Misc. Should I modify my suspension and wheels/tires, or sell and buy a CJ7 already done.

[moparharn]

I have an original 1986 CJ7 with 14,000 miles,4 speed with bigger Dana Rear and wide track. I love the medium blue color and it operates well. The Jeep is completely original except for tires, battery, and spark plugs. I have the hard top and hard doors. I want to lift it some with OME and YJ spring conversion. Nice wheels and tires and some new shocks. My question is this- should I leave it alone, sell it, and buy a modified CJ7 , or does it make sense to make this one my own and do it the way I want to? Sometimes modifying an original vehicle is spending good money after bad. Any thoughts? Thank you!

 

[CJ]

More pics, its just one long shot image...
That is one great looking CJ!

 

[Belizean]

View attachment 102873

Those look like river pebbles to me

 

[Manic Mechanic]

Know your limits

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[Belizean]

Know your limits

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A man gots to know his limitations, and that’s beyond me and my jeeps limits.

 

[Manic Mechanic]

A man gots to know his limitations, and that’s beyond me and my jeeps limits.

Mine as well. I got up there but I wasn't playing in them

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[KRUPP]

Moparharn,

I see you’re in Michigan. If that ‘86 is a MI vehicle and rust-free, you’d be very lucky. Lived there for a few years in the late 90s right after getting married.

Anyway, don’t worry too much about the “value” with keeping your CJ original. I believe if you modify a clean, low mileage CJ, you won’t be losing any value - Especially because you’re making it how you want it and enjoying the process. Can’t really put a price on that.

I currently have a really clean ‘86 myself and I’ve replaced a lot of the original drivetrain.
Replacing the T-5 now with a Ford NP435.

Have fun with it and build it into what you want.

 

[moparharn]

My 86 is the mid year I guess. Dana 30 front and 44 rear with 300 transfer. I have the four speed Transmission though. Hard top and doors. No other options. I have some rust in the drivers floor and a spot on passenger area just behind the roll bar near the floor. Otherwise pretty clean Jeep. It never left its hunting club in Northern Michigan.

 

[Belizean]

You might want to unbolt the roll bar and see what is under that, where it bolts to the jeep. I bought mine new 40 years ago. Body and frame are in great shape. I have removed mine 3 different times. It’s bare metal from factory under there. They used a foam sealant or whatever it was, and it attracts water, and that creates rust. One of 2 places on my Jeep where I have a little rust.

 

[KRUPP]

Second what Belizean said. Where the front, vertical, roll bar tubes mount to the floor - under those plates it can get rusty on the floor. The only cancer on my CJ was there.

Your CJ comes from a great place. I hunted a few times North of Clare, MI, when I lived there. Really nice area, for sure. I’m guessing your club was up there, somewhere. Shot my first Woodcock up there. Fast little buggers in the timber.

 

[jzak]

You might as well be asking, if you should put spinners on a 1968 Ferrari Daytona. Leave it like it is, and buy a rock crawler.

 

[moparharn]

I ordered my suspension ten weeks ago and still do not have it. I am about ready to cancel it and keep the Jeep original. I paid in full when I ordered it too. Not sure what to do at this point.

 

[CJ]

I ordered my suspension ten weeks ago and still do not have it. I am about ready to cancel it and keep the Jeep original. I paid in full when I ordered it too. Not sure what to do at this point.

What vendor and what suspension?

 

[CJC]

If I was going to do it over I would get Alcan Custom Springs from Colorado. US made, no mods, great customer service built to your specifications

 

[Manic Mechanic]

Who did you get? And what?

 

[moparharn]

Well I cancelled my order today. Eleven weeks is long enough for Rocky Road to have my $1739 and not deliver my parts. I feel for them, sincerely, but I kept hearing the same story. I called yesterday to cancel and let them have a day to get back to me with a definite date. I did not receive a call by around 1pm and just decided to cancel. I love driving around in my Jeep, but I am the orthopedic surgery poster child with numerous new joints and back surgeries. I think I will probably end up selling my Jeep and buying one completely done up. I know my CJ is pretty rare and I hope to find a Jeep that is kinder to my shoulders and back. I suppose I could just look for brand new black top and drive in circles. Yeah. I am not dogging Rocky Road, they seem like good people (a little defensive though). If they had not taken the full amount on day one I might not be so pissed, but three months to hold my $1739 seems a little onerous to me.

 

[Belizean]

I don’t blame you at all for getting your money back. I have enough back problems myself. Since you don’t have a lot of attachment to that Jeep you might want to find a more modern Jeep for the smoother ride. Just saying.

 

[WHATROAD]

To sell, or not sell, I have not heard yet what you intend to do as a jeep owner. Are you going to drive it to work every day? How often do you plan on being off road? Does the type of off road use require a lifted suspension? Are you looking to have it ready for your kind of use soon. Most jeep owners never stop looking to upgrade, no matter what they started with. Are you ready to spend more than buying a new one should cost, just to get it how "You want it." Do you want something ready now to belong to one group, or are you in it for the long haul in a different group? What do you want to do with your jeep

 

[Manic Mechanic]

I remember my kit taking some time to get. Part of it is old man emu is an Australian company and our Jeeps aren't as popular as they once we're. I got lucky with parts I had to wait but I feel like it was only 6-10 weeks

 

[WHATROAD]

The reason I ask, is because, if it's only going to be a show queen. Don't do anything but comfort measures. New seats, new shocks, get use to the ride. If you are going to stay in CJ7 , remember that the father from the ground the body gets, the more things have to be change. Think money. If your not leaving the road, why lift it. New tires and wheels. Fix the rust. That could be a big one. And enjoy.