Body and Interior
One of the most appealing aspects of this CJ-5 is that it still looks like a CJ-5. No tube fenders and no comp cut rear corners. There are no flares on the Jeep, but it does have custom 11/2-inch DOM rock rails and diamond plate side protection that Manny added when he stretched the wheelbase. The front of the Jeep has a Champion 10,000-pound winch that hasn't ever had the cable spooled out and a chrome grille that was on the Jeep when Manny bought it. Out back he welded up the tailgate, added late model taillights, and built a bumper and spare tire carrier out of 2x3-inch and 2x2-inch box tubing. With the tailgate welded shut, there is no need for the spare tire carrier to swing open, eliminating any annoying rattles.
There is no need for a tailgate on this CJ-5 anyway, as the rear seat abuts the back of the tub. Under the rear seat, a custom 23-gallon fuel tank was added to create clearance for the stretched wheelbase. Up front, Corbeau Ultra seats and four-point harnesses are used for comfort and safety. A custom six-point roll cage constructed of 2-inch DOM tubing provides further safety. Between the seats, a cool .44 Magnum shifter rows the SM465, while a Pioneer head unit adorns the otherwise stock dash and feeds the Sony Xplod speakers mounted above the rear wheelwells.
Good, Bad, and What's It For
Just like the rest of us, Manny still has a "to do" list for his Jeep. The brackets on the front bumper were added for a tow bar, but they kill the approach angle. They will be removed, along with the bottom of the 9-inch housing for more ground clearance. Getting hung up is about the only thing that can stop this Jeep, since it has enough gearing to crawl up any obstacle the tires can reach. The mix of Ford, Chevy, Jeep, and Toyota parts works incredibly well on the rocks, yet the Jeep is still docile enough to drive down the freeway.
Why I Featured It
I saw Manny's CJ-5 at the '09 Chile Challenge, surrounded by TJs with comp cut corners and tube fenders. I like that his Jeep retains the original CJ-5 body lines, plus it has a unique drivetrain that works incredibly well while remaining affordable and lightweight. Couple this with the fact that Manny is a really nice guy and there, you have yourself a feature.Harry Wagner
Hard Facts
Vehicle: '73 CJ-5
Engine: AMC 304 V-8
Transmission: GM SM465
Transfer Case: Klune-V and Dana 20
Suspension: Alcan YJ leaf springs
Axles: Toyota 8-inch (front), Ford 9-inch (rear)
Wheels: 15x10 Mickey Thompson Classic Lock
Tires: 36x13.50-15 Interco Super Swamper IROKs
Built For: Technical rockcrawling