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CJ5 or CJ7

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CJ5 or CJ7
sky578

sky578

Jeeper
Posts
162
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0
Location
KY
Vehicle(s)
1984 CJ-7
I-6
4 speed
I'm new and a girl....lol. So don't get mad if this has been asked a thousand times already.

I am looking to buy an older jeep and I am wanting to know which is the better jeep to invest into a CJ5 or CJ7 .

I know the 7 is a little longer from what I have read- but does that make a difference in safety? Or what exactly are the differences between the two that I should consider?

This is not for off-roading. Mainly for me and my 4 year old to take camping/drive in town.

Also- don't laugh....is there air condition on these?

BTW- I'm going to paint it pink. With a back up plan of green.


Thanks!
 
welcome from Fla!!

congrats on wanting to buy a Jeep. You and your son will have a great time in it, and probably create a LOT of awesome memories with it. I have pics of my two sons (who are now in their teens) handing me wrenches and watching me work on mine when they were still in diapers!

I have a CJ7 , so I am biased.. Just like most people on here will be towards what they have.


You are correct, a CJ7 is a bit longer, easier to get in and out of because of the shape of the doors, has a bit more room, and a longer wheelbase.

EDIT: the longer wheelbase will make a CJ7 a little safer, but there are too many variables such as how big the tires are, and if there is a lift on it to be able to compare one to another. Neither one will drive like a car. I would try and find one that is close to stock as possible, with little or no lift on it. That way a previous owner will probably not have messed up the suspension or steering too badly while doing modifications.

Some came with AC from the factory, but in my opinion..... were nearly worthless. I had a hard top and doors on mine, and even being relatively "sealed" with those, the AC just couldnt keep it cool. I got rid of my AC in a hurry. It was a crude attempt at air conditioning.


However, no matter which way you go, they are much like owning an older Harley, you should know how to work on them if you're going to own one!!

good luck in your choice

BTW: GO WITH PINK!! That would be way cool!!
brian
 
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Thanks JP45

I figured that about the air- so I won't worry too much about that.

I do want it lifted a little with chunky looking tires- just because I like the look. So are you saying to buy one not done and then do it myself?

I am wanting a CJ7 , do the range of years make a difference that I should look for such as a mid 80's vs a later 70's?

What motor is the ideal? I want a little power so probably not a 4 cyl. But other than than I am clueless. And it has to be manual Transmission .

Pink I love. Plus it almost guarantees my Hubby won't want to take it off of me lol.

Thanks
 
Jeep CJ - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

CJ5 vs CJ7 - Off-Road Forums & Discussion Groups

So my .02:

For stability, and for street driving characteristics, I would go with the 7. The extra size does make a difference. Also, get a wide track jeep. That means looking at jeep from '82 and newer. The extra width does make for a more stable jeep for driving on the street.

The 7 also just has more room inside. I am 6'3'' 225lbs and I just have a hard time fitting in my buddy's 5. For a really technical trail, the 5 will be slightly better because it is smaller. The narrow track axles would help on tight trails too. But, for what I use my jeep for, I recommend a wide track CJ7 .

Try for a 7 from 82-86. If you do find a 86 you might luck out and get a jeep with a Dana 44 , which would be a nice find.

For the street Jeep I would go after the T-176 4 speed Transmission . For the woods I would go after the t-18a, with the 6.32:1 first gear.

Also take a look at the gearing in the axles when you are searching for Jeeps. The AMC20 is stamped with a letter code that will indicate what gearing it has. If you are looking for larger tires then finding a Jeep with lower gears would be nice. Mine came with 2.73s, which meant I needed to re-gear before doing anything because they are so tall. It would help to avoid the expense of a re-gear if you find a Jeep already geared for larger tires. I ended up find a complete set of 4.10 gear axles assemblies to help with this problem.

Here is a good site to check out stuff:
Axle Codes and wide track widths:
Jeep Axle: AMC 20
 
That green 82 looks like a deal and a half compared to that blue 85. The blue one looks decent, minus that ridiculous front bumper, but I do see rust/rot on the body over the rear wheels. The brown one does nothing for me and body armor worries me anyway. Sometimes that is just covering up a bad body.

The green one looks like a good price for what you get. Lockers and a 9 inch rear are nice highlights. Seems like a good price when you get a winch and 35s. Looks like it is an all suspension lift plus maybe a minor shackle lift. I can't really see if it has a B/L and the shackles don't look super big. I would go take a look at it and find out exactly what it has. Also look everywhere under and inside the body/frame for anything. Bring a friend for an extra set of eyes.

It does look pretty nice to me though. I don't know if I would like a lunch box locker for the street in the rear, but it doesn't say what type of locker it is. I wouldn't bother with the other two jeeps you posted.

Just my .02 though.
 
I agree with diddy...

the blue one looks good, except for the rust
the brown one is covered in armour, and makes me wonder whats underneath
the green one looks great for the money, plus it has the larger tires you want, good running engine, and HARD TOP AND DOORS...

With just the info we have seen and read, if picking from those 3, definitely the green one..

good luck!!

brian
 
After looking again I noticed the brown one has hard top and doors too.

But the green one has the later model hard doors. Notice the outside handles, they are more desirable than the earlier model ones (which I have)
 
I'd look for a 82-86 CJ7 since they had the wide trak axles, they would be a little more street friendly.
As for the jeeps you linked to I would pass on them all.
the blue one has a shackle reversal which is a turn off to me.
the brown one has all the armor which could be covering up anything.
The green one has way to many mods and has probally been beat on.
I'd look for one as stock as possable to avoid mistakes by the PO. or at least take someone with you that is up on cj's to look for problems.
You wouldn't believe some of the stories we have heard from new cj owners here.
 
sky578 said:
~~~ BTW- I'm going to paint it pink. ~~~
Click to expand...

pink_jeep.jpg
 
i'd have to agree with alot of people on here. get an 82 or later CJ7 . they have the wider axles so it's "safer" try to get one as close to stock as possible because alot of people hacksaw the :dung: out of them. the Laredo (sp?) could have A/C but probably gonna be hard to find. another thing i've noticed is this things are stupid expensive anymore. im probably gonna catch alot of :dung: for this but for what you want i'd honestly suggest a TJ. for a small lift you could get a 1" body lift from daystar or BDS offers a lifetime warranty on all of their lifts, u could get a 2.5" lift and run some 31's or 32's. i'd say get the inline 6 engine and T-176 Transmission for mostly street use.
 
reptile610 said:
another thing i've noticed is this things are stupid expensive anymore. im probably gonna catch alot of :dung: for this but for what you want i'd honestly suggest a TJ for mostly street use.
Click to expand...

I have to agree with this, they are a lot better for a street jeep and you can pick them up just as cheap or cheaper.
 
Thanks you guys! I really do appreciate all the info and advice.

The pink picture- yes! That's pretty much what I'm wanting- isn't it cute?

I know you would probably have a heart attack if someone bought your jeep and painted it pink- but I'm pretty confident I will be the only one in town with a pink jeep.

You guys are waaay over my head with most the terminology your use though....lol. I need to get a jeep with the major things done already since I have no real clue on how to fix it and therefore would be depending on other people to do it.

I wanted a CJ for the history of it and because I like the metal dash. I don't like the newer styles that look very plastic all the way across.

I know I am giving up some luxury to have an older one- and I'm ok with that. I just don't want it to break down on me and leave me stranded!

Looks like I have a lot to learn, but it should be a fun hobby to pick up.

So give me the top 5 things to look for when inspecting a jeep?

Thanks again.
 
If you get a CJ7 that hasn't been hacked they drive real good on the street. My 84 that is stock with 31'' mudders drives as nice as the wifes Cherokee Limited and as for air cond you just take the top off.
 
1) rust
2) test drive, make sure everything works mechanical and electrical( or as much as u don't want to fix)
3) brakes (pre 75 i think had drums front and rear. F THAT!)
4) look a few pics of CJ's online and make sure everything is there, some people remove stuff to make it "work better"
5) did mention rust?


im from MI so rust is a big problem in anything older.
 
1) rust both frame and body
2) wiring, look up under the dash and see how bad it's been hacked up
3) stay away from shackle lifts, or any SOA lift
4) take it for a long drive, if it doesn't drive well run away.
5) if you can't work on it yourself make friends with a good machanic
you WILL need him.
 
So I'm guessing the diamond plating is to cover up rust then?

Why are jeeps more likely to rust compared to other vehicles?

Seems like there are more 70's than 82+ is it that a big difference in safety with being wider?

Mechanic- yea... I figured that. I luckily have some family that can help me out there.

What is this Rhino lined thing- is that good or not? I'm guessing it has to do with preventing rust- but is that the way to go now?
 
Alot of time diamond plate is covering rust holes or dents. Not always but lets say 90%

Jeeps tend to lead a harder life than alot of other vehicles. Plowing snow or common transportation in the winter , top off in the Summer and your "newest" Cj is now 26 yrs old.

Rhino lining , herculiner and Durabak are all like pick up bed liners. They're meant to protct flooring but can also hide rot and rust as well.

82 and up had wider axles. That helps from a stability standpoint , like off camber situations. Think of instead of going up a hill youd instead be going "sideways" on a hill.
sky578 said:
So I'm guessing the diamond plating is to cover up rust then?

Why are jeeps more likely to rust compared to other vehicles?

Seems like there are more 70's than 82+ is it that a big difference in safety with being wider?

Mechanic- yea... I figured that. I luckily have some family that can help me out there.

What is this Rhino lined thing- is that good or not? I'm guessing it has to do with preventing rust- but is that the way to go now?
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Pete for the info and the thread was a great help!
 
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