Found a CJ7 need advice

[dante2]

I have been looking at CJ7 's for sometime now and ran across this CL ad. 1977 Jeep CJ7 I have extra photos that the owner has texted to me. The quote is in reference to questions I asked the owner.

As for rust issues. None on the frame. All of it on the body/floor pans was removed before it was repainted. I also put a new windshield frame on it because they are notorious for rusting out. However i have noticed s little spot below the tailgate that got missed when it was painted. It does have disc brakes on the front. And the new style valve cover on the engine.

Is this a good price for a 36 y.o. jeep with 148,000 miles? Let me know what you think please. Thank you for your time.

 

[BajaEdition]

I figure any CJ is worth 4 gs plus if it is in good mechanical shape
that looks to be in good cosmetic shape also
go around checking for rust, tap on it all over and I mean all over
5800 seems fair if it is solid and runs good and goes into 4wd and works

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

Me personally I'd hold out for an 82 to 86 in about the same condition. Generally they all go for about the same price in that condition because a lot of people think that a CJ7 is a cj7 and they are all the same. Pre 82 cjs have narrower (and less desirable) axles and the frame is slightly different, the roll bar mounts differently and imo is less sturdy, the door latches are different and seem to be more prone to cracking the body, just to name a few things.

I believe that 82 was the switch to the Dana 300 as well which a little bit more desirable to the older tc in that it gives you a lot more after market options and tranny options as well.

All that being said if the jeep is fairly rust free, which this looks to be, I'd x2 Baja if offer 4k if the guy says know if walk and spend the extra 1800 on a newer cj.

 

[cj7inthetwigs]

Have to admit I didn't know that when we bought ours, guess we got lucky.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[Petescj]

I believe that 82 was the switch to the Dana300 as well which a little bit more desirable to the older tc in that it gives you a lot more after market options and tranny options as well.

All that being said if the jeep is fairly rust free, which this looks to be, I'd x2 Baja if offer 4k if the guy says know if walk and spend the extra 1800 on a newer cj.

1980 was the first year for the Dana 300 . 1982 was the first year for wide track axles. 82 is probably the best model year cause theres no computer or stepper carb and you get wide track axles. One bad thing about the wide track axles is most had 2.72 or 3.11 gears. If you want to regear ( lower ratio , numerically higher say 4.10 ) the carries are smaller and must be swapped out. Alot of narrow track Cjs had 3.54 , 3.73 and even 4.10s from the factory.

That said Id almost always take the rust free Cj over anything else.

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

1980 was the first year for the dana 300. 1982 was the first year for wide track axles. 82 is probably the best model year cause theres no computer or stepper carb and you get wide track axles. One bad thing about the wide track axles is most had 2.72 or 3.11 gears. If you want to regear ( lower ratio , numerically higher say 4.10 ) the carries are smaller and must be swapped out. Alot of narrow track Cjs had 3.54 , 3.73 and even 4.10s from the factory.

That said Id almost always take the rust free Cj over anything else.

I hear ya if I were in the market and I had an immaculate pre 82 in front of me I'd probably go for it.

The 2.72 gearing is a real problem in the 82+ with the T-5 5 speed tranny. Alot of people slap 31 plus sized tires on their jeep and do not regear the axle. This causes premature failure of the t-5 because of the added stress to the tranny.