Rebuild CJ or buy JKU

[sponge]

Hi all,

I hope I know a few of you? I am a long time Jeep Guy coming out of retirement

I was a mod on CJOFFROAD.com and a member of GLJT in Chicago.

Why did I park the Jeep? Well...I got burnt out and wanted to try something new. I bought a STI Special Edition and have been a track rat...and LOVING it.

But the Jeep bug bit me again...

After being in Denver last week and seeing what the JKU can be and coming home to beautiful weather I began to miss my Jeep

I started researching a JKU Rubi immediately, my wife loves the idea of getting a Jeep again...then today she suggested keeping my STI and rebuilding my CJ

SO I am on a new mission to figure out what it'll cost to get my CJ going and make a decision from there

Here is my slow toy


and my fast toy

 

[vintagetrks]

I'd vote for rebuilding the CJ.

 

[mtnwhlr]

you must of kept it for a reason. And by the way :ww:

 

[coldair]

Rebuild your cj keep that old iron alive.

 

[Incommando]

What do you realistically want out of your jeep? The JKU Rubi is capapble out of the box while being light years ahead in terms of drive-ability and creature comforts. If you want a pure off-road toy or a more trail_oriented vehicle the CJ seems the way to go especially as it seems modded already but I don't know the details on your '7. I know when I tore me '7 apart I found it was in much worse condition than it initially appeared.

 

[sponge]

Thanks everyone and I agree if it all comes back realistic in cost I would rather keep the CJ - as mtnwhlr put it I have kept it for a reason.

What do you realistically want out of your jeep? The JKU Rubi is capapble out of the box while being light years ahead in terms of drive-ability and creature comforts. If you want a pure off-road toy or a more trail_oriented vehicle the CJ seems the way to go especially as it seems modded already but I don't know the details on your '7. I know when I tore me '7 apart I found it was in much worse condition than it initially appeared.

Originally for the JKU was to replace my STI as an everyday car, I take the train 9/10 days...most miles are to O'Hare and back. I have put 14K miles on my STI since I took delivery in Feb of 2010

If I redo the CJ - I would make it more family and road friendly. As it sits it is currently trail only rig. Drive it on nice days to work, take the kids on trail rides and camping trips, etc.

It is fuel injected (4.0 head/EFI) and runs like a top - but has sat for 3 years so it will need gone thru.

Other work to do will be remove the lockers, re-gear it, eliminate any leaks that have developed, put in a full family cage (have a YJ cage already), update all the interior, do some needed cosmetic updates due to trail damage - likely a new tub, completely redo steering (have all those parts), maybe a new suspension my Superlift is pretty rough riding, update all new lines and go thru all joints, and make sure the tires are okay. They are like new and it has been on axle stands but I have no idea if they are deteriorated/aged in other ways?

 

[PaRenegade]

I can't believe this is even a question. Rebuild the Jeep. Keep the legend alive (that was the reason btw). You can buy a car anytime.

 

[Petescj]

First of all :ww: and glad you found us.

If you havent gotten rid of that Cj yet odds are good you have an emotional attachment to it. Do you think you could have the same attachment to a Jk?

Im biased obviously but I like the idea of rebuilding the Cj and having your speed fix as well.

 

[IOPort51]

If you didn't already know the answer to the question you would not be here.

Truth: you have time for one or the other, if you try to do both you won't have either one.

choose.

:ww:from the Republic of Texas.

 

[sponge]

Thanks guys for the fun jabs and accurate insight...you have certainly helped me remember why I prefer the CJ/classics community vs. new cars. More about the build and fun vs. what you can afford to buy and bolt on.

I am working thru the cost of parts now...may run down my Dads this weekend to see if I can the the old girl running. My biggest obstacle is time..3 little kids and a patience but don't want to push it wife.

Cheers!

 

[mtnwhlr]

Just what ever you do if it has been setting for a long time do not run old gas thru it. I did it with mine and messed up the head and bent 5 push rods and had to replace the fuel pump and carb. Just an FYI I would hate to see you have the same problems.

 

[IOPort51]

as painful and non-fun as it is , the best thing is drop the tank drain and hose it out and replace the fuel strainer, check the sending unit while you are in there. blow out the fuel lines change the filter and fill the carb with B-12 chemtool/carb cleaner.

But you know all this. Don't you??

Just what ever you do if it has been setting for a long time do not run old gas thru it. I did it with mine and messed up the head and bent 5 push rods and had to replace the fuel pump and carb. Just an FYI I would hate to see you have the same problems.

 

[sponge]

Yup

When I parked it I actually dropped the tank and bled the fuel line out...more so it would be easier for my dad to move it he had to with the tractor bucket

Figured I would pull the plugs and valve cover drip a bit of oil in and turn it over by hand a few times to get it lubed up a bit before trying to fire it up.

Then check all other fluid levels and quality...

Any other tips I am not thinking of guys?

 

[Incommando]

Removing the plugs and turning it over by hand is a great idea. If there is resistance put someATF or Marvel Mystery Oil through the plug holes and let it sit for a day or two bwfore trying it again.

 

[Old Dog]

Hey there Sponge.
You know I love my cj but for a family wheeler that JKU would be real nice.
I've rode in a couple and the trails are smoother than the black-top is in a cj. My wife was really trying to talk me into one just because of the ride.
They are very capable as well.

So tell us is cj-offraod dead forever? I was over there for about a year before they went off line. It was a great site. I still see some of the guys on different other sites.

 

[sponge]

Hey Old Dog - you understand where I am at...I think I can get themCJTo a very good and fun point. It won't be instant like a JKU but worth it I think? Need to get the labor figured out before I decide though.

as for CJ Offroad I am not sure...I was one of the three last mods. The forum admin wasn't really involved at all. So I am sure when I left and Jeepskate got sick and moved the the admin hung it up.

I will try and dig up their email's to find out if the data is alive because it was a great site and a wealth of info. Particuarly on the 4.0 swap that I was responsible for a few years.

 

[Sasquach]

Why are you comparing an Unlimited with a CJ7 ? Almost 2 door vs. 4 door.
Myself I would not want to take $35K plus lot's of aftermarket $'s and go beat it up on the trail but that's just me.
But on the other hand maybe you don't want to spend all your time in the garage building then fixing then modifying then fixing a CJ, some enjoy this and others don't.
My 2 cents.

 

[sponge]

But on the other hand maybe you don't want to spend all your time in the garage building then fixing then modifying then fixing a CJ, some enjoy this and others don't.
My 2 cents.

You hit the nail on the head - I absolutely love wrenching and garage time - one of my favorite things to do. However 3 little ones, a wife, and a very demanding job with travel my spare time is little. It's all about my priorities right now...

When I do have spare time I want to be enjoying the Jeep my family vs. spending all summer with them watching me work on it.

I want to take them camping and trail rides this summer and that is what drove me to a new one...JKU would be to replace my daily and have a turn key toy like my current daily is but in a different way. Rebuilding the CJ would mean my Jeep would be an exclusive toy and my daily would remain what it is.

I have calculated everything I would want to do to get the Jeep back on its feet which isn't bad at all - it is going to boil down to labor cost of getting my CJ going. I plan to get it running myself which is probably a day project (hopefully less). But all the gearing, body, and cage work I will outsource.

I think I can make it a very nice rig again that is more family and road friendly for 1/3 - 1/2 of the cost of the JKU and keep my track toy/daily driver

It may just take a little more time than driving an AEV JKU off the lot

 

[Sasquach]

Factoring in the family and young ones that need to go camping I say dump the STI and go for the newer Jeep and you will be the hero! You can still keep the CJ for a project for later.

 

[Petescj]

Scrambler with 3 rows of seats and a full soft / hardtop.

You hit the nail on the head - I absolutely love wrenching and garage time - one of my favorite things to do. However 3 little ones, a wife, and a very demanding job with travel my spare time is little.