Converting a CJ7 to a CJ8

[Gunner Actual]

Hey guys!

Okay so I know I am still a little new here but I wanted to get some advice. Ive got my CJ7 right now and the body was about to go through a redo to make everything straight (didnt do it right when I did the frame-off last time) and I was gonna address some rust on the back of the frame. But while I setting myself up to do that again, I came across an opporunity to get a CJ8 body.

Its in bad shape with the front floor mostly rusted through, and some rust in the back area and some on the outside. It came with the 2 replacement panels for the front floor, so thats good. Here is what I have been planning on doing with it:
My friend, I recently found out, has access and knows how to sandblast. It will only cost me about $100 if I take it to his shop and help him handle the jeep. So I am planning on blasting the whole thing inside and out. After that is done I will square up and cut out all the bad rust. Once that is done I will install the new floor panels, and I will weld in the new patches for the rest of the body, add body filler, primer, wet sand, bedliner inside and under, then paint exterior military tan.

My question is that I need some advice from other peoples experiences on this type of thing. I have the measurements for what the specs should be on a CJ8 frame, since I will be lengthening the frame to match the CJ8 body. I know I will have to lengthen the frame, and I will need to address the added length needed for the rear driveshaft.

What else am I missing?? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[gr8dain]

Ask the folks on CJ8 .com. They can tell you a lot about the dimensions you need etc. someone there is stretching a 5 (or considering it). Good luck.

 

[Gunner Actual]

Hey thanks. Will do

 

[jamie]

your going to need to extend the gas lines as well as the brake lines. your going to need to get emergency brake cables from a CJ8 as well. and depending on where your exhaust ends, you might need to extend that as well. then there is wiring to anything in the back that needs to be extended too. it all starts to add up. oh, and a top from a CJ8 will be in order too

 

[gr8dain]

May be cheaper in the end to get an 8 and use the 7 for a donor (or sell it to fund the 8). But that would be a lot less fun!

 

[Gunner Actual]

Haha. Yeah it would make it less fun. Don't we all enjoy a good challenge? I'm actually looking forward to this hard work. After I get it all sandblasted, I'm looking forward to just spending an all nighter by myself in the garage and just have fun making something out of nothing.

 

[Petescj]

Save yourself now!

1982 Jeep Scrambler CJ8 Roller... in NH... and NO RUST!

Haha. Yeah it would make it less fun. Don't we all enjoy a good challenge? I'm actually looking forward to this hard work. After I get it all sandblasted, I'm looking forward to just spending an all nighter by myself in the garage and just have fun making something out of nothing.

 

[Gunner Actual]

Ha! I got this new to me body by trading a set of hard doors and I also got $50!! That will cover the cost of material for sandblasting. I think I will need copious amounts of beer to make this an enjoyable experience though.

 

[Petescj]

Ok then. Grab a pallet of beer and start a build thread.

Ha! I got this new to me body by trading a set of hard doors and I also got $50!! That will cover the cost of material for sandblasting. I think I will need copious amounts of beer to make this an enjoyable experience though.