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Members CJs Nice CJ

It didn't always look like that picture above. About 7 years ago I took ownership it looked like this:

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I flat towed it home and got to work. The body, paint and stickers survived all these years. Everything else is who-knows-what.

It's a Colorado Jeep. Somewhere between 1983 and 199x it made it's way to California and was sold to a friend at work. He used it and towed it all over CA. Around 2000 it was no-op'd (CA speak for still in the "system" but not registered for roadway use- good for not paying our outrageous registration fees) and put into use on a ranch for hunting. It would get a battery and a "tune up" each season and get parked under a carport the rest of the time.
 
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I was also offered a 2-fer. This one was the jeep of his friend, also for sale cheap. I did not buy it but it plays a role in this story. It's a '96 Laredo .

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Since it hadn't been started this season, I figured I'd rebuild the carb and get an assessment on it's needs.

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After it proved to be a good runner I checked out the emissions equipment. I'm generally a "smog exempt" or modern car kinda guy, I didn't know how much of this 10 miles of vacuum line needed to work. Checking on parts online found a lot of "as is" promises for the servos, switches and valves.

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I opted for the Howell TBI. Figured it would be cheaper and easier in the long run. How cow is that an understatement. This this has been amazingly reliable, starting every time and running well even when a sensor went bad.

Turns this:
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Into this:

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I took this off the car to never return:
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With a set of new tires, fluids and some hand polishing it became this:

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I'll add more details later. There's a lot more work to come.
 
The old gauges... aren't they a hoot?

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The new gauges aren't any better. Shame...

The old rock solid CJ lift kit was traded in for a Old Man Emu YJ conversion from Rocky-Road Outfitters.

Never seen a tank like this, but it's 23 gallons and made out of some heavy gauge steel. The pick-up tube didn't reach the bottom, and with the new TBI installed, it was giving me fits when the fuel was getting low. Every time the gas sloshed in a corner the car would buck from the loss of fuel pressure.

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It wasn't too clean in there either.

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Trading it for a 20 gallon poly tank was simple enough, and it solved most of the lower fuel bucking. For a while I had a modified pick up tube with in-tank pump, but I went back to a standard setup to try to get the fuel gauge working. (It stopped again- don't know if it's the float or gauge.)

Meanwhile:

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(I'm not even going to discuss how these two relics climbed a rock garden that some guys in their 37" equipped Tacomas couldn't make.) Narrow track for the win.
 
"Lost 80's weekend" has become a thing. And sometimes we let in newer or older cars as well. And often times it's a lot longer than a weekend.

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And that 86 Laredo ? My friend picked it up for a song. Straightened the frame. Had the front clip painted and stickered it. Put an OME kit on it. TBI too. Seats, hard top, doors. He can't help himself with cars. And it's back on the road as well. He does good work if you want an almost factory fresh car. His VW's are something to behold.

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So now I mostly just maintain it and add upgrades here and there. I think some digital gauges are in the future. And definitely some new seats. I should probably replace the rear main seal at some point.

I'll see you on the road!

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That metal tank looks just like a 22 gallon tank I bought close to 33 - 35 years ago. I had a 15 gallon tank and wanted more range, but it came at the cost of dragging it over mud and rocks. I eventually went back to a 15 gallon Holley tank and in tank pump. Nice Jeeps and pictures ! Great videos also.
 
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