Newbie that will need help!!!

[mbunch36]

Hey Folks,

New guy here that wants to be involved but will need help. Just recently purchased a 1978 CJ7 . It has an inline 6 AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l with a 3 speed behind it. Hard top, no roll bar, no radio and base wheels. As the story goes, this Jeep spent most of its life as a forestry Jeep in Tellico Plains Tennessee, South of Gatlinburg, Tennessee at the foothills of the Smokey Mountains. The odometer reads just over 97 thousand. She runs great!!, drove it approx an hour and a half home. No oil leaks, but tranny can be hard to get into gear unless you let the engine rpms come down. Gonna need some advice on a restore. Body needs some panels replaced and rust addressed. Would also like to add some options to it.... radio, bigger wheels and tires, roll bar with bikini..etc. I look forward to talking with the fine folks on here about their projects.... oh pics coming as soon as I figure out how to get them on here.

thanks
Mark

 

[hole]

Welcome!
What are your end use plans for the old girl? Mostly street/dirt fire roads or more? How big of tire are you thinking? Depending on what gear ratio you have, the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l /3 speed coupled with bigger tires will start bogging down and have a harder time getting out of it's own way. Are you thinking about a frame off restore, or just replace and repaint as needed? Just give us some parameters, and we can help you spend time and money like nobody else

 

[gert]

welcome aboard from Texas I was in Gatlinburg last year for vacation awesome area. we would love to help you with anything we can and love pictures

 

[shum8]

Greetings from Va!! Hole pretty much nailed it - verify your gearing before tackling larger tires..... you should have narrow track axles, and IIRC decent gears were an option. Ya might get lucky. If you wind up with tall gears and tall tires, you’ll hafta get out and help push up hills.......

And so help me, if you even so much as TOUCH a can of spray paint, you will quadruple your refurb time LOL. Ask me how I know that, geezy Pete.

Also - I think AMC was transitioning the roll bar styles about that time - some were mounted to the top of the rear wheel wells with bolts along the side of the body as well..... the newer style mounted to the top of the wheel well at the rear and to the floor behind the front seats. If yours is set up for the newer styles you’ll have several options to pick from

Enjoy the ride!!


Sent via my universal translator

 

[mbunch36]

Welcome!
What are your end use plans for the old girl? Mostly street/dirt fire roads or more? How big of tire are you thinking? Depending on what gear ratio you have, the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l /3 speed coupled with bigger tires will start bogging down and have a harder time getting out of it's own way. Are you thinking about a frame off restore, or just replace and repaint as needed? Just give us some parameters, and we can help you spend time and money like nobody else

Thanks for your response,

plan on using her for mostly pavement....maybe a bit of gravel, Im not interested in mud bogging or anything like that, just cruising through the Great Smokey National Park (especially in the fall) and things like that Ill have to do some research on the gear ratio, it appears this CJ is a base model so I would assume it has the standard ratio whatever that would be.
replace and repaint as needed right now but not afraid to do a frame off if needed. I appreciate any advise

 

[mbunch36]

welcome aboard from Texas I was in Gatlinburg last year for vacation awesome area. we would love to help you with anything we can and love pictures

Thank you,

Gatlinburg is a cool place especially in the fall. Ill get some pics on here as soon as I figure that out

 

[mbunch36]

Greetings from Va!! Hole pretty much nailed it - verify your gearing before tackling larger tires..... you should have narrow track axles, and IIRC decent gears were an option. Ya might get lucky. If you wind up with tall gears and tall tires, you’ll hafta get out and help push up hills.......

And so help me, if you even so much as TOUCH a can of spray paint, you will quadruple your refurb time LOL. Ask me how I know that, geezy Pete.

Also - I think AMC was transitioning the roll bar styles about that time - some were mounted to the top of the rear wheel wells with bolts along the side of the body as well..... the newer style mounted to the top of the wheel well at the rear and to the floor behind the front seats. If yours is set up for the newer styles you’ll have several options to pick from

Enjoy the ride!!


Sent via my universal translator

Thanks for the help. not doing the rattle can thing for sure. How do I tell if mine is set up for style roll bar?


Thanks

 

[shum8]

Well, should be pretty easy - and I'm assuming it originally had a roll bar from the factory. I've never heard of a CJ7 not leaving the factory without one.

The older style roll bars used a mount that was basically a steel angle that rested on the wheel well, and if you have that setup you will have 4 holes in the side of the tub over the rear wheels.



This style had the main hoop sitting vertical



The newer style had the main hoop mount to the floor behind the seats, and a small pad resting on the rear of the wheel well. These main hoops were angled slightly to accommodate the new mounting location. Also, there will be no holes over the rear wheels.





Hope this help. Let us know what you find.


Sent from the kitchen table.....

 

[mbunch36]

There isn’t any holes in the sides of the tub or on the wheel wells indicating that there has been a roll bar on it at some point. I was able to find and purchase a bar that mounts on top of the wheels wells I’m hoping that it will fit under the hardtop with no issues. We will see

 

[shum8]

There isn’t any holes in the sides of the tub or on the wheel wells indicating that there has been a roll bar on it at some point. I was able to find and purchase a bar that mounts on top of the wheels wells I’m hoping that it will fit under the hardtop with no issues. We will see

If it’s a CJ roll bar it should fit fine.


Sent via my universal translator

 

[mbunch36]

If it’s a CJ roll bar it should fit fine.


Sent via my universal translator

Awesome thanks for the help!!! Ill keep everyone posted

thanks again!!!

 

[mbunch36]

Hey guys, ive found a set of 5 wheels that came off of a 79 Jeep Golden Eagle . I think these wheels were an upgrade from the base model wheels which I have, I know we have discussed bigger tires bogging this thing down especially up hills but id still like to make mine have a more aggressive stance to it. will these wheels work and what size tire can I put on them and not affect the drivability?

thanks

 

[shum8]

Hey guys, ive found a set of 5 wheels that came off of a 79 Jeep Golden Eagle . I think these wheels were an upgrade from the base model wheels which I have,

I believe they were exclusive to the Golden Eagles - sort of a coppery brown wagon wheel. Nice looking rims on the right color CJ.

I know we have discussed bigger tires bogging this thing down especially up hills but id still like to make mine have a more aggressive stance to it. will these wheels work and what size tire can I put on them and not affect the drivability?

thanks

Those wheels will do nicely if you like,the color..... and they'll wear 33's with no trouble. With factory suspension you can run 31's easy...... but you'll feel it with tall gears. Some run 33's without a lift, but I'd say you get some rubbing, and they will turn the Jeep into a slug with bad gears. My first two CJ's had 31-10.50's and while slow up hills, it didn't bother me too bad. I currently have 32's with a bit of a lift, but I'd prefer no lift. You could also use wheel spacers to widen your stance, but they increase stress on the spindles and bearings.... I would not use em.

 

[TnCJ]

Welcome aboard mbunch36. I'm a newbie here as well but this is my third CJ so I know a little bit about them.
There is a wealth of knowledge on this frum and everyone is always happy to help out.
I also see that there are a few East Tennesseans on here including myself.
I'm currently restoring my 1980 CJ5 and my first ride will be up to Tellico and looking forward to riding the Cherohala Skyway this Fall.
I worked with a Dbunch for many years from around Cleveland, you wouldn't happen to be related would ya?

 

[mbunch36]

Hey Guys I appreciate all of the advice. Im in the process of making this thing all one color. Right now is is burgandy, green, black and white. Question is, Can the front grille be taken out without taking the fenders off?

thank you for your help

 

[mbunch36]

Welcome aboard mbunch36. I'm a newbie here as well but this is my third CJ so I know a little bit about them.
There is a wealth of knowledge on this frum and everyone is always happy to help out.
I also see that there are a few East Tennesseans on here including myself.
I'm currently restoring my 1980 CJ5 and my first ride will be up to Tellico and looking forward to riding the Cherohala Skyway this Fall.
I worked with a Dbunch for many years from around Cleveland, you wouldn't happen to be related would ya?

Hello TnCJ, I very well may be related to Dbunch.. there isnt a bunch of bunches around lol I actually went and got my Jeep in Tellico where you are going to take your ride. Good to see another East Tennessee guy on here

 

[shum8]

Question is, Can the front grille be taken out without taking the fenders off?



thank you for your help

Yes

.



Sent via my universal translator

 

[shum8]

I’m sorry.... Just felt like being a smarta$$ there for a second. LOL. By the time you remove the radiator and headlight harness from the grille (which is the pain in the rear part), yer only looking at 6 or 8 bolts that hold the grille and fenders together. Oh, and the bolt the secures the grille to the frame. Once you get those bolts out, in theory the grille should lift straight up and out


Sent via my universal translator

 

[mbunch36]

I’m sorry.... Just felt like being a smartbehind there for a second. LOL. By the time you remove the radiator and headlight harness from the grille (which is the pain in the rear part), yer only looking at 6 or 8 bolts that hold the grille and fenders together. Oh, and the bolt the secures the grille to the frame. Once you get those bolts out, in theory the grille should lift straight up and out


Sent via my universal translator

Awesome!! Thank you for your input.

 

[TexasBlues]

If you don't post pix, we will assume that you actually bought a PRIUS!