Are CJ's Moneypits?

[Petescj]

Your going to have to put money into any 30+ yr old vehicle. The difference is I get that money back in enjoyment whenever I take it for a ride. I can't say I'd feel the same about a Chevy Citation or Doge Omni.

 

[hondo]

Lumpy - I've got a SA 700 Remington, 30", 22-250 Ackley Improved with a laminated stock, 1:9 Pac-nor 3 grove Palma contour rifle that just eats up 75 grain bullets that ..... alas ...... hasn't seen the light of day in 5 years. The old girl (baby really) isn't even had a decent load worked up for her yet. Sitting right next to her is a very similar SA Remington 223 Ackley Improved that has been shot. These are Prairie Dog Silhouette guns that other than setting the barrels I built with my own little hands. Money and reality stopped that hobby cold in it's tracks. Not to far away is my Remington 3200 Skeet gun. I try to think of them as resting......

I use this with a Nightforce 5-22X56mm NXS scope.
The Crusader

Have the same deal in .338 Lapua.

Ate beans and rice for sometime after buying those two.
LG

as if i need another expensive hobby. i want!!!!:drool:

 

[Hedgehog]

Hondo - There is so much to true long range accuracy that makes the sport worth pursuing. The equipment really is only a small part of it. For instance, I have almost always reloaded ammunition. Generally reloading makes a better product than most factory loads. But the difference between everyday reloading and true accuracy reloading is like the difference between a 1966 Ford Falcon and a 1966 Ford Mustang ..... Well maybe more like a full race Shelby 350 Mustang. Then there is the soup the bullet travels through from the muzzle to the target. Hot air, cold air, rotation of the earth, sun and the ever changing wind. I'd dial in my up's at daylight for the first round of firing, by 10:00 the first few shots were pure a SWAG. That's at 600 yards, push out to 1,000 and .... well I've never shot at 1,000 yards. The real 1,000 yard guys are working with nothing short of magic. This has been said of deer hunters and it applies to the great 1,000 yard shooter. "He is one of the luckiest SOB's I've ever met, but have you noticed how often he gets lucky?"


And where is the joke in the previous paragraph? The first Ford Mustangs were basically a re-bodied Ford Falcons.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

That's why I keep a log-book on each these rifles. The book shows round count, load data, weather data(temp/RH, wind speed and direction etc.)'come-ups' and spin drift.
We shoot out to 1K yds at least once a month.
Heck-I shoot that distance with my .45-90 Shiloh Sharps, sometimes. Most of the other shooters are now use to my cloud of black power smoke
I've been reloading for almost 49 years. Loading accurate ammo for long range black power cartridge rifle is the PHD of the reloading world, and the most work.
Sorry for the hi-jack
LG

 

[hondo]

Hondo - There is so much to true long range accuracy that makes the sport worth pursuing. The equipment really is only a small part of it. For instance, I have almost always reloaded ammunition. Generally reloading makes a better product than most factory loads. But the difference between everyday reloading and true accuracy reloading is like the difference between a 1966 Ford Falcon and a 1966 Ford Mustang ..... Well maybe more like a full race Shelby 350 Mustang. Then there is the soup the bullet travels through from the muzzle to the target. Hot air, cold air, rotation of the earth, sun and the ever changing wind. I'd dial in my up's at daylight for the first round of firing, by 10:00 the first few shots were pure a SWAG. That's at 600 yards, push out to 1,000 and .... well I've never shot at 1,000 yards. The real 1,000 yard guys are working with nothing short of magic. This has been said of deer hunters and it applies to the great 1,000 yard shooter. "He is one of the luckiest SOB's I've ever met, but have you noticed how often he gets lucky?"


And where is the joke in the previous paragraph? The first Ford Mustangs were basically a re-bodied Ford Falcons.

yeah i have been wanting to try out 1000 yard shooting but at least need a better scope (don't think a redfeild 3-9 will work very well) and start using better bullets (been reloading for it for years and almost got the right varmint load) for my 223, sorry about the thread hijack, maybe we need a long range shooting thread? heck I'm looking at a $4000 custom 7mm just for a beat it up deer gun

 

[Hedgehog]

Bullets, lots of the best brass you can find, chamber reamer, something to chase throat wear, primer pock uniforming (sp)tool, neck turning equipment, hand made comp. collet dies, Haydel powder thrower, not good but great scale, press (a Rock Chucker won't do)

Then there's equipment: bench rest, an assortment of bags, chair, spotting scope, a scope with at least a parallax adjustment, barrel heat shield, a spotter you can trust, and so very much more.............................

 

[Lumpy Grits]

RC is a very good press! Mine is dated '67' when I bought it.
I load most of my match ammo(.38 Special, .45acp, .454 Casull, .223, .308, .30-06, .45-70 & .45-90)on a Dillon 550. Load a total of 14 calibers on that 550.
The .338L on the RC and my .50BMG on a dedicated '50' press.
OCD is good in that hobby
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Didn't say I didn't like the Rock Chucker, got one and a Junior. I haven't graduated beyond then yet. The super serious guys use arbor presses, inline presses and the Forster Co-Ax single stage. It's all about being perfectly straight, no stresses, as close to perfection as is possible. The closest I ever got was to mix my dies a Redding collet neck sizing dies and a 0.250" neck and a Hornady sleeved bullet seating die for my 22-250 AI. The necks are turned just enough to clean 1/2-3/4 of the neck.

When you are reloading the bigies like 50 BMG you are more serious than I am my friend. Powder by the ounce......

 

[RatDog8o8]

I spent $600 for my CJ7 back in......the mid-90s I think. Yes, it's rusted in a lot of places it shouldn't be. Yes, it's got a set of wheels on it that cost as much as I paid for it (15x11 Shelby aluminum slots). Yes, it's now got an engine that's worth.....well, a lot more than the Jeep will ever be worth.

It hasn't seen a lot of "road-time" over the past 4.5 years, due to my medical issues. But this past Summer, I spent as much time as I could outside replacing pretty much everything under the hood - rebuilt engine, new clutch, the whole deal. My first time doing a project of this scope, too.....which boosted my morale to no end, especially since I did it "right" (aka "nothing broke").

So is my ride a money pit? Probably. Do I care? Nope. It's my CJ7 , and while it may not be a super-capable rock-crawling bending-everywhere machine......it's still worth every dime I've spent on it.

To me.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Didn't say I didn't like the Rock Chucker, got one and a Junior. I haven't graduated beyond then yet. The super serious guys use arbor presses, inline presses and the Forster Co-Ax single stage. It's all about being perfectly straight, no stresses, as close to perfection as is possible. The closest I ever got was to mix my dies a Redding collet neck sizing dies and a 0.250" neck and a Hornady sleeved bullet seating die for my 22-250 AI. The necks are turned just enough to clean 1/2-3/4 of the neck.

When you are reloading the bigies like 50 BMG you are more serious than I am my friend. Powder by the ounce......

Don't use any collect dies or an arbor press-I maintain a bullet run-out of less that .001", T.I.R. The big deal is uniform neck tension, and size the case to fit the chamber it's fire'd in.
I also anneal my case necks--
LG

I spent $600 for my CJ7 back in......the mid-90s I think. Yes, it's rusted in a lot of places it shouldn't be. Yes, it's got a set of wheels on it that cost as much as I paid for it (15x11 Shelby aluminum slots). Yes, it's now got an engine that's worth.....well, a lot more than the Jeep will ever be worth.

It hasn't seen a lot of "road-time" over the past 4.5 years, due to my medical issues. But this past Summer, I spent as much time as I could outside replacing pretty much everything under the hood - rebuilt engine, new clutch, the whole deal. My first time doing a project of this scope, too.....which boosted my morale to no end, especially since I did it "right" (aka "nothing broke").


So is my ride a money pit? Probably. Do I care? Nope. It's my CJ7 , and while it may not be a super-capable rock-crawling bending-everywhere machine......it's still worth every dime I've spent on it.

To me.

Agree 100%
LG

 

[73CJ]

Well after thinking about it for 25 years making lists I thought I can do this rebuild when I retire (alone) or I can teach my youngest son (15 when we started) to take care of her some day.

Well it didn't make it for his graduation but was wheeling again that summer.

Money Pit? No but priceless.

Hint: Don't keep track of the purchases. That can get a Guy bummed.

 

[profire]

Heck no! I paid full price for mine but it was rust free (except for driver floorpan) straight as an arrow and completely stock. I have put another 4 k into the cj but that includes bumpers, an OME lift and tires. It has been very reliable so far and I expect it will always be with proper maintenance.

You cannot put a price on the enjoyment factor that I get from working on it so it will last another 30 years, plus the smile it puts on my face when someone pulls up beside me and says great looking CJ man!

 

[Old Dog]

I say, no more than any other used car or truck that old, as long as you only DD it. But as with any special purpose toy, it can become a money pit if you let it.
Most of the money I've spent on mine is for up grades to make it better for doing the things that make me happy (playing in the rocks) not for fixing things that would have gone wrong if I was just driving it on the road.

 

[GARGOYLEJEEPER]

My 2A is a money maker, used to be my DD, then I was rear ended (by a Wagoneer) and got paid for it.
The 7 is another story, since I have not got it going just keep buying things for it, and now I have to either get rid of them or moved by the end of the month. Or tagged or a fence-shelter-carport, damn nosey neighbors complained to the city. Said it was a junk yard.

 

[hondo]

My 2A is a money maker, used to be my DD, then I was rear ended (by a Wagoneer) and got paid for it.
The 7 is another story, since I have not got it going just keep buying things for it, and now I have to either get rid of them or moved by the end of the month. Or tagged or a fence-shelter-carport, damn nosey neighbors complained to the city. Said it was a junk yard.

neighbors. time to run them off and get some new ones:shooter::barf: or move out into the country.

 

[GARGOYLEJEEPER]

Spent the day loading the Glad with FSJ parts, and now must load the 7 with the parts laying around it. 4 tags $89 each a fence or move them to storage for $25 a vehicle.
Neighbors will probably even wine about my wheel barrow and the yard cart which are Craftsman from the 60`s that my dad and grandfather bought and used to build are houses in North Albany with.
Wish I was back in the country or the burbs.

 

[Neuner]

Your going to have to put money into any 30+ yr old vehicle. The difference is I get that money back in enjoyment whenever I take it for a ride. I can't say I'd feel the same about a Chevy Citation or Doge Omni.

Exactly. The time and money I've put into mine has been well worth it. I actually look forward to my long commute to work in traffic because I'm at least in the drivers seat of a an awesome vehicle. I sit in the right lane and just cruise. It's probably saved me money by keeping me calm in some trying conditions when normally I'd be road-raging against the cell-phone-talking, coffee in the other hand, SUV driving, tailgating, cutting-off soccer mom idiots who create all of the accidents.

Therapy against the A-hole drivers out there.

 

[the chief]

I've put a considerable amount of money into my CJ, sure. Thousands into suspension, tires, gearing, etc. The value of wheeling in the mountains all year round with my Grandsons and them considering me to be the coolest Grandpa in the world? Priceless.
In retrospect, my CJ has brought me more joy than any investment I've ever made. I don't expect it to make me any money though, ha, ha.