In 1976, my father, Dr. E. Neale Blackwood, Jr., purchased a brand new Jeep CJ5 Renegade Levi’s Edition in white with blue decals and blue denim interior. As a ten year boy, this was super cool. As a family of four, this Jeep served as our very first true Blackwood Adventures vehicle.

The Jeep served us well for 15 years, but it was starting to show its age. Rust hit the body in the typical places especially the rear fender wells. So, in 1991, when I started my job as an adult, dad transferred the title to me and I started my tenure as the steward of the CJ5.

At that time, we started a major cosmetic refresh of the Jeep. We removed the tired, steel body from the frame, wire-brushed it to remove all surface rust (the integrity was still sound), and lathered it with a rust-inhibiting primer and top coat. We then sourced and installed a new fiberglass body (with a 1.5” body lift), stainless steel hood hinges, vent, latches, windshield frame hinges, door hinges, and gas tank filler. We replaced as many fasteners as possible with stainless steel. Because the fiberglass body wasn’t as substantial as the OEM steel, we extended the sport bar with a front roll hoop and tied the entire cage into the frame in six locations. A swing-out spare tire carrier was added. The drivetrain remained mostly unmolested.

Between 1991 and 2024, the Jeep was maintained in running condition. Components failed and were replaced and were sometimes upgraded. This included water pump, carburetor, distributor/ignition system (upgraded to MSD), spark plug wires, front disk brake conversion, wheels and tires, wheel bearings, brakes, and so on.

That brings us to 2024.

In 2024, we decided to get the Jeep ready to celebrate its 50th birthday in 2026. This time, the refresh would be much more extensive. First step was to do a complete disassemble. The body was stripped of all its attachments and removed from the frame.

We decided to use a Jeep Cj5 Frame from Throttle Down Customs with most of the available options, including:

• Vortex front bumper

• Prerunner bars

• Vortex rear bumper with clevis mounts

• Steering box bracket

• Skid plate

While the replacement fiberglass body would be serviceable, it was showing some age as well. Particularly at embedded reinforcements through the firewall. We decided to purchase a new full Repli-Tub body from Willys-Overland Motors in Scranton, PA.

• Body tub

• Fenders

• Hood

• Windshield frame

• Tailgate

• Underside and inside of the jeep are coated in a durable black bed liner.

One of the standout features that set the Willys Overland Jeep Repli-Tub apart from any other replacement body on the market is the meticulous attention to detail and readiness for installation we provide. Every Repli-Tub comes fully equipped with a suite of pre-prepared features:

• Precision-Cut Firewall Holes: Every hole is accurately cut and angled for a seamless fit, specifically designed for the complexities of the Jeep's firewall.

• Essential Pedal Holes: Predrilled holes for the gas, brake, and clutch pedals (including the planned hydraulic brake upgrade) are perfectly positioned for immediate assembly.

• Steering Column Support: A perfectly sized hole for the steering column ensures you won't have to wrestle with alignments.

• Electrical and Fuel System Prep: Tail light wiring and fuel filler holes are pre-installed to streamline rebuilding.

• The Repli-Tub will includes brackets for grille support rods, tailgate seals, and tailgate mounting holes, ensuring a comprehensive fit for the Jeep.

• Enhanced Floor Support: Repaired, modified, and re-positioned floor supports to strengthen the structure and integrity of the Jeep's body.

New Dana 44 axles from East Coast Gear Supply. Options include:

We’ve retained the original Jeep 304 V8 engine.

A new wiring harness from Painless.