Your article on DJ jeeps brought back some great old memories. In 1995 I bought an old AMC DJ5 from the job corps camp in Astoria, Oregon. I modified it to haul my camping gear & supplies and built a bed on the passenger side. I headed out from Seattle, Washington in May 1995 and drove that little jeep to the Panama Canal. I avoided the inter-american highway for most of the trip and criss-crossed every country in Central America. The trip took six weeks one way. On the second day in Mexico the brain box went out. As luck would have it I had a used one in the tool box (the only spare part I brought). I plugged it in and off I went. The only other problem on the whole trip was a broken rear shock mount. (the roads were horrible) and I got the transmission really hot in Guatamala. I saw a little hut with a “taller mechanico” sign. There was a young boy in there doing oil changes. He never heard of changing transmission fluid. I got out my tools, picked up some fluid from a store across the street and showed him how to do it. The jeep picture was taken in Guadalahara, Mexico
The first pic was taken on the day we left Belize city headed across country to Tikal, Quatamala. (did the tourist thing at the zoo).
The second pic was taken in a fig plantation in Honduras. Pic three was taken somewhere on the road in Costa Rica. We put our food on the intake manifold in the morning when we started out, By lunch it was hot so we could stop anywhere and eat.
The last pic was taken as we entered Panama. I wish I had taken more pictures of the jeep along the way. It almost floated downstream in Quatamala when we forded at a collapsed bridge. An enterprising guy was sitting in a big old mercedes truck on the opposite bank waiting to tow people out for a price. He was dissappointed when I caught rocks and waded the old jeep across the rapids and onto shore.
Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – Everett Cole
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Cool story and a great old jeep too boot. Hey even liked the Picnic table.
Cool story and a great old jeep too boot. Hey even liked the Picnic table.
Incredible story, I wish I dare to do a trip like that in my old ’56 CJ5, regards from Mexico
Incredible story, I wish I dare to do a trip like that in my old ’56 CJ5, regards from Mexico
What a great story. I am highly respecting this guy who was not afraid to go on a long trip like this. I love stories of jeep expeditions. Thank you for sharing the story.
What a great story. I am highly respecting this guy who was not afraid to go on a long trip like this. I love stories of jeep expeditions. Thank you for sharing the story.
Good story. Whatever happened to the Jeep?
Good story. Whatever happened to the Jeep?
I really loved taking the trip. My friend Patricia met me in Mexico city and travelled the rest of the way with me. She was apparently less thrilled with the expedition than I was :-). I left the jeep in Panama. I gave it to an old friend there. The local authorities made it very difficult to leave the vehicle in country. My passport was stamped with a note about the jeep and an importation tax was required to clear my passport for departure.
I really loved taking the trip. My friend Patricia met me in Mexico city and travelled the rest of the way with me. She was apparently less thrilled with the expedition than I was :-). I left the jeep in Panama. I gave it to an old friend there. The local authorities made it very difficult to leave the vehicle in country. My passport was stamped with a note about the jeep and an importation tax was required to clear my passport for departure.
Yeah, great expedition. Stayed off the interamerican highwat most of the trip and criss-crossed most countries. Left the jeep in Panama with an old friend (after paying the stupid importation tax).
Yeah, great expedition. Stayed off the interamerican highwat most of the trip and criss-crossed most countries. Left the jeep in Panama with an old friend (after paying the stupid importation tax).
A trip I wish I could have tagged along on. The DJ s were some tuff ones, I am glad you didn’t overlook it when you started looking for a vehicle to make your trip in. If you hadn’t stayed off the main road your trip could have cost you alot more. Good travels to you.
A trip I wish I could have tagged along on. The DJ s were some tuff ones, I am glad you didn’t overlook it when you started looking for a vehicle to make your trip in. If you hadn’t stayed off the main road your trip could have cost you alot more. Good travels to you.
i have a 69 DJ, turned it in to a military jeep, this one has all original chevy 4 cly, power glide trans, i drove it on my route until i was issued a vehicle. some of the later DJ’s are junk, AMC motors with renault trans, and other combo’s, really not too reliable.
i have a 69 DJ, turned it in to a military jeep, this one has all original chevy 4 cly, power glide trans, i drove it on my route until i was issued a vehicle. some of the later DJ’s are junk, AMC motors with renault trans, and other combo’s, really not too reliable.
I had a DJ 3, and a guy gave me a DJ5 rolling frame. I put the rear axel in my DJ 3 and gave away the rest. I didn’t know what I had. The DJ 5 was a cool Jeep, it had a Chevy Iron Duke 4 cylinder motor and a Powerglide automatic trans. It also had Positraction 373 rear axel. My DJ 3 had a Jeep flat head motor, Three on the tree. It was alot of fun. Rick
I had a DJ 3, and a guy gave me a DJ5 rolling frame. I put the rear axel in my DJ 3 and gave away the rest. I didn’t know what I had. The DJ 5 was a cool Jeep, it had a Chevy Iron Duke 4 cylinder motor and a Powerglide automatic trans. It also had Positraction 373 rear axel. My DJ 3 had a Jeep flat head motor, Three on the tree. It was alot of fun. Rick
I dont know why but i always wanted a dj 5. I am on my second one now, and have purchased another for parts, while the vehicle will probably run forever, saddly the body is falling apart. I love the dj yet i get no respect from jeepers around here, they look at it as a 2wd imposter. Thats why i also have a 42 gpw. Let them have cake and eat it too!
I dont know why but i always wanted a dj 5. I am on my second one now, and have purchased another for parts, while the vehicle will probably run forever, saddly the body is falling apart. I love the dj yet i get no respect from jeepers around here, they look at it as a 2wd imposter. Thats why i also have a 42 gpw. Let them have cake and eat it too!
perfect…….what a great story…..just goes to show ya , when you plant your a** in one of these old machines, hang on and watch as memory lane is in the headlights……[o|||||||o}
perfect…….what a great story…..just goes to show ya , when you plant your a** in one of these old machines, hang on and watch as memory lane is in the headlights……[o|||||||o}