CJ-5 idle/running questions

[r7955]

I found a decent looking CJ-5 with a 304 and 3 speed stick-shift transmission, but haven't been to look at it yet.
It needs a new top and the paint is cracking, but I can overlook that stuff for now. It's priced at $2900.

My question is about how the owner describes it being "cold natured".
Says that it takes a few minutes of letting it warm up while still giving it gas or it'll die. After 4-5 minutes of this process, he says that it'll hold its idle fine.
Says that it has decent power once warmed up, but "its not a powerhouse".

What do you all think? I've never owned a carb'ed vehicle and would possibly have the motor swapped to a tbi 350 later, but would like to keep the 304 running well for awhile.

I'd appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Randy

 

[xjmarc]

My YJ is like that as well (carbed) and runs fine after a few minutes. Not sure where you are but $2900 for a CJ5 is way high especially if it needs a top and paint etc. I bought my last five for $900 and drove it for 3 years without touching the motor.

 

[SteelHeadz]

If it's the original intake and carburator, it would be cheaper to invest on an Edelbrock intake (either the Performer or Airgap series) and top it off with an Edelbrock or Avenger carburator. I have the Edelbrock performer intake and carburator on my 360 that i swapped over from the 304. It starts and idles fine on cold temperatures. Although i usually let the engine idle for 2 mins. or so before i pull out of my drive way, sometimes i just take off if i'm running late with no issues.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Well let’s face facts; the AMC 304 isn’t the biggest-baddest power mill you can stuff into a CJ but for the most part it is all the power one really needs for normal wheeling. There are exceptions of course, if you plan on blasting through a mud pit in the Tough Truck Challenge and the like but in reality most of us don’t need more when you factor in gearing.

My first CJ was a 1972 CJ5 with the AMC 304 and as a kid I thought “4 Wheel Drive” was a cryptic code for “still drive at full speed - just do it off road”. Trust me, it was more than enough power to have killed myself many times over, so from a power stand point the AMC 304 will meet most if not all of your needs. Having said that, I swapped out the 304 in my 1978 CJ for a 401; so who am I to talk?

Stealheadz set up is a good one and allowed him to keep/use an AMC V8 saving the need for adaptors and having to hack and whack on the jeep to do a engine swap. Even the stock Motorcraft carb on the 304 isn’t bad as many people swap it in for their stock I6 carbs. The guy may have told you it was cold natured because it is. The choke is connected to a metal tube that connects to the intake manifold and many of the tubes I have seen are damaged, loose, or missing by this time so that may the reason it is a little cold blooded; when you go to look at the jeep check on the passenger side of the carb.

The last thing is the missing top. I didn’t see what part of the world you hail from but remember the top is going to cost you over $800 (Supertop). Unless you live where it rarely rains you might be able to use the missing top as a bargaining chip.