Question on 1983 CJ7s for a newbie

[ktoptimize]

1983 CJ7 4cyl questions and more

Jeepless Newbie here to ask some questions if I may. Looking at my a CJ7 soon. First Jeep I will be looking at since I sold my 1986 Grand Wagoneer long ago. It states in the AD it is a 4cyl, 4speed. From what information I have gathered it seems the engine is not an AMC 4cyl but infact a "Iron Duke" 4cyl which looks to be a Pontiac/GM engine. So my questions are what do I need to look out for when checking out this 1983 CJ7 and how good or bad was this "Iron Duke" 4cyl engine? I appreciate all replies and I am glad I found this site and signed up.



(Edit: Changed title to sound a little more specific)

 

[Hedgehog]

The Iron Duke is a very decent engine. Mine got me every where I needed to go. Not the most powerful engine in the world, but reliable.

 

[HackFabrication]

Re: 1983 CJ7 4cyl questions and more

...how good or bad was this "Iron Duke" 4cyl engine?

Good enough it was used in racing applications. A bit strangled in the CJ unfortunately, but easily modified. Geared correctly, appropriate tires, and it'll be fine.

Until you want more....

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Good engines-But gutless.
Go with a 6cyl or 8cyl if you can.
LG

 

[ktoptimize]

Thank you all for your input. I think I am going to go ahead and check it out tomorrow.

 

[Belizean]

I've heard good things about the Duke but have no first had experienced. I do have the AMC 4 cylinder AMC 150 and It has been a very good engine to me with me putting over 236,000 miles and still going strong. With that said I know it won't last forever so I found a 6-AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l that I'm slowly rebuilding for eventually installing. I drove mine on the interstate yesterday and I even passed the slow pokes, but not the race cars

 

[HackFabrication]

Thank you all for your input. I think I am going to go ahead and check it out tomorrow.

If it's a stock, unmolested 83 CJ7 :

Behind the 4 cylinder, it would have one of three choices for transmissions: T-4 (4spd), T-5 (5spd-Overdrive ), or and hopefully, (but doubtful behind a 4 banger) the T-176 (4spd).

The T-4 /T-5 transmissions are light duty manuals, the gear shift lever is more rearward and is shaped (sort of) like an 'S'. The T-176 is a medium duty Transmission has the gear shift lever more forward, and is straight. IMHO, it is the best Street/Mild Trail manual Transmission that AMC put in the CJ.

Transfer Case would be the Dana 300 .

Axles would be Wide Tracks: Front axle is the Dana 30 , Rear the AMC20 . The front would have basic Warn 5 bolt locking hubs. Not certain what the most common gearing would be on a 4 cyl CJ, so if you can locate the ID code that stamped into the rear axle housing (left of the diff cover by the axle tube), it can be de-coded. The front would have a tag with the actual ratio stamped on it (plus build date), but sometimes they are un-readable or missing. An H or HH (trac-lok) stamped on the rear would indicate a 3.73 ratio. A C or CC (trac-lok) would indicate a 4.10 ratio. Obviously, with just 4 cyl power, you'd want a high numeric axle ratio: 3.73 or 4.10. Especially if AMC put the T-5 behind the 4 cyl. In that case I'd definitely want the 4.10 ratio, and you'd still find yourself downshifting out of Overdrive a lot.

Brakes are disc front/drum rear. Either manual or power assist.

That should get you started.

 

[ktoptimize]

Just a quick update I got the CJ7 Jeep I was talkin about.

 

[Belizean]

I'm probably wrong but I thought they stopped the Duke in 82 and started the AMC I4 in 83 but maybe they still had some in production still. AMC had lots of mix and match parts. Good luck and have fun driving it!