Calling all Jeep CJ gurus!

[Oldcarfan27]

While tinkering around with a DoH Jeep (Daisy edition), I found out it's not possible to make an accurate Daisy Jeep from this kit. This kit is a CJ5, Daisy's Jeep was a CJ7 which has a longer wheelbase and squared up door openings.

CJ5

CJ7

My question is this, I'd like to know what year (if any) the kit represents? The kit has the fuel filler next to the driver's door. But there are CJ5s with no filler there, just a indentation or smoothed off. I've found some have the filler in the back.

Both of these are claimed to be 1970 model year.

With filler

No filler, indented

1978. No filler, no indentation. Also looks like front fenders are longer

I checked 69, 70, 71, 73, and 75 model years and found variations with all of them. I don't know if there is a cut off year for one then the other.

Was there a final year for the side mount filler?

What was the first year for the dash pad?

When did the roll bar mount change from the rear wells to the floor?

Any other model year details would be welcome! I don't know much about the differences.

I need information for the CJ5, not the CJ7.

[Fabrux]

The fuel filler was moved in '71. The nose extension occured in '72 so AMC could fit their inline six in.

[Jordan White]

According to Wikipedia, in 1972 there were major changes which included moving the fuel tank from under the front seats to behind the rear axle, which meant moving the fuel filler. Dash pad seems to have appeared around the same time, and the roll bar moved to a floor mount around 1980.

[Oldcarfan27]

Well it appears that this kit doesn't have a visible gas tank, so I'm going to assume that it is under the front seats. So unless I install a tank behind the rear axle, It's going to be pre '72.

The kit includes two dash panels. One with the single chrome speedometer and another with gauges, switches and glove compartment. But neither have the dash pad. So can't peg down a year from the dash.

Engine is the Hurricane 4 cylinder, so that would explain the short nose. Thus also making it pre '72.

Looks like it would take more work than I'm willing to invest to update it, so I'll have to build it as a 71 or earlier. 

Since there aren't any side marker lights, It's probably a pre '68. But I could add those. 

Regardless, there is no way this can be built as Daisy's Jeep.

Still a cool kit of an earlier Jeep though. Think I'll need to find some smaller snow tires and go with a standard edition. 

Edited October 29, 2021 by Oldcarfan27

[1930fordpickup]

Patrick I am not even sure the dash pads were on all models until the later years, maybe. I think it was the top end Jeeps that had them. 

[SCRWDRVR]

My Dad had several Jeeps when I was young, my brother had a 72 CJ5 and I had an 81 Scrambler but what I know is limited. I know the rear marker lights when added were in the side of the rear tail light kind of like a boat trailer but I have seen 67, 68 and 69's with out the one on the front fender but I would bet someone put older fenders on them. The fuel cap did move in 72 when they moved the tank for sure my brothers was in the back and had the longer nose however his was a V8 (304). My Scrambler had the dash pad but they were optional when they first started but I'm not sure when they all started getting them. Here is a pic of one of my Dad's, I don't recall the year but it was between '64 and '67 but I don't remember the exact year.

 

[Tom Geiger]

I went through similar frustrations when I was researching Jeepsters. I was finding trucks attributed to various years with different configurations and accessories. I decided that these must be trucks assembled with parts from different years, maybe to the owners taste.   I finally gave up and built mine to my own tastes! ?

I’ve built several of that Jeep kit. It dates back to 1968 as the Universal Dune Buggy kit, so it’s probably a 1967 or earlier body. 

The later long nose Jeep with sidelights embedded in front fenders is depicted in the Monogram 1/24 scale Jeep CJ7, although a quick glance at a box doesn’t look like the longer wheelbase. 

I do have a long wheelbase Jeep in progress, but with a custom fabricated rear box, a replica of a real truck.  What I will tell you is that the correct long wheelbase chassis is in the Jeepster / Commando kit. It even has the rear mounted gas tank. 

Note that when MPC modified the Jeepster kit to the later and less popular Commando, they cheaped out and didn’t stretch the nose, nor did they tool up the straight six. The kit incorrectly still has the old Buick based V6 in it.