Advice for a Newbie considering purchase/resto with PICS!

[andrewcconti]

Advice please...Newbie considering buying/restoring a CJ7 with pics
Newbie Considering a CJ7 advice...pics!
Here is a write up and link with pictures.

I am considering purchasing this 1984 CJ7 2.5L 5 spd Renegade .

Any opinions on condition, price and what to look for would be welcome!

1984 CJ-7 FOR SALE pictures from jeeps photos on webshots



Here is the ad copy:

Email me to set up appointment to come see it, take it for a drive, and make me an offer. Now is the perfect time to buy someone a Jeep for Christmas!!!

$2600.00
1984 Jeep CJ7 Renegade
• 2.5L Hurricane 4 cyl engine
• 114,000 original miles
• 5 speed manual Transmission w/ Overdrive
• New 2 bbl Holly carb (May 2008)
• New battery (Nov 2009)
• New oil pan
• Factory Hard Top w/ tinted glass, sunroof, and full steel doors
• Factory Soft top with full soft doors
• Factory Bikini Top
• Factory carpet
• Tow package
• High back bucket front seats
• Rear Seat
• Power Steering
• Power Brakes
• Roll bar storage saddle bags
• Tires are 2 years old, spare is older (probably original 1984)

Jeep runs great, is in good condition, everything is original equipment. There are some small tears in the front seats. Rear seat is perfect. Hard top, soft top, and bikini tops are in excellent condition. The frame is solid (no rot). The body has some rust spots and some rot on rocker panels and rear quarter panels. Full steal doors have some minor rust (no rot). The driver’s floor panel needs to be replaced.
I purchased this Jeep in March of 2008 from my neighbor, who was the original owner. All the original paperwork, owner’s manual, window sticker, and repair manuals are included. I love this Jeep and am sad to see it go, but with the economy the way it is and with the Holidays approaching, I can’t afford to have an extra vehicle right now. Additional pictures can be seen here
1984 CJ-7 FOR SALE pictures from jeeps photos on webshots

 

[Petescj]

Saw that one on another site myself. First question is what are you looking at doing with this Jeep? Off -roader ? Rock crawler ? Restore? I see restore in your post so we'll assume thats what you want and it'll be street driven. The tub is fairly descent for the North east. That being said it needs plenty of help for a full restore. Heres a good place to start looking for the replacement panels.


http://www.classicent.com/

While the Jeep looks worth the $2600 asking price you have to ask yourself a few questions. Can you be happy with the 4 cyl. motor for the life of the Jeep? Will it be an on road Jeep only? If the answer to those questions is yes then I say go take her for a ride and see. Thats quite a haul for you to take a test drive though.

 

[andrewcconti]

Looking for a decent rolling restoration project. Not any serious off roading maybe some light trails at best.

 

[Petescj]

Id think you could find something closer to you than that No? It does look quite stock though , so that in itself makes it a descent candidate. I added some info to my first post. Check through the site I linked and start adding up the body panels. If you can weld and do the body work yourself it does look like a good start from what I can see.

 

[BrockGrimes]

4 banger with a 5 speed?
Do any lift or large tires and you can forget seeing 5th again.
If you plan on keeping the stock tires and just daily drive it with
mild trails then a 4 banger is fine, but you'll wish for a 6 or better.
I did when I had my 4, especially when making a trip down the interstate,
don't get me wrong it'll haul but it'll take a bit to get to speed, and hills
won't be kind, always down shifting.

 

[CJ]

Looking for a decent rolling restoration project. Not any serious off roading maybe some light trails at best.

Could be a great find and a great project. Welcome to our site! But - the CJ has a lot to give - it's not a very desirable combo - bad engine and Transmission ... (IMHO)

 

[coldwater]

Unless that rust is just on the surface and not through the body, I would keep on looking. The drive train being a 4 cylinder,5 speed is IMO, junk, and It will have an AMC20 rear to fill out the no good list. Add to that the possible body rot, and you're not buying much of a jeep for 2600 clams. Getting an old CJ for a deal is a balancing act of price, condition, and parts. You can over look some body issues, If the mechanicals are worth the deal. Like a T-176 /177 Transmission with a Dana 300 , or the T-118 crawler. A good AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l -I 6 or a 308-8, a Dana 44 behind it instead of a 20, etc. Or, If the body is pretty damn mint, you can over look having to strip out some of the running gear to upgrade. But for 2600, rot, and for running gear? ....not for me.