Inherited CJ7

[Photonfanatic]

Hi all, new here. Well, it appears I have inherited a Jeep CJ7 . Rather, my wife has. Its a 1979 model. Her dad bought it in 83, and used to do all the offroading hobby stuff with it. But since about 1994, it has sat unused on his ranch in oklahoma. He was cleaning the place up and decided to get rid of it. But the wife has a lot of fond memories in it with her dad, so she asked him if she could have it. He said sure, and so now I have a jeep project. But I'm a car guy/auto enthusiast, so it doesn't really bother me.

I'll be the one doing most of the fixing, so I needed to stop by here and ask a some questions. That will probably be happening a lot. Anyway, the jeep has no engine in it currently. I was thinking of just putting a 5.3L chevy in there, as its real darn popular for swaps, and makes decent power and gas mileage. I don't think we're going to want to do any of the deep mud stuff, just light mud at most, and mostly light trail crawling and light rock crawling. None of the heavy stuff. Not really looking to create one of those monsters that you see on that TV show Xtreme 4x4.

So here's my first round of questions:


1. How much should I expect to pay, to have the body and frame sand blasted, then sealed? This project is going to span probably 5 years (or more) so I'd like to have all the surface rust blasted off and have a good strong coating put on the whole thing, that I can still work with later when its time to paint.

2. How much should I pay for a windshield glass, replacement metal doors, and a tailgate? Is there anything special I should know about these items?

3. Is there any reason I shouldn't use a 5.3L GM engine in the jeep? I was also hoping to put a 4L60e, or a 4L80e behind it, so that I could have the Overdrive gear. That way I can comfortably drive the thing (at reasonably low RPM) on the highway, to get to the offroad parks and trails. I'm not real well versed on all the offroad and big tire stuff, so I assume you need to run at least 3:73 gears, but maybe more like 4:10's.

4. May not ever do this one, but I'm just curious. But then again, I might, as I like to do heavy modifications to my vehicles sometimes. Will a newer dash fit in the old CJ7 ? Something out of a 2010 or newer jeep. And if not, what is the newest dash that will go in there? I'm kind of into the restomod thing. I'd of course keep the old metal dash for originality purposes, just in case it was ever beneficial to switch it back.

5. Does anyone know if one of those 6 speed GM transmissions will fit in the CJ7 ? I think its called the 6L80e. Depending on the gears I need to run, that Transmission may become desirable.

Thanks in advance - more questions to come

 

[Lumpy Grits]

:ww:
Can't say what the labor or parts costs will be because there are just to many variables. One of the reasons, most of us here do our own work(mistakes ).
The issues with your two tranny choices, are the fact they are long and neither will bolt up to a Dana 300 t'case.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Length is your biggest enemy when trying the modifications you'd like to do. If it were reasonably possible to add an over drive or one of the modern multiple geared transmissions there would be thousands of them, most everybody would want to do it.

You will find that many of us here are big into keeping a CJ a CJ not many are hot on a Chevy/CJ or a Ford/CJ. With that being said, there are some great modern V6 conversions in CJ's. V6's are short and have the power necessary to propel a CJ nicely down the road.

 

[Photonfanatic]

Hmm.. how about a 4bt or 6bt cummins? Would that be a viable option?

 

[Petescj]

I hate to answer price questions for different areas but here goes. First since your Cj is a 79 it uses the early style door handles. Around here they are less desirable and I just saw a pretty clean set for $215. I can get a rottef windshield frame with good glass for $50-$75 easy. Rust free tailgates run from $125-$175 here. I actually have a tailgate and windshield but shipping is usually expensive.

 

[Hedgehog]

There actually were some foreign CJ's with Diesels in them, but nothing stock here in the US. Most diesels are heavy beasts ..... and that box of rocks diesel sound ..... Yeah I know modern diesels don't sound like the old Mercedes diesel did. Not to stomp on your dreams, I think it will be cool to see what you come up with.

One thing to remember, generally a CJ doesn't do well at speed. They live best grinding through the woods.

 

[Photonfanatic]

What is the highest speed that they generally do well at? That will help me choose my gears and Transmission .

Also, what is the most common engine people put in them?

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Pick your engine first-Then build the driveline.
That all depends on what mods you do.
I can run mine all day at 65-70 mph.
What do you know about diesel engines?
The 6bt weighs in close to 900 lbs.
Then you need to find a tranny that can handle the torque.
LG

 

[Photonfanatic]

Yeah I guess the diesel idea is out. Upon further research.


So do most people just get an original engine and throw some speed parts on it? What is the most popular engine to use in it?

 

[Lumpy Grits]

What engine did it come with?
LG

 

[Photonfanatic]

I really can't tell you what it came with. I'd have to ask my father inlaw, but I would assume it used to have whatever engine came in the vehicle stock. Kind of have a blank canvas, since there is no engine in it now.

But that does remind me, that I should say: I'm going to go ahead and rule out anything carbureted. Fuel injection is my thing, so the engine that is going in it, is going to have fuel injection.

How good are some of the newer jeep engines? Say something out of a 2008-2013? Seems like that may be a viable option, but I know very little of jeeps or their engines.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

What's the 7th character(should be a letter)in your VIN number?
LG

 

[Photonfanatic]

Don't know as I don't have possession of it yet. Still gotta get some bald 15" tires to go on the wheels I bought off craigslist, so that the thing will roll onto a trailer.

I'll text the mother inlaw and see if she can text me the vin off the title. Looks like these would have been the engines available:

• AMC 150 cu in (2.5 L) AMC I4
  
• GM 151 cu in (2.5 L) Iron Duke I4
• AMC 232 i6 cu in (3.8 L) AMC I6
• AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l cu in (AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l L) AMC I6
• AMC 304 cu in (5.0 L) AMC V8
  
• 145 cu in (2.4 L) Isuzu Isuzu C240 Diesel I4 diesel

Given that they're all carboreted and I've decided against diesel, It doesn't look like I'm going to want to use any of those. I really prefer fuel injection. Although, the later in-line 6 did have fuel injection, might have to look up what kind of power can be had from one, for a reasonable price.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Why are you so scared of a carburetor?
Mine still runs one.
LG

 

[Photonfanatic]

Its more like "don't like". I'm scared of a carb like I'm scared of using one of those old mounted car phones instead of my Android.

So everyone here runs carbs, it seems. And they don't like it when you don't put in the original engine. Bah!

 

[Photonfanatic]

Well has anyone bought and used one of these? This thing would put me pretty close to where I'd want to be, in terms of power. Maybe later I could do a little turbo and get where I want to be. But maybe I could get a freshly built 4.0 short block somewhere, and slap this head on it. The jeep inline 6 is attractive to me.


Aluminum Cylinder Heads - Jeep 4.0l Inline Six - Performer - Edelbrock, LLC.


Don't know if it would fit the 2006 model though. That would be the one I'd want, as its the latest and greatest of the 4.0's.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2006-Jeep-Wrangler-4-0L-Engine-Motor-OEM-129K-Miles-LKQ-129374728-/311714614712?fits=Year%3A2006|Make%3AJeep|Model%3AWrangler|Submodel%3AUnlimited|Engine+-+Liter_Display%3A4.0L&hash=item4893a38db8:g:O0wAAOSwLnBX-D2U&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Engine-05-0...ash=item20de115d8a:g:7qQAAOSwWntXM37i&vxp=mtr

 

[Hedgehog]

There are lots of different kinds of power. Generally a CJ is best served by an engine that produces a lot of torque right off idle. It appears to me that the type of power you would like is better suited for a vehicle that can handle higher speeds than the CJ platform will perform safely with, that is without a lot of suspension/steering modification. CJ's simply aren't good candidates for (speed) hot rodding.

Quite a few of us have fuel injection systems. You can follow threads that go into deep technical information on using junk yard parts or you can get one of the kits available. Most are not emissions legal though. Howell has a 50 state legal kit that isn't crazy expensive. Eventually I will be going with the Howell kit. One of the great things about the Howell kit is that you can legally remove most of the emissions controls.

 

[Petescj]

Its more like "don't like". I'm scared of a carb like I'm scared of using one of those old mounted car phones instead of my Android.

So everyone here runs carbs, it seems. And they don't like it when you don't put in the original engine. Bah!

Not at all. I think your Jeep is the perfect candidate for a more modern power plant. I think a lot more of us would have fuel injection if it wasn't so darn expensive. A good kit for a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l runs around $1500. The later 4.0 engine was fuel injected but the feeling I get from you is it'll leave you short on power. Alot of guys in your position go for a small block Chevy and that's the way I'd lean as well. Nothing wrong with a Th350 or GM Turbo 400 and there are adapters readily available to bolt on a Dana 300 rather easily. That's a proven drive train with enough power for any Cj.

 

[Photonfanatic]

There are lots of different kinds of power. Generally a CJ is best served by an engine that produces a lot of torque right off idle. It appears to me that the type of power you would like is better suited for a vehicle that can handle higher speeds than the CJ platform will perform safely with, that is without a lot of suspension/steering modification. CJ's simply aren't good candidates for (speed) hot rodding.

Quite a few of us have fuel injection systems. You can follow threads that go into deep technical information on using junk yard parts or you can get one of the kits available. Most are not emissions legal though. Howell has a 50 state legal kit that isn't crazy expensive. Eventually I will be going with the Howell kit. One of the great things about the Howell kit is that you can legally remove most of the emissions controls.

Not at all. I think your Jeep is the perfect candidate for a more modern power plant. I think a lot more of us would have fuel injection if it wasn't so darn expensive. A good kit for a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l runs around $1500. The later 4.0 engine was fuel injected but the feeling I get from you is it'll leave you short on power. Alot of guys in your position go for a small block Chevy and that's the way I'd lean as well. Nothing wrong with a Th350 or GM Turbo 400 and there are adapters readily available to bolt on a Dana 300 rather easily. That's a proven drive train with enough power for any Cj.

To reply to both:

Yeah the low end torque is really what I'm after. Hot rodding it... I guess, if you'd consider that to be hot rodding. I guess I would consider it to be hot rodding. But yeah the low RPM torque is what I'm after. Since I don't currently have an engine at all, I'm focusing on one that has good low end torque. I've actually learned a good deal just from this thread. And not to repost, but I just wanted to make sure you guys saw my last post, which is post #16. I was still busy editing it when you guys posted those two replies.

Has anyone bought and used one of these? This thing would put me pretty close to where I'd want to be, in terms of power. Maybe later I could do a little turbo and get where I want to be. But maybe I could get a freshly built 4.0 short block somewhere, and slap this head on it. The jeep inline 6 is attractive to me.


Aluminum Cylinder Heads - Jeep 4.0l Inline Six - Performer - Edelbrock, LLC.


Don't know if it would fit the 2006 model though. That would be the one I'd want, as its the latest and greatest of the 4.0's. I'm slowly zeroing in on an engine, and I'm starting to like the 2006 4.0L. I like to buy the last year of an engine, so you get the most factory updates, and have a stronger chance of finding a lower mileage one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2006-Jeep-Wrangler-4-0L-Engine-Motor-OEM-129K-Miles-LKQ-129374728-/311714614712?fits=Year%3A2006|Make%3AJeep|Model%3AWrangler|Submodel%3AUnlimited|Engine+-+Liter_Display%3A4.0L&hash=item4893a38db8:g:O0wAAOSwLnBX-D2U&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Engine-05-06-Jeep-Wrangler-4-0L-VIN-S-8th-Digit-1320876-/141164633482?fits=Year%3A2006|Make%3AJeep|Model%3AWrangler|Submodel%3AUnlimited|Engine+-+Liter_Display%3A4.0L&hash=item20de115d8a:g:7qQAAOSwWntXM37i&vxp=mtr

 

[Hedgehog]

My hot rodding comment was a response to the idea of using a turbo charger in a gas engine which is a relatively high RPM performance enhancer. Bottom end power generally doesn't come from a turbo charger.

I really like a V6, they are shorter which can add some options. My favorite engine in a CJ was a Buick 231 V6. Those are difficult to find now and with all the great V6 options out there that is the direction I'd go. Another consideration is the great mileage the new V6's are getting these days. The 350 SBC certainly is a great engine, but for most jeep situations it's got more power than needed.