Build Thread My old Blue 84' CJ7 build

[gp4play]

Ok, I should of started this thead a couple a years back when I 1'st signed on but I didn't think of it then. I know it's more fun watching them grow, your's and yer Bud's, but like I said " not thinking" duh. So I'm going to try and do a catch up of what I've done and am doing now. Here he is when I got him,Dec. of 09;


March of 2010, got lucky on a deal for a set a axles with alloy shafts, OX lockers, and 4.56 gears. So bought a RC 4" lift and put them in;
out with the old



and in with the new





rear done


Front next




and Rock Hard high steering


Done with lift

 

[mtnwhlr]

Looks real good

 

[gp4play]

Thank you. It took a little longer to get it going then I thought it would cause I tore my shoulder up at work just as I was finishing the lift, that set my wallet back to zero for a bit.
This is where I choose to put my locker shifters

When I installed the lift I was kind of worryed about the shackles being so forward

even with wieght on it

I was worryed about the shackes flipping so called Rough Country. The guy I talked to said the springs would settle after a run or two, but if I had trouble they would pay for the return and reinstall. Thought that was cool and i worryed a little less after that. The lift did look more like a 6" then a 4" and made those 34x10.5's look small. Ok, to rehash,When i got all the little things I forgot when I bought the lift, brake lines,u-joints, and angle shims. I did take it out for a few runs on some whoops and bunny trails and it did settle down, and for a cheaper lift did nice on the trail.

 

[JAG811]

Ha ha ha ha .... There's NO WAY that thing fits in your garage now !! Ha ha ha ...
Good job mate, it's looking good !!

 

[gp4play]

Ha ha ha ha .... There's NO WAY that thing fits in your garage now !! Ha ha ha ...
Good job mate, it's looking good !!

lol Your right, it don't fit no more but I didn't have much room then anyway.



I do have a RV barn out back I plan to make into a shop to get out of the weather:drool:
Now, a warning to y'all that go out and buy a used axle. This was not the sellers fault but mine for not doing better research. I was so happy to pick up a pair of proven offroad ready, locked, and geared axles, that I didn't think about what year they came from.Yup, they are 82' CJ7 narrow track axles
and being in the hurry that is was at the time, I didn't see this till they were on the Jeep and needed steering linkage. Lesson Learned, reaserch what it's from, what you need to make it work, and never be in to big a hurry to get it done right. Also don't forget to check an axle by taking the cover off to see the gears and carrier for broken parts,ratio, locker, LS, or welded spiders. Am I still happy? hell yes. I do plan on setting up my wide track axles to put the OX lock and gears in them someday.
I forgot to mention the great help I had doing this swap so......
Thanks to my 16yr old Son Ron




and my Buddy Skip

Good help can be hard to find but not for me, Thanks guys

 

[Petescj]

Now, a warning to y'all that go out and buy a used axle. This was not the sellers fault but mine for not doing better research. I was so happy to pick up a pair of proven offroad ready, locked, and geared axles, that I didn't think about what year they came from.Yup, they are 82' CJ7 narrow track axles

I had narrow tracks that were swapped into my '85. I never noticed till I got the Scrambler and someone on here noticed the difference from some pics I posted. That said those are still some great axles you grabbed.

And the Steelers flag in your garage shows you have good taste.

 

[gp4play]

I had narrow tracks that were swapped into my '85. I never noticed till I got the Scrambler and someone on here noticed the difference from some pics I posted. That said those are still some great axles you grabbed.

And the Steelers flag in your garage shows you have good taste.

Yeah, I'm very happy how they work, just kicking myself for not paying attention to what I was buying. I know the year they changed, the year of the Jeep they came from, and it still supprised me when I went to hook up the steering.lol made me feel like a Homer
Hell yeah, Steelers all the way

 

[PaRenegade]

If they were from an 82, then they were widetracks. 1982 was the first year for them.

 

[gp4play]

If they were from an 82, then they were widetracks. 1982 was the first year for them.

See, and I thought 83' was the 1'st year. I must a got a early 82' cause they are defititely narrow and I know the Jeeper they came from.

 

[mtnwhlr]

The '83 CJ5s were narrow trac.

 

[Petescj]

This just happened not so long ago to another member. Same deal , he had an 82 but it was an early one and had narrow tracks. He found out when he bought his 1 piece axles.

See, and I thought 83' was the 1'st year. I must a got a early 82' cause they are defititely narrow and I know the Jeeper they came from.

 

[gp4play]

This just happened not so long ago to another member. Same deal , he had an 82 but it was an early one and had narrow tracks. He found out when he bought his 1 piece axles.

I'm glad mine came with 1 piece axles or I prob would a done the same. lol

I really wanted to get my Jeep back on the trail, all I could see was me going from 3.07 gears to 4.56's,yeah buddy! But by not having all my "ducks in a row" so to say I got frustrated and it slowed my build down. Now that I look back I should of saved up longer and looked for a 3.5" Rubi or Old Man Emu lift. The Rough Country isn't a bad lift but I wasn't looking to go this HIGH! These springs have a hell of an arch on them and they don't give alot so not much flex. I was only planning to go to 33" tires anyway so now I will be looking at new options later to get that flex and lower him down some. I don't mind showing my mistakes if it will help another Jeeper, Plan Plan Plan and don't rush it!

 

[gp4play]

Ok, now that I'm way up here, I decided now would be a good time to protect me and the lil woman. I shopped around for a while on this, not like the lift, till I found a cage kit to add to my sport bar that I could add to as I got the money.There are a lot of better set ups out there other then adding to a SB and they are worth every dime you pay for them. I made my choice with safty in mind and what I could afford, so I choose the OR Fab add on. It is .120 DOM tubeing, it bolts to the dash to save my knees ,and also get to keep my e-brake and glove box. It also has tie in from the dash to the floor and to the frame, and I can add a seat bar, cross bar behind the seats, dash bar, and all the gussets where they need to go.





Oh yeah, my hard top still fits

 

[gp4play]

I'm always looking for new ideas and advice for my Jeeps and this forum always delivers. Petescj commented, on another thread, that my CJ looked high on the new springs. I had to agree, so I went looking for some smaller tires, and found these 16x8 black wheels and tires for $100 bucks.



The tires are 245x75x16, Woosung AT's. Now my wife won't need a milk crate step to get into the Jeep

 

[alpha6]

Hey GP, on the cage. Did you have to do some welding and what did it entail as far as connecting to the dash area? Drilling? Welding? How complete was the kit? Did you have to do any cutting to make it fit?

Really like the looks of that cage.

 

[gp4play]

Hey GP, on the cage. Did you have to do some welding and what did it entail as far as connecting to the dash area? Drilling? Welding? How complete was the kit? Did you have to do any cutting to make it fit?

Really like the looks of that cage.

Hey Alpha, I bought the cage from Morris 4x4 as a kit. It came with all the tubes you see except the hand holds. I really like the leg room and still have my E-brake

It all went together without any notching or cutting all the bars have to be welded except to the dash, it came with all the bolts and no drilling.


You can also get a kit to bolt from the dash to the floor. I had a local shop do the welding but was there for half the work and helped hold some in place.

 

[alpha6]

That is just what I am looking for. I have a local welding shop that does all my ag welding...so that shouldn't be a problem. Very nice.

 

[gp4play]

That is just what I am looking for. I have a local welding shop that does all my ag welding...so that shouldn't be a problem. Very nice.

Thanks, I sure you will happy with it.

 

[Petescj]

Not a bad idea until those springs settle some. I looked a little closer at the pics you posted also. Measure those shackles bolt hole to bolt hole. I think a smaller shackle will lower it a bit and improve the overall handling of the Cj as a bonus.

Now those tires arent exactly trail tamers but if the wife likes them you earn bonus points there. Once the springs settle a bit and with smaller shackles you should be able to slide the original combo you had on there a little more comfortably. Id use the original combo and flex the springs out a few times off road. Nothin crazy off camber or anything just work them out. Use the 16 inchers for street duty.

I'm always looking for new ideas and advice for my Jeeps and this forum always delivers. Petescj commented, on another thread, that my CJ looked high on the new springs. I had to agree, so I went looking for some smaller tires, and found these 16x8 black wheels and tires for $100 bucks.
The tires are 245x75x16, Woosung AT's. Now my wife won't need a milk crate step to get into the Jeep

 

[gp4play]

Not a bad idea until those springs settle some. I looked a little closer at the pics you posted also. Measure those shackles bolt hole to bolt hole. I think a smaller shackle will lower it a bit and improve the overall handling of the Cj as a bonus.

Now those tires arent exactly trail tamers but if the wife likes them you earn bonus points there. Once the springs settle a bit and with smaller shackles you should be able to slide the original combo you had on there a little more comfortably. Id use the original combo and flex the springs out a few times off road. Nothin crazy off camber or anything just work them out. Use the 16 inchers for street duty.

See, I even get great advice when I'm jokeing. Pete, those tires are for the smog dyno they put us on here in Ca., they can't handle wide tires. I did find some BFG 35x12.5x15 km mudders that I'm trying out and am now looking for a set a shackles, thanks for the tip.
I got these tires and wheels for $85 bucks so I figured I would see if I like them or go for a new set of 33x12.5x15 BFG KM2's, and your idea of the 16's for street duty is somthing I never considered,thanks