Build Thread All conditions considered

[CABBOTT]

Hey everyone, well I'm somewhat new on here but I bought my third jeep about a year ago this week give or take. My plan was to start with was a cheep CJ7 and build it up to my standards. I purchased an '82 CJ7 from N.E. Oklahoma that had the bones I was looking for. The frame was generally rust free, had an AMC 360 with T-176 and a Dana 300 ! I bartered and sealed with the guy and finally purchased the jeep for $2,700. At the time I was thinking a great deal! I trailered my prized jeep to my shop back Weatherford, Oklahoma and got her unloaded ready to be torn apart. Here she is day one.

 

[CABBOTT]

Ok sorry for the delay in the write up. Didn't realize I got approved for a build thread, thank you so I haven't figured out how to load more than one pic at a time so bear with me guys. Here is another pic from the day I picked her up.

 

[Peanut Butter]

Looks like a nice Jeep for the price! Like the wheels and tires (most likely about $1500 worth), but not fond of the paint job (IMHO). Anyway, looks like some type of lift kit, so check out the suspension really good to prevent any future problems. Post more pictures, engine, suspension, etc. If you click on the paoer clip at the top of the box you type your reply in, you can load 5 pictures at one time. Good luck and go have some fun in your new Jeep. :grinjeep: Rod

 

[BIGTRUCKNUT]

Cool CJ7 and awesome find with the drivetrain. Look forward to watching you build it. I started a build post this past summer also, "CJ8 from parts".

You can hang multiple pictures by going to "Go Advanced" then "Manage Attachments". When you get the "Manage Attachments" window use the "Upload Files from your Computer" section to upload the pictures you what to post - you can post up to five at a time. Once you browse and find each of the pictures, hit the "Upload" button and wait. It make take a minute or two but once all the photos are uploaded to the site you will see them all listed on the reply page "Additional Options" under the Section titled "Attach Files". After the files appear under "Attach Files" you can hit "Submit Reply".

Good luck!

 

[PaRenegade]

Looks like a great deal for $2700. I like the ConFerr shackles. Those are quality and you can't find those anymore.

 

[CABBOTT]

Wow thanks guys! I really didn't know all those details, glad y'all are more experienced with products by sight

 

[CABBOTT]

So I got her to my shop and had to have some fun So I dug some ruts and did a few wheel spins. In the midst of playing around it snapped the u-joint on the rear axle. I hoped it was just the awesome power of the 360, but further inspection revealed to much angle and too short of a drive line So without further delay I pushed her back in the shop. I started looking it over a little closer. I noticed the PO had snapped the spring perch dowels and had done some bad work with the u-bolts. So after pulling a few hair from frustration with the PO I decided its time to pull her all apart and start from the ground up. Hold on guys it's bout to get expensive

 

[CABBOTT]

So lets try and upload the rest of the pics from when I picked her up.

 

[CABBOTT]

Still haven't got it figured out so I guess the hard way for me

 

[CABBOTT]

Maybe this time?

 

[BIGTRUCKNUT]

Maybe this time?

It's not rocket science...hope that you are better with a wrench!

 

[cj7inthetwigs]

It's not rocket science...hope that you are better with a wrench!

Unless your holding 5 wrenches at a time., When using my phone, I just click the camera icon until it won't allow anymore(5).

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[PaRenegade]

Why does this Jeep have a manual gear shift and an auto gear shift? Your lucky the u-joint snapped (as it should, that's the weak link) and the 360 didn't do more damage if the rear axle is an AMC20 without 1 pc. axles. Do you know what axle is in it?

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

Why does this Jeep have a manual gear shift and an auto gear shift? Your lucky the u-joint snapped (as it should, that's the weak link) and the 360 didn't do more damage if the rear axle is an AMC20 without 1 pc. axles. Do you know what axle is in it?

The PO probably decided he no longer wanted the stock automagic tranny that was in it but didnt want to spend the money and PITA on swapping out the column

 

[Scooter402]

Wow, very nice looking CJ. Hell, I'll drag my trailer out to OK and take it off your hands, if it gets to be too much trouble. I'm due to visit my parents, anyway.

I know it seems like more work, but I'd post your pictures up on a photo hosting site, such as Photobucket. That's where I put mine. Then, you're not Limited to 1 or 5 photos, and you don't have to worry about the photo size being too big. You just copy the photo link and put it in the window that pops up when you click the photo icon above the reply window. Either that, or put IMG tags around it like this --

.

 

[CABBOTT]

Haha thanks for the constructive criticism guys, but yes I'm way better with a wrench. I'm doing everything step by step for the pics but when I upload them it only selects one pic out of the five if I try adding or editing the pic it just chooses a different pic but still only one of the five selected and puts it in the attached photo I'm wondering if the pics are too big maybe? As for the auto column and floor shift, I mean who wouldn't want two shifting options right? Haha jk the cj originally had an auto in it. The previous owner took the power plant and drive terrain out of an old wagoneer. I'm not complaining too much though I might just take the roll pin out of the shifter on the column and save it for when I get a nice 5.3 w/4l60. But that is a ways down the road.....maybe

 

[CABBOTT]

Alright so today I kinda slacked at work....well kinda is an understatement but having my own shop and managing 4 all together I can get away it when times are slow..... So what would you do if 1) your on salary, 2) your ahead on all work, 3) you have no boss, 4) and most importantly... Your jeep is in the shop begging for attention! Well I'm here to confess...I caved in and work on the jeep . I can hear it now from y'all but hey I work 80+ hrs some weeks, so get over it today I decided to pull the body and just see how far the damage from the PO goes with the help of my lead mechanic we quickly disconnected all components and had that ugly body off. (Ugly paint and shoty body work, no ugly jeep body) Upon removal of the body I started inspecting the frame and found many issues. None which may surprise you guys still reading. First I found the small stuff body mount perches rusted thru, broken shock mounts, frame plugged with years of dirt and sand. Then the bad stuff started jumping out the frame had four major cracks. The first two are usual suspects near the spring mounts and are about 2" long each located behind the rear front spring mounts. Then one on the driver side rear front spring mount, and one right in the middle of the frame

 

[CABBOTT]

Hahaha got to love it being the boss! So I'm tired and worn out, my night time tech ( he's not a great tech) has no services or anything to do really. So instead of having him sweep and clean shop....he gets to power wash out the frame and start prepping the cracks for me to repair While he is busy thinking he has moved up in the world (getting to work on bosses personal jeep) he is suddenly interrupted by me throwing a fit. No fault of his own (but he was worried haha) I found that the front crossmember and the frame section is junk.....I mean junked! The damn PO some how managed to crack the thing in 9 different spots and tried to perform the worst welding repair I have ever seen!! So told him get back to work all is good time for me to comb the Internet. As luck would have it I have found a complete front frame section on eBay and with a quick call the seller has agreed to cut off the frame where I need it and is in the mail life isn't great yet though still got along road ahead of me oh here she is now.

 

[Scooter402]

Wow...can I come work for you? I'll GLADLY wrench on the boss's Jeep!