Build Thread Custom Jeep CJ Truck Build
Peanut Butter
Full Time Jeeper
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- 2,591
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- Location
- Boerne, Texas
- Vehicle(s)
- 1979 Jeep CJ7 TH400 Automatic 258 I6 Quadratrac Amc 20 rear & Dana 30 front, 32 x 11.5 x 15 tires. Currently a Complete Custom Rebuild in progress.
Also I own a 2001 Jeep Cherokee, White, all stock with 4.0L. automatic, and police package. Best part of that is it came with leather seats! This package also has the NP242 Transfer Case, 8.25 rear end, and trailer towing package.
For several months now I have been working towards a special surprise for my wife and mines 30th wedding anniversary. So my CJ7 rebuild came to a complete halt. I currently have a complete rolling chassis minus brake and fuel lines.
That build can be found here: http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f98/79-cj7-frame-off-resto-1st-time-project-20075/ During this time I been able to squirrel away some extra money for my Jeep build. My mind is always turning and I have been seriously considering a big change in my CJ7 Build.
My idea is to build a CJ that is more truck than it is a CJ7. My inspiration came from Jeff Scherb's CJ Gaucho project. "Gaucho" CJ stepside pickup build - JeepForum.com I love driving a pickup truck and have many daily uses for one. My off-road driving will be mainly Jeep trails, sea shore sand, and some ranch land here in South Central Texas. Given this usage, I don't really need the compactness of a CJ7. Scrambles are awesome, but really hard to find or way to expensive for me to acquire. Thus the conclusion that I could build a Jeep CJ Truck.
SO here is my plan: First I need to lengthen my frame to accommodate a cab and bed. I can do this with some square tubing. Here is a picture of what Jeff came up with for wheel bases:
The part I haven’t got tied down is what I will use for a bed. There are several options here. I could use a 1941 to 46 Chevy Truck bed, a 1947 to 64 Willys Truck Bed, a Military trailer, or make the bed from scratch. The first two options are getting hard to find in a decent condition. I could buy new replacement, but that is a little on the expensive side. The military trailer idea is one I like the most. I could buy the trailer, remove the bed, and sell the rest as scrap, getting a return on the money I spent. There are two main types of military trailer beds available. Here are a couple of pictures:
The last picture is the one I’m leaning towards. I like the no fender look (similar to a CJ7), and I like the flat top sides of the bed. These would allow me to build a headache rack. All of the bed choices will require cutting them down to fit the Jeep frame. The only military trailer that would not need to be cut is the following:
Only problem with these is they are getting really hard to find or are very expensive.
I forgot to mention another option. There is a company called Aqualu Industries. Aqualu Industries Inc. - Aqualu Industries is full service welding and fabricating facility specializing in Land Cruisers, Jeeps and Samurai's They make aluminum bodies and beds. This would be great, but expensive.
I think the hardest part to all of this will be building the cab. The body will need to be cut, rear corners will be lengthened and attached to the body. Then a panel must be built to replace the opening that a tailgate occupies. Here are a couple of pictures from Jeff’s project where he did this.
I will also need to find a CJ8 half cab and bulkhead. I posted a wanted item in this forum’s classified ads. So, if anybody knows of one, please let me know. I’ll investigate it and see if it would be feasible to get down here to South Central Texas. I could build one from my current CJ7 hardtop, but at this point my fiberglass skills are none to nothing! When the time comes, I may have to do that. The cab thankfully is a ways down the road. I also know about GR8 Tops, but they are a little pricey at this point. The bulkhead is not 100% needed, since the bed will be separate from the cab. I was thinking it might make the task of building the space for the tailgate a little easier.
So here are some more pictures of Jeff’s Gaucho for you to look at. I look forward to everybody’s ideas and comments. :drool: Right now I’m in the planning and acquiring stage of this build, but eventually I plan an engine change and axle changes. Thanks for reading.
That build can be found here: http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f98/79-cj7-frame-off-resto-1st-time-project-20075/ During this time I been able to squirrel away some extra money for my Jeep build. My mind is always turning and I have been seriously considering a big change in my CJ7 Build.
My idea is to build a CJ that is more truck than it is a CJ7. My inspiration came from Jeff Scherb's CJ Gaucho project. "Gaucho" CJ stepside pickup build - JeepForum.com I love driving a pickup truck and have many daily uses for one. My off-road driving will be mainly Jeep trails, sea shore sand, and some ranch land here in South Central Texas. Given this usage, I don't really need the compactness of a CJ7. Scrambles are awesome, but really hard to find or way to expensive for me to acquire. Thus the conclusion that I could build a Jeep CJ Truck.
SO here is my plan: First I need to lengthen my frame to accommodate a cab and bed. I can do this with some square tubing. Here is a picture of what Jeff came up with for wheel bases:
The part I haven’t got tied down is what I will use for a bed. There are several options here. I could use a 1941 to 46 Chevy Truck bed, a 1947 to 64 Willys Truck Bed, a Military trailer, or make the bed from scratch. The first two options are getting hard to find in a decent condition. I could buy new replacement, but that is a little on the expensive side. The military trailer idea is one I like the most. I could buy the trailer, remove the bed, and sell the rest as scrap, getting a return on the money I spent. There are two main types of military trailer beds available. Here are a couple of pictures:
The last picture is the one I’m leaning towards. I like the no fender look (similar to a CJ7), and I like the flat top sides of the bed. These would allow me to build a headache rack. All of the bed choices will require cutting them down to fit the Jeep frame. The only military trailer that would not need to be cut is the following:
Only problem with these is they are getting really hard to find or are very expensive.
I forgot to mention another option. There is a company called Aqualu Industries. Aqualu Industries Inc. - Aqualu Industries is full service welding and fabricating facility specializing in Land Cruisers, Jeeps and Samurai's They make aluminum bodies and beds. This would be great, but expensive.
I think the hardest part to all of this will be building the cab. The body will need to be cut, rear corners will be lengthened and attached to the body. Then a panel must be built to replace the opening that a tailgate occupies. Here are a couple of pictures from Jeff’s project where he did this.
I will also need to find a CJ8 half cab and bulkhead. I posted a wanted item in this forum’s classified ads. So, if anybody knows of one, please let me know. I’ll investigate it and see if it would be feasible to get down here to South Central Texas. I could build one from my current CJ7 hardtop, but at this point my fiberglass skills are none to nothing! When the time comes, I may have to do that. The cab thankfully is a ways down the road. I also know about GR8 Tops, but they are a little pricey at this point. The bulkhead is not 100% needed, since the bed will be separate from the cab. I was thinking it might make the task of building the space for the tailgate a little easier.
So here are some more pictures of Jeff’s Gaucho for you to look at. I look forward to everybody’s ideas and comments. :drool: Right now I’m in the planning and acquiring stage of this build, but eventually I plan an engine change and axle changes. Thanks for reading.