MY First JEEP!!!

['75Levis]

I have just purchased a 1975 Jeep Renegade Levis edition gave $1000. It needs help with the body in some places due to rust (any suggestions)? And it is having some trouble w/cranking the 304 V8. But I think I'll have some body check it out. It is looking rough because it has set for about 2years straight at my girlfriends house it was her stepdads. Hopefully here I can find out some good tips to get my Jeep on its way.

P.s. Take it easy on the Jeep jargon it's my first time!

[Yucca-man]

Nice!!! You got the last year of the Dana44-CJ5. I had the 304 in my 73 CJ5, and loved that engine. When you say "trouble cranking" is it not turning over, or not catching when you try to start it? What carb and intake do you have, and have you looked at the timing?

[Getsome]

After sitting for two years I'd drain that oil and get some new gas for it. That oil is pretty nasty by now. Give it a good tune up with new points, fuel filter, oil,coolent, transmission & transfer case, check timing, then kick that bad boy over!
Secret hand shake and decoder ring will be delivered after 100 posts. :D

[lynn]

If cranking is slow, suspect corrosion on battery terminals or cables (under the insulation). Replace both battery cables, also the engine-to-frame ground cable.
Of course, it could also be a worn out starter, but I'd replace these cables anyway, they're probably original.

[Yucca-man]

Getsome's got good advice there. Drain it all and add new; I missed the part about it sitting for two years. Expect little leaks to pop up as you go as well due to dried out seals and stuff...

May as well take Lynn up on the idea of replacing or checking the electric circuit as well. The starter cable can look good but have a lot of internal corrosion; hit it with an ahmmeter and it SHOULD be a very low resistance. Compare it with a new one for better limits. On a 27 year old Jeep, I lived by the 'replace if questionable' rule for quite awhile...

Jim