubs and a new cargo rack are also part of the package, as are a K&N air filter, Sun tachometer and a tilt steering wheel.

This 1973 Jeep CJ5 represents the lengths that some enthusiasts go to make a capable off-roader that is as unique as the person who drives it. Take a look at this rock-crawling machine at Hemmings Make Offer. It’s not for everybody, but if it’s for you, now’s the time to make that offer.

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