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Build Thread 1979 CJ7 Renegade

Build Thread 1979 CJ7 Renegade
I

Ironmerganser

Jeeper
Posts
91
Thanks
0
Location
Omaha NE
Vehicle(s)
1979 Jeep CJ7 Renegade - stock 258 6 cyl

2003 F250 6.0 diesel

2005 Grand Cherokee 5.7 - wifes baby
New member....can't wait to start asking newbe questions!! :D

Not sure if anyone saw this on ebay, but I ended up snagging it. I have been looking for months and this was the most solid CJ7 I have ever seen. This is the before pic. I will add an "in progress" pic soon as it is currently in my driveway on jack stands (my wife loves that) torn apart waitng for brake booster, brake lines (some genius put a lift on with stock brake lines), new wiring harness (been spliced and repaired way too many times), carb, all new guages, cables, and "dash guts".

Can't wait! :chug:
 
Naw....its out of TX. I would be hard pressed to find one that solid around here.
 
That makes good sense, as far as Ive seen, clean Cjs this far north became a commodity about 20 years ago.

Did drive it home or have it shipped ?
 
Shipped. The brakes were the greatest and at 640 miles....not sure my arse could have handled it!! :)
 
Ironmerganser said:
Shipped. The brakes were the greatest and at 640 miles....not sure my arse could have handled it!! :)
Click to expand...

Brakes-you dont need no stinking brakes, those are luxury item on these trucks, and you missed out on a life changing experience, and only 640 miles ! You could have knocked that out in a day. You haven't lived until you taken a covered wagon on a cross-country highway trip ! At least it would insure that youd never do it again... yeah, Id had it shipped to or probably went and picked up (with a trailer), Im good for road trips.
 
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Looks like an excellent starting point. My "prize" from ebay came with a frame almost rusted in 2. You couldn't tell it now tho.
 
Got the old dash and wiring harness out. I have the new wiring harness in. I need to hook everything up in the engine bay. I am waiting on my new dash panel to get here. The old one was rusted. Someone added a dash pad and the screw areas were completly roached. Also..someone decided to cut out a speaker hole on the drivers side and must have been drunk when they were doing it......
 
Tonight was new carb and booster/mc. I think the booster/mc will REALLY improve the brakes. The carb I got for free (part of the deal for buying the Jeep) so it is on for now.
Problem I have now is that the stock air cleaner won't fit wiht the new booster/mc. Any suggestions?
 
Ironmerganser said:
Tonight was new carb and booster/mc. I think the booster/mc will REALLY improve the brakes. The carb I got for free (part of the deal for buying the Jeep) so it is on for now.
Problem I have now is that the stock air cleaner won't fit wiht the new booster/mc. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Build a cold air intake?
 
That thing is sick! What are the specs? Axles, Transmission , lift, tires, etc.?
 
Ironmerganser said:
Tonight was new carb and booster/mc. I think the booster/mc will REALLY improve the brakes. The carb I got for free (part of the deal for buying the Jeep) so it is on for now.
Problem I have now is that the stock air cleaner won't fit wiht the new booster/mc. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Hi Ironmegranser, what type of booster and master cylinder did you put on your CJ. It looks Awesome! :notworthy:
 
Canadian CJ 7 said:
Hi Ironmegranser, what type of booster and master cylinder did you put on your CJ. It looks Awesome! :notworthy:
Click to expand...

I bought the mc/booster kit from classic performance products. It is pretty sick. Complete bolt in. Had it installed in about 30 min.

diddy2003 said:
That thing is sick! What are the specs? Axles, Transmission , lift, tires, etc.?
Click to expand...

It is pretty much bone stock from what I can tell. Stock 6 cyl, stock 3 speed, not sure on lift size but I am running 33" super swampers. right now just a payvent queen for having fun around town.

Here are a few new pics. Been working pretty diligently to get it on the road for the summer. Got the the new extended brake lines in, all wired in the engine compartment (fired off first try!!!) and got an older style air cleaner so it works with the new booster/mc. Also got one of the headlight buckets repaired. The plastic threads for the adjustment screws were all stripped so I drilled them out slightly and took plastic inserts for hanging pictures on dry wall and plastic welded/glued them into the holes. Threaded them..and bamo...works like a charm. Should have the other one done by tomorrow.

I am working on the dash now. Just couldn't bring myself to buy a new one yet so the sander came out and so did the JB Weld. Just had to touch up a few rust spots the size of quarters. Should work well for the summer. I want to just drive it for the rest of the summer. Then this winter...COMPLETE DISMANTLE!!!! :D
 
OK...did work on the old dash but just wasnt happy with it. Dropped the coin on a new stainless dash. Gonna live it natural for now, but gonna paint it body color this winter.

Just have to hook up everything behind the dash, install the new turn signal stuff and I will be driving!!!!!
 
that's a good looking '79.

i'm undecided on what to do with my AMC 304 '79. if it stays with me i may go for something that looks like what you have. it looks tough!
 
I'd be checking the torque on those model 20 axle nuts if doesn't have a one piece axle conversion. Those big swampers tend to help them loosen up over time. ;)
 
Well....she is in the garage and the motor is coming out.

I am yanking the motor out and doing below. Anyone have some answers to the questions ia have below?

1. "Stock" AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l short block bored .030
2. 4.0 clearwater head (what rockers? 4.0 or AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l push rods?)
3. 4.0 intake (what year? what fuel rail? what lb injectors?)
4. 4.0 exhaust header (recommendations?)
5. 4.0 or AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l cam (stock or upgrade?)
5. Salvage yard engine harness (gotta find it yet)
7. Hesco dampner and crank sensor
8. Hesco speed sensor

Any other recommendations? dunno.gif

I know I am repeating some things, but I will be trying to accumulate everything over the next couple weeks while the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l is being rebuilt.

Thanks in advance!!!!!! cheers.gif
 
Have the front end all torn apart and the motor/tranny/xfer case should be out by the weekend. Then I can take the short block, tranny/xfer case the the shops that will be rebuilding them.

Now I just need to get to scavenging for the 4.0 swap parts so that when I get everything back...I can start throwing it together!!! :D

PS....I have a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l intake and carb available for sale if anyone needs one!!!
 
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