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Build Thread 1985 CJ7/5.3L build

Build Thread 1985 CJ7/5.3L build
M

myjeepsbigger

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Posts
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Location
MJL, IL
Vehicle(s)
1985 CJ7, 5.3L V8, 700R4, D300, D30/AMC20(until the 5.3 destroys it). Other rides: 1985 XJ full tube buggy, Tuned Port SBC, 700R4, NP231/D300 twin cases, D60, Sterling 10.25. 2000 XJ, 4", 33's. 1993 ZJ, 5.2L, 31's.
Not sure if it's taboo around here or not, but I'm in the process of putting a 2001 5.3L GM V8 in my CJ...and since I'm a newbie to this site, I figured I would share. My goals for this rig is to have a VERY reliable, strong, driver that can hit and occasional MILD trail (I have a full tube buggy on one-tons that I can use for the hardcore stuff...but trailering it everywhere just sucks.).

I added this CJ to my fleet of Jeeps early this past summer. It had been sitting in the weeds for a couple years and was suffering from severe neglect. Some birds had made the grille and heater housing into a sparrow condo and there were other unmentionable critters living in it as well. I trailered it home and had it running the same weekend (battery, starter solenoid, fuel pump, cleaned fuel tank, water pump, some lighting and electrical repairs). It was pretty rusty and a little beat up, but in surprisingly good condition considering its past. My girlfriend and I cruised it all over the place through the summer (and did some light wheelin), but the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l just wasn't doing it for me.

Enough babbling, here are some pics:

Shortly after I got it home.
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Cleaned up, different seats.
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Cruisin
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Lined up with it's siblings.
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Then Summer ended and......surgery begins.

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Oof!
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These are all the 'unnecessary' wires I removed from the factory loom.
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More coming up.....
 
Fitting
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Mounts
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LS3 manifolds, new radiator, and few other goodies on.
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Wiring done.

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And that pretty much brings me to where I am now. I have the other fender back on and the rest of the drivetrain in, enough to take it for a quick spin and figure out that my Transmission (bought 2nd hand from a friend) is junk and won't hit 2nd gear. From the Limited amount of seat time that I have with the new motor, I think I'm gonna LOVE it! TONS of torque and idles like a kitten.

The plans from here on out are to [obviously] get the Transmission replaced and/or rebuilt, bend up a new family-style full roll cage, and modify the fenders to get some more tire clearance. I'm wanting 33's with NO lift, NO flat fenders or tube fenders, and a factory-appearing body. :chug:

Stand by for further developments. :D
 
Wow, that looks great! That is exactly what I would like to do to my '86 CJ7 . I'm saving up for it now. I have been worried about cost and was thinking about doing a junk yard TBI to get me by for a while, but looking at yours is making me want to do the swap again.

Any hints or tips to the swap would be greatly appreciated. Also any hidden costs I might run into would be great too.

Thanks and keep up the good work.

Coach
 
Coach said:
Wow, that looks great! That is exactly what I would like to do to my '86 CJ7 . I'm saving up for it now. I have been worried about cost and was thinking about doing a junk yard TBI to get me by for a while, but looking at yours is making me want to do the swap again.

Any hints or tips to the swap would be greatly appreciated. Also any hidden costs I might run into would be great too.

Thanks and keep up the good work.

Coach
Click to expand...


LOTS of hidden costs. I've got another $2k over-and-above the engine price, and I'm really not finished yet. It's unreal how quick that stuff adds up.
 
myjeepsbigger said:
LOTS of hidden costs. I've got another $2k over-and-above the engine price, and I'm really not finished yet. It's unreal how quick that stuff adds up.
Click to expand...

Do you think it could be done well for $4000-4500 total? That's what I think I could swing before the wife would ask me to start living in the jeep. :)

I have a friend that should be able to get me a good price on the engine and Transmission , but I'm not factoring that discount into my price goal above.

Coach
 
man that is sweet :chug:
 
Nice Franken jeep.:chug:
 
Also, what seats did you swap in?
 
TJ seats. Prolly do aftermarket seats when I build the cage.

And on your prior comment, I think you should be able to do it for $4k pretty easy.
 
Went to the local Pick-n-pull yesterday and found another 700R4. This one is a later, updated model (other was a '86) and seems to be a good one so far (and can't beat the price--$140!). Swapped it in last night and got a few issues ironed out so I could drive it today. This thing will just RIP the back tires off.:eek::eek: I'm really pleased with it!!! The guy that put the tune together for the PCM did a hell of a job. Can't wait for some warmer weather so I can get it out and put a few miles on the clock.
 
Last edited:
sweet :chug:
 
Well, still moving along on this one. Spent some time searching for a two-piece driveshaft at the junkyard. Ended up buying one out of a 94 Isuzu Trooper (rear shaft assembly). It's a Dana piece and has 1310 u-joints....that's the good news. The bad news is, the three single u-joints don't like being bent into a "V" around a Transmission pan. :D To say it vibrated, would be an understatement. So, I backed up and rethought the situation. Decided to try a double cardan at the midship position. Through a blind stroke of luck, I found that an NP231 front output yoke from an XJ would fit on the splined section of the Transfer Case side of the 2 piece shaft!! That made the swap pretty simple. Finished it up by shortening a XJ front shaft to fit between the midship and the front axle. The Isuzu carrier bearing was ditched for a self-aligning pillow block bearing (not visible in the finished pic). Also found time to mount up the new 33's and blast/paint the factory wheels.

The weather has been pretty crappy around here, so I haven't got a chance to test drive the new double-cardan setup, but I'm sure it'll be much better.

Isuzu shaft with yoke and carrier bearing removed.
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Finished product.
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New shoes. 33x12.5-15 Cordovan/Sigma Mud Claws. Haven't seen much on these tires, but I like the looks so I figured I'd try them.
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Wheels. Still need to get the circumference pinstriped. Kind of hard to see, but the center caps are still chrome.
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Very cool build. I'm going to be going that direction myself.

One question I have. What radiator did you use and did you have to fab up any custom hoses or was there a factory hose that worked?
 
derf said:
Very cool build. I'm going to be going that direction myself.

One question I have. What radiator did you use and did you have to fab up any custom hoses or was there a factory hose that worked?
Click to expand...

The upper is a custom stainless flexible deal like this: Firebird Parts | STAINLESS STEEL FLEXIBLE RADIATOR HOSE 36" POLISHED ENDS | Classic Industries The lower is basically a regular chevy small-block lower that has a couple inches cut off it. I actually shifted the upper neck on the 5.3 so that it points toward the passenger side (had to heat it with a torch at the base of the water pump) in order to clear the cobra-head intake tube. It's a tight squeeze, for sure...but seems to be working ok.
 
Also, to update the thread...I've installed a set of Thrush mufflers (welded kind similar to Flowmasters) and a BDS 2.5" lift. Hope to get some updated pics this weekend.
 
I'm in the process (just started) doing this to my '80 CJ7 . What did you do for a fuel pump? And how did you connect the power steering pump hoses? I think I have everything else figured out, maybe. You can email me direct at flacs@suddenlink.net
Thanks.
 
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