Build Thread First ever CJ7 build. What am I thinking???
Mikes1stcj7
Jeeper
Ok so to start off I am in no way any kind of mechanic, painter, body guy, or am I someone to ask what I'm doing because I haven't got a clue. I tried my hand at VW Bajas because they are less expencive then a jeep where I was living for a time, and all I did was manage to blow up an engine after spending about 3 years of lets say patching up and not an actual rebuild. Which leads me to today.
Well not really today but a few weeks ago....
After buying and selling two DJ5's I managed to pick up a 1980 CJ7 from Craigs list. The guy said it had a new Holley carb, but after he installed it he never drove the jeep. I figured for 600 a jeep with a new carb was worth what ever condition it was in. After a quick once over I figured the rust wasnt too bad, but decided to wait on it. After a week of himming and hawing I called the guy back and offered him 500 bucks to which he replied "I have a guy that said he'd give me, $550 but he can't make it by for 3 days." I thought I have lost out on a jeep that if at all else had a holley carb that I can resale and make money off of, so I broke down and told the guy i'll give you $600 and I'll be there in an hour.
By the time I got to his house it was about 9:30 at night and a small storm was blowing in, which in the 2 previous times I have bought jeeps had both been picked up at night with rain. It has become a joke between me and my brother now. So anyhow, this being my first jeep i was tickled pink. I have wanted one for about 12 years but either never had the time or never had the money. So like most things you see at night, it's alot different in the day light. Boy was I shocked the next morning...
I woke up bright and early ready to go tackle my first jeep, and what do I see?
Plus the rear of the frame was rusted through, and I'm sure is only held on by whats left of the paint.
So this is where my CJ7 sat for about 3 weeks, while I looked for a new tub and frame.
I found for $200 at the local junk yard a 70's model CJ7 tub. I was told by people in the area that I shouldnt go there as they guy was kind of a pinkie, but he was nice enough to me.
So now I have a tub..
So far so good. Im thinking how hard is it to rebuild this jeep?? Two, maybe three days tops. Now I'm into this project for $800 bucks. I have a running jeep, and a tub, now all I need is the frame.
I post an ad on CL, and within two days a kid calls me with a CJ7 frame wants 125 for it. I talk him into letting me take it for $110 as my money situation went from having money to buying a 72 CJ5 for $2300 bucks and I still have to get home to California in a few weeks.
Now I have a frame.
Jeep:check.. donor tub and frame: check and check.. this leads me to where I am now.
Frame is ready to be striped of all its old paint and rust, that starts tomorrow. I will update nightly as I progress through this event. I will try to post as much info as I can. I know enough to lose a finger when it comes to working on cars but I am truely looking forward to finally have my jeep looking as good as all your jeeps do. Granted it's going to be a daily driver, and eventually I may make it a little more off road friendly, but it is a jeep and I don't expect it to look any worse then it does now.
My CJ7 rebuild atempt will just involve switching out one frame and tub for another frame and tub. No 40" tires, or 50" of articulation. Just a nice little pavement pounder that I can play with.
Now my CJ5 .... that is story for another time..
Well not really today but a few weeks ago....
After buying and selling two DJ5's I managed to pick up a 1980 CJ7 from Craigs list. The guy said it had a new Holley carb, but after he installed it he never drove the jeep. I figured for 600 a jeep with a new carb was worth what ever condition it was in. After a quick once over I figured the rust wasnt too bad, but decided to wait on it. After a week of himming and hawing I called the guy back and offered him 500 bucks to which he replied "I have a guy that said he'd give me, $550 but he can't make it by for 3 days." I thought I have lost out on a jeep that if at all else had a holley carb that I can resale and make money off of, so I broke down and told the guy i'll give you $600 and I'll be there in an hour.
By the time I got to his house it was about 9:30 at night and a small storm was blowing in, which in the 2 previous times I have bought jeeps had both been picked up at night with rain. It has become a joke between me and my brother now. So anyhow, this being my first jeep i was tickled pink. I have wanted one for about 12 years but either never had the time or never had the money. So like most things you see at night, it's alot different in the day light. Boy was I shocked the next morning...
I woke up bright and early ready to go tackle my first jeep, and what do I see?
Plus the rear of the frame was rusted through, and I'm sure is only held on by whats left of the paint.
So this is where my CJ7 sat for about 3 weeks, while I looked for a new tub and frame.
I found for $200 at the local junk yard a 70's model CJ7 tub. I was told by people in the area that I shouldnt go there as they guy was kind of a pinkie, but he was nice enough to me.
So now I have a tub..
So far so good. Im thinking how hard is it to rebuild this jeep?? Two, maybe three days tops. Now I'm into this project for $800 bucks. I have a running jeep, and a tub, now all I need is the frame.
I post an ad on CL, and within two days a kid calls me with a CJ7 frame wants 125 for it. I talk him into letting me take it for $110 as my money situation went from having money to buying a 72 CJ5 for $2300 bucks and I still have to get home to California in a few weeks.
Now I have a frame.
Jeep:check.. donor tub and frame: check and check.. this leads me to where I am now.
Frame is ready to be striped of all its old paint and rust, that starts tomorrow. I will update nightly as I progress through this event. I will try to post as much info as I can. I know enough to lose a finger when it comes to working on cars but I am truely looking forward to finally have my jeep looking as good as all your jeeps do. Granted it's going to be a daily driver, and eventually I may make it a little more off road friendly, but it is a jeep and I don't expect it to look any worse then it does now.
My CJ7 rebuild atempt will just involve switching out one frame and tub for another frame and tub. No 40" tires, or 50" of articulation. Just a nice little pavement pounder that I can play with.
Now my CJ5 .... that is story for another time..
