Looking to start a Jeep project New to Jeeps
DHugg
Senior Jeeper
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- Location
- MS Gulf Coast
- Vehicle(s)
- '80 CJ7 304AMC crate with 8KMiles: MC2100 - AMC20 rear w/Superiors - Dana30 front - TF999 - Dana300TC - 35x12.5's - Tilt steer column - Flaming Rvr EZ-Steer Shaft - AGR Super Pump - AGR Super Box II - RockyRidge HD Brace - New home-designed digital TEMP - GAS - OILPR - CALIBRATE gauges.
Hey, Goose, here's how a Jeep buy & build works:
I was in your shoes exactly a year ago. Shopped hard, drive four, turned down more than ten that I surveyed top to bottom. Mostly my rejection was for rust (I live on the Gulf Coast, no salt unless some fool tries to play submarine). I finally bought a 1980 CJ7 set up for rocks (had the scars to prove it) but a spotless POR15'ed frame, crate AMC 304 V8 with less than a 1000 miles, and a Warn winch front, hitch on the back. The Mickey Thompson 35's were 90 percent; still had the little rubber injector port threads from the factory mold. I got it November 9th, after a good look-over and a test drive.
The Jeep wobbled all over the road, and the rear brake drums were greasy as if the wheel cylinders were leaking. The engine ran hugely rich, but I figured I knew a vacuum leak when I smelled one.
Got it home, scared me so bad driving the ten miles from where I bought it that I grounded it immediately for brakes (none you'd notice unless you stood on the petal) and steering.
Six months later, almost to the day, I drove it for the first time since I got it home. The rear wheels and axle housing were full of crud from someone snorkeling, and the leaks were from the axle flange gasket. I cleaned everything up, installed new bearings, seals, single-piece axle to replace the not-well-regarded AMC20 two-part axles. Reworked the brakes completely, even painted the interior parts for rust-prevention.
The steering shaft was shot, worn to near-nothing. I started at the firewall with a new steering shaft, a new high-capacity power steering pump, and a new steering box designed for road, not for rocks.
Meantimes, I discovered that I love investigating and solving the problems I discover, problems like the key sticks between start and ON; you can tell when by looking at the ammeter. There is no reading on the fuel gage (PO told me so), not on the oil pressure or temp gages (PO told me that).
To cut to the chase, I found all the horrible vacuum leaks where the "mechanic" put 30-year-old rubber back onto the rebuilt engine. He'd cocked the fuel pump base causing an oil leak. The fuel filter was installed upside down, allowing the carb line to drain dry and creating a hard start. I never particularly liked cars; drove 'em to get where I needed to be, but preferred boats as pleasurable transportation. Now I look for every excuse to crank the Jeep, no matter how transparent my excuse to my bride for the trip. The ragtop is off, the engine sounds almost like a Pratt & Whitney radial aircraft engine (yes, I know the sound from long ago). The paint job sparkles in the sun, there is enough chrome for even a 1958 Buick fan to look twice at, and this machine will get me anywhere I can even imagine going, and I chase all manner of wild animals in the wildernesses of the Pearl and Pascagoula rivers in this region.
Here's what I learned - You can't buy a Jeep; you gotta build it. It will become a very personal thing, not ownership exactly, although you'll have the title. You'll discover that you have a passion for doing the right thing for the right engineering reason, to make the machine as sound and reliable as you possibly can. You'll spend more time than money, although good materials and top-line parts are dear. The Jeep will NEVER get finished, although you'll surely keep it for years and drive it safely all the while. But in YOUR Jeep, when you travel from point to point, the trip is every bit, maybe a little more, enjoyable than the arrival at destination.
I'm just sorry I waited this long!
bon chance,
Denny
PS: If you've finally found what you wanted, I hope it is as satisfactory to you as the one I picked.
I was in your shoes exactly a year ago. Shopped hard, drive four, turned down more than ten that I surveyed top to bottom. Mostly my rejection was for rust (I live on the Gulf Coast, no salt unless some fool tries to play submarine). I finally bought a 1980 CJ7 set up for rocks (had the scars to prove it) but a spotless POR15'ed frame, crate AMC 304 V8 with less than a 1000 miles, and a Warn winch front, hitch on the back. The Mickey Thompson 35's were 90 percent; still had the little rubber injector port threads from the factory mold. I got it November 9th, after a good look-over and a test drive.
The Jeep wobbled all over the road, and the rear brake drums were greasy as if the wheel cylinders were leaking. The engine ran hugely rich, but I figured I knew a vacuum leak when I smelled one.
Got it home, scared me so bad driving the ten miles from where I bought it that I grounded it immediately for brakes (none you'd notice unless you stood on the petal) and steering.
Six months later, almost to the day, I drove it for the first time since I got it home. The rear wheels and axle housing were full of crud from someone snorkeling, and the leaks were from the axle flange gasket. I cleaned everything up, installed new bearings, seals, single-piece axle to replace the not-well-regarded AMC20 two-part axles. Reworked the brakes completely, even painted the interior parts for rust-prevention.
The steering shaft was shot, worn to near-nothing. I started at the firewall with a new steering shaft, a new high-capacity power steering pump, and a new steering box designed for road, not for rocks.
Meantimes, I discovered that I love investigating and solving the problems I discover, problems like the key sticks between start and ON; you can tell when by looking at the ammeter. There is no reading on the fuel gage (PO told me so), not on the oil pressure or temp gages (PO told me that).
To cut to the chase, I found all the horrible vacuum leaks where the "mechanic" put 30-year-old rubber back onto the rebuilt engine. He'd cocked the fuel pump base causing an oil leak. The fuel filter was installed upside down, allowing the carb line to drain dry and creating a hard start. I never particularly liked cars; drove 'em to get where I needed to be, but preferred boats as pleasurable transportation. Now I look for every excuse to crank the Jeep, no matter how transparent my excuse to my bride for the trip. The ragtop is off, the engine sounds almost like a Pratt & Whitney radial aircraft engine (yes, I know the sound from long ago). The paint job sparkles in the sun, there is enough chrome for even a 1958 Buick fan to look twice at, and this machine will get me anywhere I can even imagine going, and I chase all manner of wild animals in the wildernesses of the Pearl and Pascagoula rivers in this region.
Here's what I learned - You can't buy a Jeep; you gotta build it. It will become a very personal thing, not ownership exactly, although you'll have the title. You'll discover that you have a passion for doing the right thing for the right engineering reason, to make the machine as sound and reliable as you possibly can. You'll spend more time than money, although good materials and top-line parts are dear. The Jeep will NEVER get finished, although you'll surely keep it for years and drive it safely all the while. But in YOUR Jeep, when you travel from point to point, the trip is every bit, maybe a little more, enjoyable than the arrival at destination.
I'm just sorry I waited this long!
bon chance,
Denny
PS: If you've finally found what you wanted, I hope it is as satisfactory to you as the one I picked.
Hey keep looking and keep us posted on your progress.
