Build Thread 81 cj7 rebuild

Build Thread 81 cj7 rebuild
jmbridges

jmbridges

Jeeper
Posts
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Location
Birmingham, Al
Vehicle(s)
1981 cj7, amc 258, t176, Dana 30
Hi all. Here I will be chronicling my '81 CJ7 rebuild. I am new to jeeps and also to this degree of automotive work, so it should be interesting. I bought this particular one because the frame and body are in great shape, and I didn't want to have to do any of that kind of work. I decided to tear down and rebuild all the mechanical, revamp the interior and probably re-wire all the electrical as well. So far, I have pulled the engine out - it has the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l - and started to disassemble that. I purchased a 4.0L head to do a head swap, as I have heard that is worth the extra horsepower. Anyway, I'm sure I will be posting questions along the way and would love any useful advice anyone has to offer. Thanks in advance!

613cf17df060c44ac00a7e07b710b426.jpg



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welcome aboard from Texas :chug: :drool: such a nice looking CJ. Yes the 4.0 head is worth extra hp, also something to look into is going ahead and converting to the factory 4.0 fuel injection :chug:
 
:ww: To the Forum. Nice looking Jeep. :) Be sure to post lots of pictures of your progress. We are like little kids with a comic book when it comes to pictures. :popcorn:
 
gert said:
welcome aboard from Texas :chug: :drool: such a nice looking CJ. Yes the 4.0 head is worth extra hp, also something to look into is going ahead and converting to the factory 4.0 fuel injection :chug:
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Thanks Gert! What additional is involved in converting to fuel injection? I could get rid of the carburetor in that case?



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jmbridges said:
Thanks Gert! What additional is involved in converting to fuel injection? I could get rid of the carburetor in that case?



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The intake with the throttle body and injectors, sensors, wiring, computer, high pressure fuel pump. One of the members here did a build thread about him swapping to fuel injection awhile back. Thisguyuknow


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I will get you a link or two in a little while


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Got some good garage time in last night, got a bunch of external components taken off the block, exhaust manifold, intake manifold, carb, etc

637a14ee809cdd794925c59be949ad1c.jpg



I took the head cover off and noticed that two of the - I guess they are the rods - were out of place. I don't think that's technically "throwing a rod" but I think it at least partly explains why it was running so rough when I got it. The rods don't appear damaged though.


d6e7a50767a8d84d970fdf149f6ac9d9.jpg


Anyway, hope to get the head off this weekend and get everything cleaned up and see what I've got to work with.


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jmbridges said:
Got some good garage time in last night, got a bunch of external components taken off the block, exhaust manifold, intake manifold, carb, etc

637a14ee809cdd794925c59be949ad1c.jpg



I took the head cover off and noticed that two of the - I guess they are the rods - were out of place. I don't think that's technically "throwing a rod" but I think it at least partly explains why it was running so rough when I got it. The rods don't appear damaged though.


d6e7a50767a8d84d970fdf149f6ac9d9.jpg


Anyway, hope to get the head off this weekend and get everything cleaned up and see what I've got to work with.


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the correct name is "push rod" they acuate the valves up and down using your rockers and yes if they are bent your engine can run rough :chug: throwing a rod refers to the connecting rod which makes for a really bad day
 
Thanks, looks like a good one, but may be above my pay grade. Will have to see how everything else goes

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jmbridges said:
Thanks, looks like a good one, but may be above my pay grade. Will have to see how everything else goes

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How so? Relax and let's find out what's reall wrong.
 
So, I haven't had much time to work lately, but I got in a couple of good wrenching sessions this week and I've got the engine pretty much disassembled. As you can see, I just have 3 more Pistons to remove - wife had other plans for me before I could finish - and then it will be ready for the machine shop.

0d53cd7d1dcfe769167403343c4e5441.jpg


Here are the head and the crankshaft. So far, things seem in petty good shape considering the age.

2df70e9523e45b993aa24c4fbed3b0db.jpg


As mentioned, I am swapping this head for a 4.0 head. For anyone who is interested, here is the link to Tim Weaver's article - the links I found on the forums here seemed to be dead.

http://web.archive.org/web/20050305130748/monsterslayer.com/jeep/40Head/40Head.htm

Also, thanks to Gert for the info on EFI. That seems to be a good idea, have seen some on here that have used the Howell kit, so I think I will give that a try. Interestingly, I found an article by Moses Ludel about EFI on a stock AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l and it seems that may be just as good in terms of performance as the head swap plus EFI. Here is the link if interested.

http://www.4wdmechanix.com/Carburetion-Versus-EFI-Conversion-for-the-4.2L-Jeep-Inline-Six?r=1

I already have the new head and other components, so I will go ahead with the swap.

This weekend, I plan to pull the Transmission . I think it is the T-176 based on the shift pattern. If anyone has any advice pertinent to that particular Transmission , feel free to speak up. Thanks for the help!


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Quick question regarding the Transfer Case . I assume the Transfer Case and Transmission can be pulled together as one unit? The Transmission looks like it is free at this point, just held on by the Transfer Case . Shop manual says "disconnect propeller shaft from Transfer Case " in regard to removing Transfer Case . My question is what is the easiest way to do that? Should I open up the joint where they are connected? Bolts at that joint have a funny head, like I will need a special tool. Can I disconnect from the Transfer Case without messing with the joint itself? This is the front propeller shaft, rear is disconnected, it just pulled apart in middle of shaft. Thanks!

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Just a quick note, EFI. There have been some really good discussions on here about EFI vs Direct injection. I wish I could remember who wrote it. I'll do a search and let you know. If not I may start a new thread. If I remember right it had all the pros and cons. Sorry, age makes the brain worthless some days.
 
Peanut Butter said:
Just a quick note, EFI. There have been some really good discussions on here about EFI vs Direct injection. I wish I could remember who wrote it. I'll do a search and let you know. If not I may start a new thread. If I remember right it had all the pros and cons. Sorry, age makes the brain worthless some days.
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Peanut butter I think you mean TBI vs EFI. Direct injection has the injector in the combustion chamber EFI will have the injector in the intake and TBI is on the throttle body, which is the easiest conversion


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