I think that's more than a rollover. Glad you came out of it (OK)?

 

I don’t personally remember how it rolled, but I remember it was horrifying. An eyewitness said the Jeep went end over end, looking at the way the hood is pushed up to the windshield I can believe it. I was doing about 50 mph when it left the highway. The seatbelt broke my collarbone in multiple places, I had a surgery last week to repair it. I consider myself extremely lucky, a broken collar bone is very mild compared to what could have happened. I’ll never take seatbelts for granted again.

 

Phewee, Jeepers!!!!

That was one bad rollover. 50mph you say. Glad you got out of it in one piece. That sports bar has held up pretty well, your new shoulder belts were a wise investment.

There will be very few parts on there worth saving, nearly everything has been twisted or smashed. I suggest buying a reasonably good early CJ5 and forget about making a chassis. That is a lot of work and they can be bought anyways.

 

Thats so scary, glad you are ok man.

Not gonna lie, that thing looks like a piece of art how it sits. Should be in a museum or something as is lol.

I would pick yourself up another 75, and make a clone. Maybe call it the 'life machine'

kov

 

Thats so scary, glad you are ok man.

Not gonna lie, that thing looks like a piece of art how it sits. Should be in a museum or something as is lol.

I would pick yourself up another 75, and make a clone. Maybe call it the 'life machine'

kov

Yeah, gad your OK. I've been in two jeep accidents myself with both similar results.

but a kovic point mentioned. First thing I thought of when I saw your jeep back home was that it would not look bad sitting in an art museum gallery someplace.
I was going to google a picture but I didn't realize how popular metal art sculptures are these days.

 

Jeeez, did that roll off the Grand Canyon? One of the worst I've seen and you are LUCKY to survive. Seat belts do work, even though I am not an advocate of them, but when it comes to the Jeep CJ, it's on even before we put the key in the ignition.
I even thought before reading what kovic said, "looks like a piece of art"as it does.

I wouldn't even attempt to save anything from that Jeep except maybe the grill to hang on the wall as a reminder that chit happens. Might be bits and pieces that are rare that you could save for another Jeep or forum member, but for the most part, get another Jeep and put that nice Warn winch on it.

 

The tail gate would make a nice fold down tool bench. I remember reading something like that before..... I wonder who that was....

 

Wow, congrats on surviving that crash.

I had a kid driving an Explorer pull out in front of me in my 1998 TA when I was going about 60-65 back in 2007. It was the hardest impact I have ever experienced.

It nearly killed my youngest kid, Nick. Seatbelt tore his abdomen and required life saving surgery. I fractured my collar bone & suffered a torn PCL.

Seat belts work, but the do some damage as well. I think the airbags helped the most.

I’d be parting that Jeep, and looking for a replacement. Not much still usable on it now, other than small parts.

That’s what I did with my TA, after I bought it back from the insurance company. I got some good parts off of it. I still have the LS1 & 460LE, wheels & tires.

 

Wow, congrats on surviving that crash.

I had a kid driving an Explorer pull out in front of me in my 1998 TA when I was going about 60-65 back in 2007. It was the hardest impact I have ever experienced.

It nearly killed my youngest kid, Nick. Seatbelt tore his abdomen and required life saving surgery. I broke my shoulder & suffered a torn PCL.

Seat belts work, but the do some damage as well. I think the airbags helped the most.

I’d be parting that Jeep, and looking for a replacement. Not much still usable on it now, other than small parts.

That’s what I did with my TA, after I bought it back from the insurance company. I got some good parts off of it. I still have the LS1 & 460LE, wheels & tires.

View attachment 4149380
View attachment 4149381

That’s terrible, I’m glad you and your son survived! Going 0-60 fast is fun but 60-0 is kinda rough.

 

A friend of mine owns a local scrapyard. He has a hilltop overlooking a highway where he puts interesting looking vehicles. He wants to put the frame and body up there with a “buckle up” sign. I know there’s not much here that can be saved, but I’m going to pull drivetrain out just to see if there’s internal damage. Everything from the engine to the transfer case only had about 9000 miles on the rebuild. And all the small, expensive, or hard to find parts that I know are ok. Like the Warn hubs, seat brackets, fuel tank, gauges, steering column, etc.

 

you can buy one around here for 5k. would cost way less. Even if you had a shop, would not be worth the time.

just looked in 100 mile radius and more then a few and look rather good would have to see it but.

 

This is unreal. It's definitely a miracle that you survived this. If you had shown me these pictures and mentioned end over end crash, I would have guessed there would be no survivors. Thank God you installed those new seatbelts, otherwise I am sure you would have been ejected. I wonder what caused you to leave the roadway in the first place?!
I'm really sorry about your beloved Jeep. I agree with starting over with a different CJ - there doesn't seem to be much on here that is salvagable. The Winch would probably be a nice token of your old friend to install in a different CJ.

 

@robblue80
I was driving home from work and a little old lady tried to cross the highway in a white Buick. She had a stop sign, and she came to a full stop, but at the last second she accelerated through the intersection right in front of me. I swerved to avoid a complete t-bone, but the front of her car impacted my drivers side rocker panel as I passed by. This is what sent me off the road (and I think this is when the drivers rear wheel broke away). You can see how little damage her car took. The Jeep kinda glanced across the front of it. Here’s some pics of the scene.

The lady was 89 years old, and I know she didn’t mean it. She probably couldn’t see me coming. I’m very glad I swerved, a direct t-bone probably would have killed her (and maybe me). She was ok. As the ambulance was loading me up, the EMS crew told me she got out of her car with a walker 😂

 

Damn! Glad you are ok, agree with others...

Grab some bits off the wrecked to affix to your new jeep (if so inclined)... but there's no going back on that one, sadly...

Hoss

 

Wow... so glad you survived!

You are unable to drive it again, but.......got a big tree in your yard?

Pull out the heavy bits, and body/frame hang it up and use it as a tree swing

 

I'm glad that you are "okay". Two things I find amazing.
1. You survived.
2. That sports bar held up and stayed on the tub. I wouldn't re-use it, but it still look straight. With the way the rest of the Jeep looks, I would have expected it to either be bent or completely torn off.

I'd strip it for all of the usable pieces (tailgate and windshield hinges, seat brackets, wiper motor, mechanisms and cover, etc...). Anything from that vintage and was still usable I would save.

 

I'm glad that you are "okay". Two things I find amazing.
1. You survived.
2. That sports bar held up and stayed on the tub. I wouldn't re-use it, but it still look straight. With the way the rest of the Jeep looks, I would have expected it to either be bent or completely torn off.

I'd strip it for all of the usable pieces (tailgate and windshield hinges, seat brackets, wiper motor, mechanisms and cover, etc...). Anything from that vintage and was still usable I would save.

I’m equally surprised at the performance of the sports bar. Something that the previous owner did was weld 1/8” steel plate to the top of each wheelhouse and then bolted the sports bar to that. The PO did some other sketchy work, but that particular modification seemed like it held up perfectly.

 

So it begins…the long teardown.

it’s interesting to do some amateur forensic work and see what failed and what didn’t. For example, I’m shocked at well my homemade dual battery box survived. The hold-down is bent slightly, but these batteries didn’t move at all.

 

So it begins…the long teardown.

it’s interesting to do some amateur forensic work and see what failed and what didn’t. For example, I’m shocked at well my homemade dual battery box survived. The hold-down is bent slightly, but these batteries didn’t move at all.

After my CJ got hit two years ago, I didn't realize the battery got knocked out of its mount since I was unable to open the hood. It wasn't until I got the Jeep towed home that we got the hood pried open to have a look a day after. Factory mount for the smaller group 55 battery gave out from the impact, it is only held in place at the base.
Dented my passenger inner fender well and dented my pristine condition OEM power brake air cleaner assembly on the side. Was really pissed about the air cleaner but got all the dents out using my PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) kit I have.

 

After looking over the pictures more, it’s nice to see your Ax, Jerry Can & Fire Extinguisher stayed attached and in place. You must have done a good job of mounting that stuff.

So, just to be clear, you were held in your seat by the seat belt for the entire ride? That is freaking crazy, after looking at the divots in the grass, seeing how far you rolled & tumbled

I have thought about what would happen if I ever ran off the road like that in my CJ-7. All of the roads in my neck of the woods have huge ditches, between the road and the farm fields. Seeing your Jeep tells me what I always suspected…it could get ugly.

I am truly amazed that you walked away from that accident.

 

I stayed in the drivers seat the entire time. This Jeep had a removable passenger seat, which was thrown from the vehicle. An eyewitness said when the passenger seat went flying they thought it was a person being ejected. He approached the crash and began searching and was surprised to see me still behind the wheel. I got out without assistance and felt fine for a couple minutes, but after the adrenaline wore off I began to feel it.

Things can go bad very quickly. It’s terrible to hear about that teen who got his skull crushed. I’ve had people stand up in my Jeep like that before also. Even if you’re the safest driver on Earth, you’re only half the equation.

also I’m really happy about the mounting job of all my gear, I didn’t lose anything off the sides!

 

When I was a kid my dad was a county sheriff deputy. One of the accidents he went to was a CJ roll over with teenagers. One kid was standing in the back holding on to the sports bar. He got thrown from the vehicle and that bar proceeded to roll onto his skull and basically cut it in half. I don’t know how many times I rode in the back of a CJ5 or Toyota Landcruiser that exact same way, but never again after that incident. You were extremely lucky. That or providence was looking out for you. Glad that you are still here.

 

I have a feeling you're gonna feel that in your golden years. Perhaps not as bad as I feel some of my accidents and bike getoffs, but you're gonna feel it.
BTW, the golden years are tarnished

 

I have a feeling you're gonna feel that in your golden years. Perhaps not as bad as I feel some of my accidents and bike getoffs, but you're gonna feel it.
BTW, the golden years are tarnished

Ahhh yes! I too, am frequently visited upon by the ghosts of injuries past.

 

The old lady maybe should not be driving. My mother had her licence taken away, and for good reason. People cling on to their driving licence when they no longer have the skills to drive safely and this is sometimes the result, fortunately not a fatality.

 

I didn't know they used the Chrysler "Slant 6" in the CJ. Is this an export version.

 

And with "crab steer" feature too!

I wonder......possible to get it moving on its own power again, just for grins like it is?

 

Happy you are alive and walked away from it. I have seen these where the drivers were not so lucky. Smears on the highway and guardrails are hard to forget, especially when they are your friends.

new start?

1982 Jeep CJ5 Barter - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive...

I have a 1982 Jeep CJ5 that I would like to barter. Was asking 4,000 What do you have? tks 5zero5 4five0 four 265 tks

albuquerque.craigslist.org

get a hold of don
SWxOR (SouthWestOffRoad.com) | eBay Stores I'll do what I can to get you a new start. Been there.

Jeep CJ - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

I have a 1975 Jeep CJ5 I purchased about a year ago from the original owner. This is a running drivable Jeep. The Body and floors are very solid. Its 45 years old so not perfect, has a few bumps and...

denver.craigslist.org

 

I've seen plenty of vehicle accidents in my 30 years of fire service and I must say God was on your side..

 

Wow. Wow. Wow those 50 MPH crash photos! Soooo glad you replaced those seat belts!!! We'll respectfully relinquish "The Death Machine" nickname to you...

Certainly the CJ-5's have a propensity for (spectacular!) crashes owing to their high CG and ultra-short wheelbase. We love classic CJ-5's and their but if you're going to rebuild, and like the classic look, consider a later model CJ-7 with box frame, wider leaf springs, and better positioned shocks. Might be a bit safer too (<-- safer CJ - Yeah - Right!).

We alternately referred to our Copper Metallic CJ as "The Death Machine" and "The Farm Tractor." We never drive it at more then 50 MPH on the highway due to its loosey-goosey suspension. Our Jeep Club always stopped and watched the CJ-5's on obstacles expecting short wheelbase rollovers (thanks (not) guys and gals). They also hated the running rich carb smell on high altitude trails (thanks again, guys and gals).

Our "classic" CJ-5 is lifted, soft sprung (great on obsticles, BAD on pavement), Line-X sprayed tub, 74 CJ-5 AMC304, T-18A, Detroit locker, full cage, 3-point harnesses, WARN rear hubs for occasional flat towing (<-- don't recommend). Bads are: c-channel frame, narrow springs, inset OEM position but upgraded shocks, ultra-short short wheelbase. Hence the late year CJ7 suggestion... Again so glad you only broke a collar bone - AMAZING!!!

 

The transmission was wedged between the body and frame under the passenger seat. I had to jack the body up to free it. After some finagling I was able to free the “slant 6”

 

Wow!

Hoss

 

Maybe buy a new Frame. I know that back in the '90s, they sold robust frames. Galvanized. And fiberglass body, go from there.

 

Do you remember the name of the company that sold galvanized frames? I’d like to prevent future rust as much as possible