new cj7 owner

[irish33in]

I just purchased a 85 CJ7 AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l 5 speed. Everything is stock, it came with a spring over sus. lift kit still in the box. I have 33's to put on it when it's ready. Wanting knowledge on the best way of building her. I am not made of $$$ so looking for best place to buy parts and which parts I should put the most money into. I want to keep the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l and stay 5 speed. I am looking to pull a 16 ft bass boat, some trails light mudding but still able to highway decent. If anyone or everyone could give me a piece of their mind, of a full set up and where to go for parts, for what I want my CJ7 to be able to handle thanks.

 

[priceg]

Hello and welcome

 

[gert]

Howdy

 

[susie]

Hello and welcome

Yeah, what he said...

 

[coldwater]

Hello Irish.Tell us a bit more about what the spring over kit you have. What exactly did the PO give you? SOA conversions are usually a pricey and not that easy mod to do. Plus, you want to tow a boat, run 33's, off road and run the highway. That's a pretty tall order for a CJ.

 

[irish33in]

As for hwy use, not everyday just be able to get to the beach or camping spot/trails. I live in central Fl everything is an hour or 2 away. Looking for light trails and mud not like some of the stuff up in Tn or Wa. My boat isn't that big lil bass boat, my 88 4cyl toyota pulled it all over with 33's and stock gears. The SOA the seller told me was a 4 inch from Quadratec leaf spring perches that you weld he said. Steel brake lines with a 4 to 6 inch lift clearance. Drop Pitman arm. Now that I have it out of the box, I think there is a lot more to buy to complete this lift? But I think I got a decent deal on the cj so what lift came with it was just extra perk. Any advise, I will listen I am far far from a master wrencher. thanks

 

[coldwater]

Spring overs require quite a bit of work if you're just using stock springs. If you're saying you're using 4" lift springs, AND a spring over, you''re going to end up with a massive amount of work, AND 8" of lift. No good. If I were you, I would sell that spring over kit and stay on the low down. 2.5" would seem to fit your needs far better, and be a simple and pretty inexpensive install. You go to that SOA kit, and you will need new drive shafts, new extended brake lines, steering work, welding and fab work, and a list of other things. $$$$$$$$$$

 

[Old Dog]

I have to agree, stay with a sua lift, and get rid of what ever the PO gave you. soa will cost you to get it right.
Can you post up some pic's of what you got from the PO.
A 16' bass boat is an awful lot to tow with a short wheelbase cj. I would not recomend it.

 

[coldwater]

Yup, towing with a CJ, is in the pop up camper range and not much more.

 

[irish33in]

Here are some pics of what the po gave me.

 

[coldwater]

Here are some pics of what the po gave me.

 

[irish33in]

 

[coldwater]

 

[irish33in]

Any way having problems getting pics on here, sorry the kit is just 4 perches two of them are 2.00 and two are 2.50 inch wide, custom steel break lines and a drop pitman arm. If I just chuck this lift kit and get 2 1/2 inches of lift SUA will that be enough for 33's? I can get a rebuilt AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l around 1500.oo is this the way to go or take my AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l and go machine shop? Thanks

 

[coldwater]

Any way having problems getting pics on here, sorry the kit is just 4 perches two of them are 2.00 and two are 2.50 inch wide, custom steel break lines and a drop pitman arm. If I just chuck this lift kit and get 2 1/2 inches of lift SUA will that be enough for 33's? I can get a rebuilt AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l around 1500.oo is this the way to go or take my AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l and go machine shop? Thanks

Ahhh.. You do NOT have a SOA kit there my friend. You have some new spring perches (you can buy them for about $6 ea) and some extended brake lines. (about $70) and a drop pitman arm. If you insist on running 33's you will need more than 2 1/2" of lift to do it and have the proper wheel travel. Either way, you are going to have to buy lift springs to do it.

 

[Old Dog]

Ahhh.. You do NOT have a SOA kit there my friend. You have some new spring perches (you can buy them for about $6 ea) and some extended brake lines. (about $70) and a drop pitman arm. If you insist on running 33's you will need more than 2 1/2" of lift to do it and have the proper wheel travel. Either way, you are going to have to buy lift springs to do it.

Even tho you said "light mud" I would still go with a 4" lift for tire clearence.
If you don't care about the wheel wells you can go 2 1/2' lift and tj flairs, if you trim some metal.

 

[irish33in]

thanks for the info, I didn't think there was much there for a lift kit. Well I would like to go 4 inch lift anyway I have brand new 33's waiting to go on so any suggestions on a 4 inch lift? Would the Dana 20 - 30 axles hang in there? do I need a gear change?

 

[coldwater]

thanks for the info, I didn't think there was much there for a lift kit. Well I would like to go 4 inch lift anyway I have brand new 33's waiting to go on so any suggestions on a 4 inch lift? Would the Dana 20 - 30 axles hang in there? do I need a gear change?

Depends on your current gear ratio. As far as lift, go for a good uality soft ride spring kit. If you get the kit it will come with the proper shocks springs U bolts. Skyjacker, Rubicon, Black dime etc are all good names, and you have the brake lines and pitman arm already.

 

[irish33in]

thanks for the info, I get a few weeks off of college here shortly. I should be making a few changes to my, new to me cj. Thanks for school n a new B.