Speaker A
Hey there, boys and girls of the YouTube world. Today, Duff Dog and I are going to see if we can't get a 1975 Jeep DJ5 running.
Restoring a free 1975 Jeep DJ5 mail jeep after 20+ years off-road, exploring its features and attempting to get it running.
Ask about this video. Answers come from its transcript only — with the timestamp, so you can check them.
Generated from the transcript and can be wrong — check the timestamp.
Key Takeaways
- The 1975 DJ5 is a rugged, government-focused mail jeep with a unique right-hand drive setup.
- Despite over 20 years of disuse, the Jeep retains many original parts and shows potential for restoration.
- Its simple, interchangeable design allows for flexibility in repairs and modifications.
- Starting the Jeep is challenging but possible with some mechanical effort and troubleshooting.
- The video provides an entertaining and informative look at a rare vintage vehicle.
What the video covers
- The video documents the recovery and inspection of a free 1975 Jeep DJ5 mail jeep that has been off-road and unused for over 20 years.
- The Jeep was picked up from a subscriber's yard in central Minnesota after a four-hour tow.
- The DJ5 is a right-hand drive vehicle made by AM General, designed as a cheaper government alternative to the CJ5.
- The Jeep features a short 80-inch wheelbase, two-wheel drive, leaf spring front suspension, and a crude but functional design.
- The vehicle has been exposed to critters and shows signs of wear, rust repairs, and a leaking fuel tank.
- The video includes detailed close-ups of the Jeep's components such as the wiper motor, transmission, exhaust, and interior features like visors and cup holders.
- The host discusses the interchangeability of parts and the possibility of engine swaps due to the Jeep's Mopar and AMC components.
- They attempt to start the Jeep, noting the presence of spark and fuel pump but facing challenges due to age and condition.
- The video also highlights the Jeep's unique features like the mailman-specific right-hand drive, sliding doors, and fiberglass roof.
- Throughout the video, the hosts provide humorous commentary and Jeep trivia, enhancing viewer engagement.
Chapters
- 00:00Introduction and Jeep Pickup
- 01:30Overview of the 1975 DJ5 and AM General History
- 02:48Detailed Exterior and Interior Inspection
- 04:39Mechanical Components and Suspension Review
- 07:11Interior Features and Unique Mail Jeep Details
- 08:49Engine Bay and Transmission Insights
- 10:28Fuel System and Electrical Observations
- 12:02Attempting to Start the Jeep
- 23:52Final Thoughts and Restoration Potential
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
jeep in his yard wanted it gone said free come and get it and duff dog and i cannot be threatened with a good time so we jumped in the old tow rig drove four hours to uh central-ish minnesota area
Speaker A
So, the story on this thing is a subscriber let me know that he had this Jeep in his yard, wanted it gone, said free, come and get it. Duff Dog and I cannot be threatened with a good time, so we jumped in the old tow rig, drove four hours to the central-ish Minnesota area.
Speaker A
whatever is what it is so we'll take sloppy seconds we don't care here at mortsky repair so let's take a look at this thing i think we're going to call it cliff after cliff clavin from cheers cause he's the mailman
Speaker A
Picked this thing up. So, I guess he offered it to another YouTuber, and that feller only lived about 20 miles away from where this thing was sitting but wasn't interested, didn't have time for it, wasn't up his alley.
Speaker A
dj5 so it's kind of a rip off of the cj5 but everything was way cheaper for the government am general is who made these things which is kind of a spin-off from american motors i mean this thing is
Speaker A
Whatever, it is what it is. So, we'll take sloppy seconds. We don't care here at Mortsky Repair. So, let's take a look at this thing. I think we're going to call it Cliff, after Cliff Clavin from Cheers, 'cause he's the mailman.
Speaker A
look at this thing up close i mean it's it's a real gem but the price was right this must be the air conditioning it's a screwed shut for the winner i think somebody fixed the rust there once those aren't rusty so i'm guessing
Speaker A
Yeah, you better step back here, Diane. This thing'll show your kneecaps right off. [Music] And he likes to tip back a few sandwiches. I mean, we had four hours to think about it on the ride home.
Speaker A
jeep knowledge this thing has an 80 inch wheelbase eight zero to put that in perspective a fox body mustang is 100.5 inches and a pinto is 94 inches so this thing's 14 inches shorter in wheelbase than a pinto
Speaker A
So, this thing's a 1975 DJ5. So, it's kind of a rip-off of the CJ5, but everything was way cheaper for the government. AM General is who made these things, which is kind of a spin-off from American Motors.
Speaker A
everything's super interchangeable no front bumper that's gone we don't need that mailman already ran into whatever oh it has two wipers that's pretty great because it's only got one seat so we're gonna have to put one in for
Speaker A
I mean, this thing is American AF. America. It's got red, white, and blue underneath that white paint, which is underneath the tree scum. So, you guys will get a real good pressure wash video if we ever decide to do one of those. But let's look at this thing up close.
Speaker A
sandwich holder emmons ford lifetime service guarantee oh it does have two visors i thought this thing would be so cheap but only have one all right cute little wiper motor in there right hand drive obviously for delivering mail
Speaker A
I mean, it's a real gem, but the price was right. This must be the air conditioning. It's screwed shut for the winner. I think somebody fixed the rust there once. Those aren't rusty, so I'm guessing they're fiberglass.
Speaker A
yeah there was some critters living in here sliding doors obviously i think the roof is fiberglass again why that's not rusty floors they're they're held in by that rubber mat so i guess they didn't come with a spare so
Speaker A
Five on five and a half, big Ford bolt pattern. Let's get the theft-proof hood latches. Jeep things. It's only got the five grille slots. Typical Jeeps have seven, like the real early actual military Jeeps got nine. Your worthless Jeep knowledge.
Speaker A
and all kinds of stuff to read must have a three-speed transmission i think it's a torque flight mopar thinger because that's what jeep stands for just everybody else's parts so i can pull whatever engine i want in this thing and you guys can't get mad at
Speaker A
This thing has an 80-inch wheelbase, eight zero. To put that in perspective, a Fox Body Mustang is 100.5 inches, and a Pinto is 94 inches. So, this thing's 14 inches shorter in wheelbase than a Pinto.
Speaker A
dump well had me fooled it's got a tow hitch which i mean all this thing does is pulls tail so there's that they were proud that it was a jeep stamped in the back door again that must be aluminum that white
Speaker A
It's two-wheel drive. It's got a leaf spring front end and this huge straight axle that's like made out of rectangular tubing. Yeah, pretty freaking crude Jeep thing, but I think you could bolt those knuckles right down to a four-wheel-drive axle.
Speaker A
so we're gonna have to put that cute little guy back in there if we do get her running i did notice when i was tying it down the fuel tank is leaking slightly and it fricking reeks it's bad we're
Speaker A
Everything's super interchangeable. No front bumper. That's gone. We don't need that. Mailman already ran into whatever. Oh, it has two wipers. That's pretty great because it's only got one seat.
Speaker A
i think the pumpkin sits like right there so that axle shaft is about twice as long as that side heavy duty bumper but uh the frame rail on this side yeah that's uh it's not so good and i don't know if the
Speaker A
So, we're going to have to put one in for you, or you'll just ride around back there, I guess. It's got a golf cart koozie cup holder. Oh, look at that light switch. Oh man, that's got metal flake in it for the fan. That's going to be way good.
Speaker A
man dodge owners everywhere are gonna get excited about the tow mirrors on this thing comes with a spare coil oh do i fit look at that sweet gas pedal oh yeah she's got the cruise rest lever over there oh built in july
Speaker A
It's got a sandwich holder. Emmons Ford lifetime service guarantee. Oh, it does have two visors. I thought this thing would be so cheap but only have one. All right.
Speaker A
crude stuff it's got a spartan manufacturing blinker set up on her let's let's check out under that sweet hood duff i guess these hoods are the same as the cj5s but lighter duty they don't have the structure built into them that
Speaker A
Cute little wiper motor in there. Right-hand drive, obviously, for delivering mail. I mean, this thing is crude. Look at that shifter. Oh, plain Jane. I'm guessing the amp and the oil pressure gauge were added in.
Speaker A
oh yeah also noticed uh the exhaust he didn't feel like letting it fall off so he bungee corded it up there it looks like it's been there a while actually so we might just have to straight piper duff
Speaker A
It does have a headliner, a dome light. It's got AC, ram air AC. High five, come on. Yeah, there were some critters living in here. Sliding doors, obviously. I think the roof is fiberglass again.
Speaker A
so this thing hasn't been tagged in 28 years he said he had it sold to his brother-in-law and then he ended up with it again he thought it's probably been a little over 20 years since it ran he said
Speaker A
Why? That's not rusty. Floors, they're held in by that rubber mat, so I guess they didn't come with a spare. So, if you blew out a tire, you just had to whimper on home. Jeep things.
Speaker A
2013. so maybe they tried starting again i'm guessing they didn't get it going seeing how it's uh top post and that's side post who knows points ignition a little single barrel carburetor i did grab the fan she's louis maybe
Speaker A
Pretty nice seat, though. I'm kind of excited about that. I mean, for free. No radio for the mailman. Oh yeah, there is AM General and all kinds of stuff to read.
Speaker A
case i had to look up who phyllis diller was she's a little bit older than me oh there's a fuel pump there oh the lines going back are plastic perfect they won't be all rotten or rusty at least
Speaker A
Must have a three-speed transmission, I think. It's a Torque Flight Mopar thinger because that's what Jeep stands for: just everybody else's parts. So, I can put whatever engine I want in this thing, and you guys can't get mad at me, the purists.
Speaker A
oh hey both cables are red perfect well that one goes to the solenoid that must be positive that one bolts to the side of the block oh wipers work that's two in a row that the wiper's wrong fix the wipers
Speaker A
Pretty heavy-duty rear bumper. I guess the rear bumper was supposed to stop the door from sliding back. Well, that was false on Wikipedia. Well, maybe it does. Nobody didn't break it, apparently.
Speaker A
okay we're gonna have some wiper issues we need to address we're just gonna pull the wire out of the motor [Music] now let's see if it turns over she's got compression can i really turn the key and hold the coil wire
Speaker A
Minnesota is not a nuclear dump. Well, had me fooled. It's got a tow hitch, which, I mean, all this thing does is pull tail, so there's that. They were proud that it was a Jeep, stamped in the back door.
Speaker A
if the points need adjusting [Music] keys on how do we get spark got spark when i do that so i'm going to clean that contact up a little bit with my handy dandy point file one of you guys sent me
Speaker A
Again, that must be aluminum. That white ain't rusty yet. Who knows. A little bit of room back there for activities, I guess. He took the driveshaft off so he could tow it home.
Speaker A
seat we're gonna tuck the coil wire back up let's get a little hot sauce and see what happens i think i'm gonna go get the starter switch now we'll give it a whirl easy peasy lemon squeezy slingshot engaged slingshot engaged
Speaker A
I didn't want to wreck the transmission or something. I don't know. So, we're going to have to put that cute little guy back in there if we do get her running.
Speaker A
firewall there was one of these grommets for the sound deadener believe it or not this thing had sound deadener so i just ream that out with my reamer and uh i always make sure your battery's not in the way of said reamer
Speaker A
I did notice when I was tying it down, the fuel tank is leaking slightly, and it freaking reeks. It's bad. We're just going to bypass that factory 10-gallon tank and put a boat tank in there.
Speaker A
somebody was having fuel issues before we just bypassed everything else this emissions canister here and all the lines going to the back because that tank stinks something it's putrid so i think we got fuel pretty much wrapped up other than
Speaker A
And the other thing that Mickelson Racing found was the frame's pretty rusty. That's rusty. It's got a Dana 44 with a limited slip.
Speaker A
mail's gotta go so let's hook that up so there's this neat little glass fuse panel relay center thinger down here it uh it looks like it it probably came from fisher price but it's got a lot of extra spades on it
Speaker A
I think the pumpkin sits like right there, so that axle shaft is about twice as long as that side. Heavy-duty bumper, but the frame rail on this side, yeah, that's not so good.
Speaker A
oh yeah easy peasy a lemon squeezy right though get yourself a reamer they're real good for drilling holes and batteries venting them properly you know i always want a properly vented battery so i'm putting my ear to the seashell carbonator here
Speaker A
And I don't know if the wood in there is factory or if somebody, when they added the hitch, did that, but we're probably going to need to address that before we hit the railroad tracks at WFO.
Speaker A
probably holding it up otherwise we don't have enough fuel in the tank and you always want to make sure you get enough fuel in the tank ask the the odd uh canadian gasoline feller ocg old car guy check him out he put a
Speaker A
Duff, this thing's... I've never owned anything right-hand drive. Oh man, Dodge owners everywhere are going to get excited about the tow mirrors on this thing.
Speaker A
go ahead and fill this one up because five gallons with all this horsepower that we got right here 232 cubic inches of american motors corporation awesomeness probably isn't going to last that many donuts whether or not the leaf springs or the
Speaker A
Comes with a spare coil. Oh, do I fit? Look at that sweet gas pedal. Oh yeah, she's got the cruise rest lever over there.
Speaker A
well let's see if our fuel system works i guess everybody wants a view inside the car when we start them up so tell you what this thing's a strange gas pedal i should show it to you it's uh close from here all the way over
Speaker A
Oh, built in July of '74. Lights, hazard, wiper, ignition, and these are all heater controls. Not much to it. Look at that sweet shift knob. Looks like it would be in your grandma's bathroom.
Speaker A
fuel holy buckets 60 psi oil pressure duff man it's not happy why'd it die off so quick when i unhooked that fuel pump seems like it's flooding so i hooked the fuel to it [Music] oh she sounds terrible when it shuts off
Speaker A
Oh yeah, that's definitely not a cable. That's all mechanical linkage. Crude stuff. It's got a Spartan Manufacturing blinker set up on her.
Speaker A
in this thing the mail must go out all right let's rip into an amc starter yeah okay i'm on it i'll start it up one more time but it sounds like the starter bendix is staying engaged with the flex plate
Speaker A
Let's check out under that sweet hood, Duff. I guess these hoods are the same as the CJ5s but lighter duty. They don't have the structure built into them that CJ5s have.
Speaker A
carburetor uh we got plenty of gas so did we lose spark at least when you get a fuel leak on these six cylinders it just runs right under the exhaust manifold and it evaporates very quickly sometimes almost spontaneously
Speaker A
Well, this thing was blue. Does it just lay against perfect? Perfect. I guess he said he put a new starter solenoid and a voltage regulator on it, so we'll probably find out why those are on there.
Speaker A
look yeah those are real low mileage not super wet either so yeah 15 is too young 36 too old 24 just right firing order typical six cylinder i don't know why this thing isn't starting now got spark at the plug and they seem dry
Speaker A
Oh yeah, also noticed the exhaust. He didn't feel like letting it fall off, so he bungee corded it up there. It looks like it's been there a while, actually, so we might just have to straight pipe her, Duff.
Speaker A
hanging up so we're going to pull it off there see if we can't get the bendix to come on bandixed so like i said it's kind of a ford style starter and then it doesn't have the solenoid two bolts that go the wrong directions
Speaker A
Yeah, don't stand right there. That's not good. This is a little 232 AMC engine, inline six, overhead. The tags are April '93.
Speaker A
and there's no way to really shim these like a chevy so i think we'll just lube her up a little bit slam it back together little lube goes a long ways so you got our starter back on and now we're gonna see if this thing
Speaker A
So, this thing hasn't been tagged in 28 years. He said he had it sold to his brother-in-law, and then he ended up with it again. He thought it's probably been a little over 20 years since it ran.
Speaker A
which comes in the bottom of the carburetor for some reason i want to have one of those like i said it's just gas dripping on the exhaust manifold should be fine no big deal half this thing's made out
Speaker A
He said his brother was a Jewish lawyer, whatever that means, but he didn't like to buy tags, so he didn't really drive it on the street legally. But anywho, it's been sitting 20 plus years, he said.
Speaker A
so we kinda got brakes uh we got an ignition oh duff says check the transmission fluid so we're gonna fire it up check the transmission fluid then we're gonna go for a rip hold your horses so so brakes work i know training works
Speaker A
So, we got an Interstate battery from 2013. So, maybe they tried starting again. I'm guessing they didn't get it going, seeing how it's top post and that's side post. Who knows?
Speaker A
here an orange a yellow and two purple usually purple is a start wire in a gm so i think we're just gonna twist those two together yeah duff agrees should we try it first now let's just twist them together good
Speaker A
Points ignition, a little single barrel carburetor. I did grab the fan. She's loose, maybe.
Speaker A
underneath the hood where's our bad connection at oh is that loose maybe this solenoid's got a bad ground as rusty as this thing is imagine that i think this is why people don't like electrical sometimes they just need some persuading because i'll check
Speaker A
Oh yeah, pretty new plugs and wires. So, the first thing we're going to do is find the fuel pump and the fuel line, and we're going to cut that because, in the previous owner's words, it smells like Phyllis Diller's makeup case.
Speaker A
go for a ride oh you don't want to ride in it all right then come on hold up let's go that's going to be good [Music] oh yeah choke delete slingshot engaged slingshot engaged [Music] oh dude is that the seatbelt goes up
Speaker A
I had to look up who Phyllis Diller was. She's a little bit older than me. Oh, there's a fuel pump there. Oh, the line's going back are plastic. Perfect. They won't be all rotten or rusty, at least.
Speaker A
because the mirrors are behind them surprisingly straight though yeah it's not shifting into third because i had it in seconds dang it first thing duff does when the car dies is he bails so much shrapnel well i guess we uh
Speaker A
So, that should be easy. Just pull right off there. Kidding. We're going to cut it, cut that, grab a battery, see what happens. What do you think about this thing, Duff? Is the Jeep life for you? Still looking for that battery sponsor.
Speaker A
at least it's a gorgeous day and it's not 20 below one eternity later so i got the fuel line pinched off with the carburetor so i can't get more fuel into it we're just going to let her eat on this starter some more
Speaker A
Oh hey, both cables are red. Perfect. Well, that one goes to the solenoid. That must be positive. That one bolts to the side of the blo...
Speaker A
cause it wasn't hooked up it's smoking though you got it [Music] so coming back tony you can go faster than that i think the most nest in the buffer is on fire i'm definitely on fire good check this thing out
Speaker A
way better now just kidding yeah watch out for that tough one it's kind of on fire [Music] not sad enough brakes down [Music] sweet there you have it uh definitely has some carburetor issues like needs a whole new one
Speaker A
maybe before it's just sticking needs a muffler brakes are needed dressing but this thing is just so rotten i mean it needs a leaf spring for sure and a whole lot of patching to not only the frame but the floors so
Speaker A
i don't know what you do and then the body needs a bunch then you get all done you got a right hand drive jeep but this thing is pretty cool you sit nice and low to the ground be great for
Speaker A
running errands around town if it wasn't about ready to fold in half but i don't know what you guys do with this thing would you scrap it would you jump it did you make a burnout rig with it
Speaker A
it's kind of what i wanted to do but uh she's just just too far gone so let me know what you do with this thing check out the other channels mentioned down in the description in my other videos make sure to like
Speaker A
this one remember doesn't matter how you get it done as long as you're having fun thanks for watching everybody what do you think duff are you a male jeep dog now i don't know what i'm sold either well
Speaker A
we could say we had a right-hand drive rig on the show at least [Music] you
Topics:1975 Jeep DJ5mail jeepAM Generalright hand driveJeep restorationoff-road vehiclevintage Jeepvehicle recoveryMortske Repairclassic Jeep
