Members CJs CJim7's 1984 CJ7
CJim7
Crazy Sr. Respected Jeeper
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- Location
- Twin Falls ID
- Vehicle(s)
- '84 CJ7 - 430hp 401 on propane - T18a/D300 twinsticked, Superior axles, Lockers, full boatsides, Warn 8274, OBA, 36" TSL's.
I purchased this Jeep back in 1991, it was bone stock with a 150cid 4cyl, T-5 /Dana 300 , stock 30/20 axles...
Over the course of the first few years, I rebuilt the 4cyl due to a burnt valve. I also rebuilt the T-5 tranny twice. Within the first year I added a 2.5 Rancho spring lift and 32x10.5 TSL radials.
I had a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l fall in my lap so I built that up with a Comp cam, flat pistons and fresh headwork. I dropped that in and removed all the smog equipment. At this point, I still had the T-5 .
It quickly became apparent I was a power-junkie so a few years later I added a 4.0 head, Clifford manifold, 500cfm Edelbrock, TFI ignition and an XJ header feeding a glasspack. The upgrade was impressive in both power and torque.
Jumping forward, the 4.0/AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l hybrid blew a piston skirt apart and subsequently trashed the block. A friend of mine had a 401 sitting around from a FSJ project he had purchased for the axles. I picked it up on the cheap and dropped it in stock. I ran this for a few years before the cam took a dump. At this point, it was time for a build...and what a build it was.
I bored it .030 over, installed flat pistons, a Comp cam, P&P on the heads, Edelbrock aluminum intake, Quadrajet, TFI ignition, and duel exhaust. The build yielded 430hp and close to 500ftlbs of torque.
Again, something bad happened. A wristpin froze up and scored the #8 cylinder. It was time to take it apart again. I had the cylinder sleeved, re-honed the remaining cylinders, flipped the rod bearings, new rings, and replaced the bad piston. At this point I converted to propane using a system off of a 500hp 383 stroker. The Q-jet was amazing, the propane was even more amazing.
In between all of this, I installed a Ford T18a, twinsticked the Dana 300 , installed 1-piece axles, lockers at both ends, 4" Superlift springs, Warn 8274, York onboard air, a hand throttle, trimmed up fenders, full boatsides (love these things), and a really cool camo paint job.
All in all, this Jeep performs flawlessly. But...On the block is a set of D60's that I will start working on some day, plans are 35 spline shafts, CTM's, 5:13's, Detroits, and 43" TSL SX stickies. I'll keep the COG as low as possible.
The first 401 build:
Here's some shots of the first install shortly after getting the block:
This is what she looked like before the paint and body work...still running 33's at this point:
Some paint and body work:
And of course as she sits now with the 36's...a few shots most of you have seen before:
Over the course of the first few years, I rebuilt the 4cyl due to a burnt valve. I also rebuilt the T-5 tranny twice. Within the first year I added a 2.5 Rancho spring lift and 32x10.5 TSL radials.
I had a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l fall in my lap so I built that up with a Comp cam, flat pistons and fresh headwork. I dropped that in and removed all the smog equipment. At this point, I still had the T-5 .
It quickly became apparent I was a power-junkie so a few years later I added a 4.0 head, Clifford manifold, 500cfm Edelbrock, TFI ignition and an XJ header feeding a glasspack. The upgrade was impressive in both power and torque.
Jumping forward, the 4.0/AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l hybrid blew a piston skirt apart and subsequently trashed the block. A friend of mine had a 401 sitting around from a FSJ project he had purchased for the axles. I picked it up on the cheap and dropped it in stock. I ran this for a few years before the cam took a dump. At this point, it was time for a build...and what a build it was.
I bored it .030 over, installed flat pistons, a Comp cam, P&P on the heads, Edelbrock aluminum intake, Quadrajet, TFI ignition, and duel exhaust. The build yielded 430hp and close to 500ftlbs of torque.
Again, something bad happened. A wristpin froze up and scored the #8 cylinder. It was time to take it apart again. I had the cylinder sleeved, re-honed the remaining cylinders, flipped the rod bearings, new rings, and replaced the bad piston. At this point I converted to propane using a system off of a 500hp 383 stroker. The Q-jet was amazing, the propane was even more amazing.
In between all of this, I installed a Ford T18a, twinsticked the Dana 300 , installed 1-piece axles, lockers at both ends, 4" Superlift springs, Warn 8274, York onboard air, a hand throttle, trimmed up fenders, full boatsides (love these things), and a really cool camo paint job.
All in all, this Jeep performs flawlessly. But...On the block is a set of D60's that I will start working on some day, plans are 35 spline shafts, CTM's, 5:13's, Detroits, and 43" TSL SX stickies. I'll keep the COG as low as possible.
The first 401 build:
Here's some shots of the first install shortly after getting the block:
This is what she looked like before the paint and body work...still running 33's at this point:
Some paint and body work:
And of course as she sits now with the 36's...a few shots most of you have seen before:
