Specs, fluids & service · 1955–1983

Jeep CJ-5 specs, fluids and service intervals

The numbers you need in the garage, on one page: spec sheet, capacities and service intervals, wheels and tires, and the parts to order. Sourced from owners, specialists and the factory; tags marked confirm in manual haven't been checked against a factory source yet.

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Spec sheet

MODEL YEARS	1955–1983 (production from October 1954)
BUILT	603,303
OWNERS	Willys / Kaiser (to 1970) · AMC (1970 on)
ENGINES	F134 I4 · Perkins diesel · 225 V6 · 232 / 258 I6 · 304 V8 · 151 I4
OUTPUT	75 hp (F134) to 155 hp (V6)
TRANSMISSIONS	T-90, T-14, T-150 3-spd · T-18, SR-4, T-176 4-spd
DRIVE	Part-time 4WD, two-speed gear-driven transfer case
WHEELBASE	81 in (1955–71) · 83.5 in (1972–83)
LENGTH × WIDTH	138.2 × 68.5 in
HEIGHT	67.7 in
CURB WEIGHT	2,665 lb (Wikipedia)
REAR AXLE	Dana 44 to 1975 · AMC 20 from 1976

By year

YEARS	PLATFORM	ENGINE	OUTPUT	NOTES
1955–1971	Willys / Kaiser CJ-5	F134 Hurricane 2.2 L F-head I4	75 hp / 114 lb-ft	T-90 three-speed at launch, 81-inch wheelbase. The four stayed available alongside the V6.
1961–1965	CJ-5 diesel	Perkins 4.192 3.1 L I4 diesel	62 hp / 143 lb-ft	Rare and slow, according to Hagerty.
1965–1971	Kaiser Jeep CJ-5 V6	Buick-designed Dauntless 225 3.7 L V6	155 hp	Fitted to about 75% of CJ-5s by 1968. Odd-fire, with a heavy flywheel.
1972–1978	AMC CJ-5 (long nose)	AMC 232 I6 · 258 I6 · 304 V8	304: 150 bhp (Hagerty)	Wheelbase 83.5 in; new Dana 30 front; 258 standard in California.
1979–1983	AMC CJ-5 (late)	AMC 258 I6 with Carter BBD 2-bbl	110 hp / 195 lb-ft (1979–81, Offroaders.com) · 115 hp / 210 lb-ft from 1982	258 standard from 1979. Jeep-CJ.com dates the 304 option to 1981.
1980–1983	AMC CJ-5 (base four)	GM 151 Iron Duke 2.5 L I4 ('Hurricane')	—	SR-4 four-speed. Jeep-CJ.com's buyer's guide says to avoid it.

Fluids, capacities & service intervals

A CJ-5 is at least 40 years old and has probably had several owners, each with their own idea of maintenance. Change every fluid, grease every fitting and sort the ignition before you judge how it runs. Specs vary by era and engine; the capacities below are from ExtremeTerrain's CJ chart, which mostly covers AMC-era drivetrains. Check anything for a Willys or Kaiser truck against its manual.

ITEM	SPEC / CAPACITY	INTERVAL	NOTES & PARTS
Engine oil & filter	5W-30 or 10W-30 · 4.2 L six: 6 qt · 5.0 L 304: 5 qt · 2.5 L four: 4 qt · F134 / V6 confirm in manual	Baseline now; then per your owner's manual	These are flat-tappet engines. New drain-plug washer every time.OMIX 17436.01 oil filter, 1941–71 CJ 4-cyl · Quadratec ↗Oil filter, 1979 CJ-5 4.2L · RockAuto ↗CJ oil filters (all engines) · Quadratec ↗
Air filter	Paper element in the factory air cleaner	Baseline now	Fit a new one before tuning the carburetor.Air filter, 1979 CJ-5 4.2L · RockAuto ↗Air filter, 1968 CJ-5 2.2L F-head · RockAuto ↗CJ replacement air filters · Quadratec ↗
Ignition tune-up	Plugs, cap, rotor, wires; points and condenser on pre-electronic trucks · gaps and timing confirm in manual	Baseline now	Hagerty calls ignition the CJ's weak point. The AMC six fires 1-5-3-6-2-4.Crown 4318137 spark plug, 1978–80 CJ-5 4.2L · Quadratec ↗Crown 4339491 spark plug, 1941–71 CJ 4-cyl · Quadratec ↗Crown J4488760 points and condenser, 1966–74 CJ-5 6-cyl · Quadratec ↗Distributor cap, 1968 CJ-5 225 V6 · RockAuto ↗
Coolant & thermostat	50/50 coolant · 4.2 L: 10.5 qt · 304 V8: 14.5 qt · Iron Duke: 7.8 qt (ExtremeTerrain)	Baseline flush now	ExtremeTerrain lists a three-year IAT formula. Flush until the water runs clear and fit a new thermostat.Crown 83501426 195° thermostat, 1966–86 CJ · Quadratec ↗Crown 905594 thermostat, 1941–71 CJ · Quadratec ↗Coolant / antifreeze, 1968 CJ-5 2.2L · RockAuto ↗
Belts & hoses	V-belts and molded hoses by engine	Baseline now if cracked, glazed or soft	Old hoses fail from the inside. Squeeze them, and replace any that feel crunchy or spongy.Crown J3229607 accessory V-belt, 1973–74 CJ-5 6-cyl · Quadratec ↗Fairchild MCH1029 heater hose, 1981–83 CJ-5 4.2L · Quadratec ↗Crown J0906779 upper radiator hose, 1955–71 CJ-5 F-head · Quadratec ↗
Manual transmission	80W-90 · T-18: 3.25 qt · T-150: 1.4 qt · SR-4: 1.5 qt · T-176: confirm in manual · T-90 / T-14: GL-4 (1955 manual) confirm capacity	Baseline now	ExtremeTerrain's T-176 figure (3.5 qt / 1.7 L) contradicts itself, so check the manual. On T-14/Dana 18 trucks, oil can migrate from the gearbox into the transfer case, so check both levels.Yukon 80W-90 conventional gear oil · Quadratec ↗
Transfer case	80W-90 · Dana 300: 2 qt · Dana 20: 1.6 qt · Dana 18: GL-4 confirm capacity	Baseline now	All CJ-5 transfer cases are gear-driven. Leaks at the output seals are common and cheap to fix.Crown 300GK Dana 300 seal kit, 1980–86 CJ · Quadratec ↗OMIX 18603.01 Dana 18 gasket and seal kit, 1941–71 CJ · Quadratec ↗Crown J5359022 transfer case gasket, 1978–79 CJ-5 Dana 20/T-150 · Quadratec ↗
Front differential	80W-90 · Dana 30: 1.25 qt · pre-1972 front axle confirm in manual	Baseline now	ExtremeTerrain suggests 75W-140 for towing or extreme use.Yukon 80W-90 conventional gear oil · Quadratec ↗Currie CE-9013S 75W-140 gear oil · Quadratec ↗
Rear differential	80W-90 · AMC 20: 2.4 qt · Dana 44: 2 qt · Trac-Lok: add 4 oz limited-slip additive	Baseline now	Renegades and many V8 trucks have Trac-Lok. Look for a tag on the cover and add friction modifier if it's there.Yukon 80W-90 gear oil (with or without friction modifier) · Quadratec ↗Gear oil additive (limited-slip), 1979 CJ-5 · RockAuto ↗
Front wheel bearings & hubs	Repack and adjust · preload confirm in manual	Baseline now; then after deep water crossings	Inspect the manual locking hubs while they're apart. Later trucks use five-bolt hubs, earlier ones six-bolt; Offroaders.com dates the change to 1981, Wikipedia to 1980, so count the bolts.Crown SET45 front outer wheel bearing kit, 1976–86 CJ · Quadratec ↗Crown SET47 front inner wheel bearing set, 1977–86 CJ · Quadratec ↗Crown manual locking hub set, 1941–86 CJ · Quadratec ↗
Brake & clutch fluid	DOT 3	Flush now	Old drum-brake trucks also need the shoes adjusted. Check the wheel cylinders for weeping.Brake fluid, 1979 CJ-5 · RockAuto ↗
Power steering	Power Steering +4, or ATF+4 if unavailable	Check and top up now	Leaks at the box are common. Seal kits are cheap.Crown 83500369 steering box seal kit, 1974–86 CJ power steering · Quadratec ↗
Grease points	Driveshaft U-joints and slip yokes · shackles · steering joints	Every oil change, and after water	Replace any dry or notchy U-joint now. Greaseable shackles are an easy upgrade.Crown 8126637BC front axle U-joint, 1976–86 CJ · Quadratec ↗Universal joint, 1979 CJ-5 · RockAuto ↗Fishbone greaseable shackles, 1955–75 CJ-5 · Quadratec ↗
Fuel filter	Inline filter by engine	Baseline now	Old tanks shed rust and varnish. If the filter comes out dirty, inspect the tank and sender.Crown J3229443 fuel filter, 1974–90 CJ 4.2L · Quadratec ↗Crown J8126312 fuel filter, 1967–71 CJ-5 225 V6 · Quadratec ↗Fuel filter, 1968 CJ-5 2.2L F-head · RockAuto ↗

Capability

Wheelbase	81 in (2,057 mm) 1955–71 · 83.5 in (2,121 mm) 1972–83
Curb weight	2,665 lb (1,209 kg) Wikipedia figure

Wheels & tires

Factory tire	225/75R15 (1980, P-metric equivalent)
Bolt pattern	5x139.7 (5x5.5")
Center bore	108 mm
Lug thread	1/2"-20
Biggest tire · Stock	31x10.50R15
Biggest tire · 2.5 in	32–33 in
Biggest tire · 4 in	33x12.50R15

Open the Jeep CJ-5 in the tire fitment tool →

Common Jeep CJ-5 repairs

Always confirm torque figures, fluids and capacities against the factory service manual for your VIN. See the disclaimer; some parts links are affiliate links.