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1979 CJ7, no engine, unknown transmission, unknown transfer case. Inherited vehicle, not sure what all is in it yet. I will update this once I get to inspect it closer, and can identify its equipment.
Enough for the trails? Which ones? Dusty or with boulders and rock walls?
What's your gearing and level of experience? I've seen some badass 4-cycl climb anything they wanted because they were set up properly.
It wasn't difficult. Swaps right in for a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l . Has all of the same mounting holes, etc even though they're not used in the newer models. Yes, a lot more power.
I put in a later OBDII model so that I can have the PCM connected to bluetooth which relays to my phone for my gauges or any codes. It live updates the sensor readings and codes to a server cloud for record.
1979 CJ7, no engine, unknown transmission, unknown transfer case. Inherited vehicle, not sure what all is in it yet. I will update this once I get to inspect it closer, and can identify its equipment.
Dusty trails, that sometimes have a little water on them. And sometimes might have a 1 or 2 foot ledge. Nothing more than that. Not really interested in doing more, for now.
1979 CJ7, no engine, unknown transmission, unknown transfer case. Inherited vehicle, not sure what all is in it yet. I will update this once I get to inspect it closer, and can identify its equipment.
I have a friend I wheel with that's waiting for his 4 cyl to die in his tj. He is climbing 6 ft ledges with 42" tires on 1 ton axles and hits the rev limiter every time out. It's been about 7 years and it hasn't killed it yet. As mentioned a lot of it is how your geared, he is running 4.56 with 2 speed atlas (5.0).
The AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l has a lot of grunt on the low end, where it's needed the most. Easily modified to modern EFI or left with a carburetor. The T-176 is, IMHO, the best 4spd manual Transmission AMC ever put into a CJ that will see mostly street and mild/moderate trail use. The T-18 is basically a 3spd on the street, and since it's a heavy duty Transmission , it shifts like one. The Dana 300 is a great Transfer Case with plenty of aftermarket support. It was, after all, the Atlas was designed on.
If you're trending toward a modern engine, it's tough to beat the GM 5.3L. Lot's of information on the internet about that swap, and with a CJ7 you have more options with Transmission choice. Automatics (with Overdrive ) are now in the mix. Swapping in different drivetrains, can be a never ending battle with MAWs. Which means $$$$. All depends on how deep your pockets are, and/or how much mechanical skill you have.
It would be nice to believe gasoline prices will always be hovering around the $2 per gallon mark, but having seen $4+, fuel economy should be a consideration with any drivetrain swap/install. My EFI 5.0L Ford in my 76 CJ5 gets a stellar (mediocre) 14 mpg in combined driving. And I need to feed it 93 octane. However I also have a T-18 and 4.56 gearing, turning 32" tires. If it's going to be something that eventually will be driven several times a week, and moderate to long distances, you probably don't want a CJ that gets 10-12 mpg 'on a good day'.
Have you checked the gearing? Most 'common' gearing for that year was 3.54. But there were optional gear sets available from AMC. Make a decision as to how large a tire you will be running, and base the rest off that. With 3.54 gearing, a good running AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l /T-176 should have little/no difficulty turning 31" tires. Start thinking 33's or 35's, and you're going to need to re-think a lot of components.
1979 CJ7, no engine, unknown transmission, unknown transfer case. Inherited vehicle, not sure what all is in it yet. I will update this once I get to inspect it closer, and can identify its equipment.
It had 33"s, but I think we're going to go a bit smaller than that. Not real sure yet.
And yeah, she wants an automatic. In the end, its not my jeep it belongs to the wife. Its her childhood memories, not mine. I'm just fixing it up for her, to be the best it can. Sure we'll be doing all the offroading together, but its still hers. She said she doesn't want to be shifting gears. Just wants to push the gas and have it go.
So I think the 4.0L and the available automatics that came with it, is probably going to be my best choice.
Also:
Anyone put a newer steering wheel in theirs? Keep in mind its going to be a restomod, not really going for originality here:
Steering wheel ..... From time to time one of the most asked questions on the board with very few solid answers. Are you wanting just a wheel or an entire column with a tilt wheel?
If you just want a wheel there are several manufacturers out there that offer tons of options. With a huge spread in prices. Some overly inexpensive, some crazy expensive. Then there are adaptors to consider. Be aware of the depth or dish along with the depth of the adaptor for the wheel you are looking at. Also the size. You have a CJ7 so there is a little more room, but not all that much. The wheel should ait until you have your seats. The seats you choose will make a huge difference in your choices. Why? Seat dimensions are all over the place, some thicker or deeper, some very thin, some VERY deep in both the bottom and back.
1979 CJ7, no engine, unknown transmission, unknown transfer case. Inherited vehicle, not sure what all is in it yet. I will update this once I get to inspect it closer, and can identify its equipment.
Yeah I guess I want the tilt column and all that. Did they have any jeep with a telescoping column? That would be pretty cool. But not really necessary.
1979 CJ7, no engine, unknown transmission, unknown transfer case. Inherited vehicle, not sure what all is in it yet. I will update this once I get to inspect it closer, and can identify its equipment.
1979 CJ7, no engine, unknown transmission, unknown transfer case. Inherited vehicle, not sure what all is in it yet. I will update this once I get to inspect it closer, and can identify its equipment.
1979 CJ7, no engine, unknown transmission, unknown transfer case. Inherited vehicle, not sure what all is in it yet. I will update this once I get to inspect it closer, and can identify its equipment.
All 3 are a bit heavier than I'd like. Be cool if they were all 3 made of aluminum instead. And it would be real nice if there was some handles on the hard top.
Anyone know of any way to get some handles on there? Maybe some that don't look dumb. If it just had some handles, it would be a lot easier to move around.
Not sure about this guy with no roll bar... but look:
Not my goodies... lol
Point is, CJ's "can" be set up for a bit of power, just remember they're short and can roll very easy on corners... or uneven ground
You can even do a submarine CJ... (this is not a CJ, I know - but it could be... )
I guess my point is - no one here will tell you what to do with your new project, we're all opinionated, but when you make your choice, all we do is help you move forward!
PS - look forward to seeing the old girl get back to good health! Check out Novak for some good drivetrain swap info too...
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.
All 3 are a bit heavier than I'd like. Be cool if they were all 3 made of aluminum instead. And it would be real nice if there was some handles on the hard top.
Anyone know of any way to get some handles on there? Maybe some that don't look dumb. If it just had some handles, it would be a lot easier to move around.
I think you would find the AL. stuff would be way too hot down here. Even the fiberglass ones get really hot, so think about adding some insulation. There are several ways to do this. The best one I've found so far is Lizard Skin. This is what I plan to use on mine. As for handles, I guess you could find a cabinet handle that would look good and work. I've always grabbed it at the top of the door opening and the rear corner. They do make a device that allows you to hoist it up in the air if you have the room in your garage.
1979 CJ7, no engine, unknown transmission, unknown transfer case. Inherited vehicle, not sure what all is in it yet. I will update this once I get to inspect it closer, and can identify its equipment.
I like that hard top hoist thing. I may just buy that.
As for the tires, I think that I have decided on 33" tires. I want a happy medium between tires that are reasonably ok for driving on roads, but will also do pretty well on the trails. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but I think 33" tires fit that bill.
We'll be riding plenty of trails, but we might also want to drive it to walmart or the auto parts store. Don't want an uncomfortable ride, when its on the road.
33's are getting a little on the hard to manage side. There seems to be a break point between 31's and 33's. Without doing any modifications to the suspension 31's are very popular and for many really get the job done. 33's are only a little bigger but the increase in weight is something to consider in your choice. 35's are much heavier and require a lot of suspension work to work well on a CJ. I have always run 31x10.5's on my CJ's, but like you I'm hearing the call of 33's. Oddly enough 32's used to be popular, that size seems like a great compromise, but are difficult if not impossible to find today.
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