This Was Probably a Bad Choice.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:14 am

I bought a 1980 Jeep CJ7 yesterday morning that is all in pieces. So since it's all in pieces I am planning on doing a frame off restoration and build up. I has an I6, I think its the 258 but I'm not sure and a manual transmission. The body is decent and so is the frame, the frame is actually pretty clean with very little rust while the body wasn't quite as lucky but still not too bad in my opinion. I has no axles or t-case, he said it ran and drove, but who knows the guy was not the brightest crayon in the box. He also gave me an extended frame that was set up for full width axles but it looks like he did it himself and it kind of looks bad. He also made front and rear bumpers for it and added a winch plate that was made from 1/2" steel! So I don't want it or the current engine and trans on it so I am trying to sell them for what ever I can get.

My plans are to:
Clean frame with a wire wheel, replace any cross members and frame sections I need/ want to, prime and paint.
Then with my refund I'm going to look for a XJ that is cheap so I can steal lots of parts from it. I'm thinking about using just about everything off of the XJ but the body, so the 4.0L engine, AX15 trans and maybe the t-case and axles unless I find better axles. And I eventually want to rebuild the engine and trans.
Start replacing a couple panels on the body, cut out and fix any and all rust spots.
Start re-assembling the Jeep.

My Goals with the CJ are to learn how to set-up a ring and pinion, I have a couple friends that know how so I am going to talk one of them into teaching me. I also want to fit 35" tires on it and keep it as street legal as possible.

I will try my best to keep this updated as I go, but don't expect updates all that often as the CJ is staying at my Mom's house while I am at school and only make it home 2 times a month. But when summer comes I am hoping to be building this fast because my mom did not want me to buy it nor was she too happy when she saw me pull into the drive way with it so she said I have until school starts up again in Fall 2009 :shock:

!

anyways here are my pics of it so far:

callaway · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:36 am

That's a hell of a project !

Are you going to try and keep the the body in one piece and have the 2nd row of seats in the back or are you going to butcher the tub like I did

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:58 am

callaway wrote:

That's a hell of a project !

Are you going to try and keep the the body in one piece and have the 2nd row of seats in the back or are you going to butcher the tub like I did

I know, Im a little worried Im not gonna be able to do it lol, anyways I am wanting to keep the rear seat I want it to look somewhat like an orginal CJ, just with 35" tires and a better engine and trans and a couple other things here and there.

I found a Dana20 wide trac for $50 do you think I should buy it? the guy has 2 and he even had a front axle that was the same, but I also found an EB D44 front axle will it be the same width?

yellocoyote wrote:

:shock: Looks like you've got your work cut out for you... hopefully you got it really cheap...

I wish, Im pretty sure I paid too much for what it is but oh well live and learn right?? :lol:

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:54 pm

I think your mother is incredibly tolerant to give you until Fall.

A project like that can take lots of years or lots of money and normally both to do right.

Inc · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:37 pm

So no on the SFA, the MJ or FSJ then huh? That is a massive project man. I'll be blown away to see it done by Fall. You need to figure out exactly what you need for it right now because it will take a ton of work to get that thing in order much less find the right parts. Is your mom really strict on that deadline? What exactly do you have planned for it anyway?

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:38 pm

Inc wrote:

So no on the SFA, the MJ or FSJ then huh? That is a massive project man. I'll be blown away to see it done by Fall. You need to figure out exactly what you need for it right now because it will take a ton of work to get that thing in order much less find the right parts. Is your mom really strict on that deadline? What exactly do you have planned for it anyway?

nope no SFA, the MJ deal fell through I tried calling several times and he never called back, which I dont really care that much the MJs are sweet but I like the CJs bc they have a frame so I can/ am doing a complete rebuild. Yeah Im hoping to bust my butt in summer and hit up all any and all friends that can help. Ive got most everything figured out already. Im still trying to pin a 4.0, I emailed one guy that had one that was rebuilt and only had 40k on it, I found an AX15 trans that was rebuilt for a little under $200, and I found a set of wide trac AMC20 and Dana 30 and the guy is only asking $125 for both and I will talk him done some. The body pieces I need/ want to replace I will order through Quadratec or JC Whitney, and I have a friend who said he can get me a discount if I order through JCW, so now I am just waiting for my tax refund and my KJ gears to sell or to be returned and I should have enough money there to get this sucker just about done parts wise, then it should just be labor work for my friends and I in the summer.

I dont think she will be that strict on the deadline, she was just unhappy that I bought a piece, if it ran and drove I dont think she would care that much.

Inc · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:58 pm

Cool. I'll look forward yo your build. I've always had a soft spot for CJs anyway.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:03 pm

Reminds me of the Free 76 CJ5 i brought home once. it was a real basket case. Needed frame work, replacement floors, drivetrain, etc. but it had a pink slip and potential. I ended up selling it off Real cheap ($50) since I figured it was too much for me. Of course I regretted getting rid of it figuring I Could have worked it out over time and had a cool little project for my sons and I to work on over the last few years.

Oh well, I will enjoy watching Yours come together.

TAHOE · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2009 9:05 am

yeah. you made a mistake...just load it up and bring it over to me, I'll take care of it for ya :lol:

Looks like a pretty in depth project.
I had an 80 CJ5, wished I still had it....the kid thing made me sell it.
Oh, and I've got the exact same trailer as you, cept mine has a steel bed in it. First other one I've seen made like mine.

Sport · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2009 2:26 pm

Looks almost driveable. :lol:

Seriously good luck, I will be watching this one.

jeepmedic · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:08 pm

Keep up updated on your progress. I love CJ's .

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 19, 2009 12:53 am

small progress yesterday and today. I got the engine and trans pulled last night and took it to a scrape yard and got a whole $8!! :roll:

Tomorrow I am running to the metal yard to buy some metal and I am going to start cutting and replacing some of the frame and I hoping to have the frame all wire wheeled and primered and painted before I head back to school Sunday night.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:22 pm

that looks like a fun project

thats actually how i like my projects to show up, in pieces, but i usually by two of them when I do that

when i was restoring old IH tractors it usually took 3 tractors to make 1 resto but I loved it

one of these days i'll have a garage again! i don't think I'm allowed to do such monkeying in the suburbs when i get to IL :roll:

friggin nazi's

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:53 pm

Got a little done today. I cut off the rear bumper that was welded on there, it was a 4"x4"x1/4" tube and was really making the frame heavy. I'm going to try and save the hitch tube from it and use it in my rear bumper I am making.

Rear bumper cut off and new 3"x3"x3/16" tubing for the new rear frame, I cut a it down two sides opposite of each other most of the way down and took my hammer and beat them back together to get the same width as the stock frame and then I welded it on. Tomorrow I will add fish plates to make sure it's not going anywhere and then I'm gonna start work on the last cross member at the rear of the frame and replace it with 2.5"x3/16" angle and some 2.5"x1/8" strap.

I also removed the rest of the dash panel and the gauges, I am hoping to make a giant set of saw horses that I can set the body on so I will have easy access to the areas I am replacing or going to patch.

callaway · **Posted:** Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:09 pm

4x4x.25

wow!

The angle grinder is the best tool I've ever bought

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:50 am

callaway wrote:

4x4x.25

wow!

The angle grinder is the best tool I've ever bought

I dont know about the best but it high up there, mine gets used A LOT! oh and I also found a HO 4.0L from a 1992 XJ complete from fan to flywheel and computer and wire harness and it has 130k on it for $200 so now I just need to find me an AX15 and a t-case.

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:22 pm

NO NO NO NO NO
PLEASE do not downgrade to a 4.0 and an AX15! the CJ Gods will smite you!

That thing needs an AMC V8!!!!! What transmission does it have now?

Also...Dana didn't make the AMC Corp 20 rear axle...and if you're going to get a rear axle, get a Dana 44 from a later CJ. You will want the wide trac axles. And pick yourself up a Dana 300 case, too.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:57 pm

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

NO NO NO NO NO
PLEASE do not downgrade to a 4.0 and an AX15! the CJ Gods will smite you!

That thing needs an AMC V8!!!!! What transmission does it have now?

Also...Dana didn't make the AMC Corp 20 rear axle...and if you're going to get a rear axle, get a Dana 44 from a later CJ. You will want the wide trac axles. And pick yourself up a Dana 300 case, too.

there is no engine or trans any more, it was the 258 I6 with a manual trans that was Ford. I dont want a V8 or else I would have just found a CJ that didnt need this much work and already had a V8. I cant find any wide-trac D44 or else thats what I would use, I am buying a D30 and AMC 20 wide-trac axles for $100 and then I will eventually add the 1 piece kit and I will truss it so it should be good for 35" but I will more than likely use 33" for a while and maybe the Dana 300 t-case for another $100 but I dont know how to adapt that t-case to the AX15 without buying a $500 adapter which isnt going to happen, I might just find a way to make a NP231 work, especially if I can find one from a ZJ bc thats the HD NP231.

I found a crack in the OEM welds where the rear axle goes so I am re-welding it and then adding some 2"x3"x3/16" angle over it and welding it also.

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:46 pm

Do not understand why you don't want a V8 in the CJ

And 35s with a Corp 20...well...all's ThunderbirdJunkie can say is...good luck;)

Considered a Ford 8.8 from an F150? Same bolt pattern, not much work to put the proper perches on it, common-as-dirt parts...

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 7:59 pm

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

Do not understand why you don't want a V8 in the CJ

And 35s with a Corp 20...well...all's ThunderbirdJunkie can say is...good luck;)

Considered a Ford 8.8 from an F150? Same bolt pattern, not much work to put the proper perches on it, common-as-dirt parts...

Because I dont want bad MPG, and yes I know its mainly going to only be driven off-road but I dont care plus I really like the 4.0 I had one in my old XJ and it is bulletproof.

I might do the 8.8 I was thinking about it and what do you think just leave the old wide-trac D30 and add the 8.8?

This Was Probably a Bad Choice.

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