My Antique 1974 Jeep DJ5C

Right now the Jeep DJ-5C odometer says:

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NEWS FLASH:
On 21 October 2011 1831 Hours EDT, Bessie, my Jeep was totaled. I was driving with the doors open, with my lapbelt on. PRAISE GOD! I walked away with no cuts, no broken bones! Please, always wear your seatbelt. Always trust God. More to follow.


I have located and purchased Bessie's twin sister, Bessie. A cubemate told me they are mirror twins, because my first Jeep was a left-hand steering wheel model , but my new twin Bessie has a right-hand steering wheel. Everything is a left-right mirror image (well, sort of)
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Here is my new 1974 DJ5C Bessie on the way to our home.


My new Bessie!
All of the repir needs and such refer to my first DJ5C. The new one is in much better health. She needs a new battery and I will paint her Blue and White in a Civil Defense theme. More to come ... Please see the recently added DJ5C Parts Catalog under the Library section link below.

Help! Transmission Leak Click Here

Well, I have always wanted an "antique" car. As my 138,500 mile, 1994 Plymouth Voyager developed a cracked engine block, I decided to get rid of it and get a reliable car. The car I bought is a 1974 Jeep DJ-5C, also known as a Dispatcher 100. This jeep is my new hobby. I am selling most of my HP-41C and HP-IL Calculator collection, so if you want to help, see my KD4ACE ebay auctions , or offer me some free advice.

Mechanically, it is in good shape. Body wise ... well that was why it only cost me $900. I put a new battery in it, and connected a wire from the + alternator terminal to the + battery. This should prevent it from dying on me like the night I bought it and tried to drive it home.

I have never tried to restore a car before, but here is a quick list of things I know I need to do
  • troubleshoot some circuits in wiring harness
  • replace right front fender
  • put new floor pan at driver feet
  • cut rust out of back of jeep, replace with metal(?)
  • get rid of rust, sand, bondo (?), prime and paint, inside and out
  • remove canoe rack from roof
  • fix roller (?) on driver's door
  • get a new windshield wiper switch (DONE) and wiper arm (ALSO DONE)
  • get weather stripping
  • dashboard - REPLACED SPEDOMETER/ODOMETER
  • add correct mirrors, put new marker lights on sides


    Please look at the "before" pictures, and offer me some advice. I have never done body work before. Sugestions or Comments are appreciated. Just e-mail: Chris Catotti at kd4ace@earthlink.net

    Click this thumbnail to hgo to LIBRARY.
    Read my Odometer story here and see the odometer "reading"

    Learn about Florida Front End Tags for Emergency Personnel

    New addition to the Library! DJ-5C Operator's Manual
    Jeep DJ5C Library (Specs, Manuals, Recalls, etc.)

    Pictures of my Jeep before restoration
    Click this thumbnail to see pictures before restoration.
    Picture of my Jeep from advertisement, before I bought it.

    I always deamed my "antique car" would be a 1950-something DeSoto. Since I learned to drive in a 1968 Dodge Dart that my Mom bought brand new, an antique should at least be from the 50's. However that was not to be ... mine is an old Postal-style Jeep from 1974, with a left-side steering wheel.

    Postal Jeep Parts
    Someone else's Postal Jeep restoration
    Ken's Jeep Restored
    Postal Jeeps
    More to come ...


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