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Build Thread StormRider's 77 CJ7 Golden Eagle Restoration.....

Build Thread StormRider's 77 CJ7 Golden Eagle Restoration.....
Stormrider

Stormrider

Jeeper
Posts
176
Thanks
0
Location
Charlotte, NC
Vehicle(s)
1977 CJ7
304 V8, 4spd,
I just bought this 77 Golden Eagle and I am planning on restoring it real soon so I figured I'd go ahead and start my build thread.

It has a AMC 304 V8, T-4 , Dana 20 , Dana 30 . The nice thing about it is that it has a fiberglass tub, hood, and fenders so not to much rust to worry about. The frame is solid....it just has surface rust.

I am on a budget so I will be doing most of the work myself. I do have a good mechanic friend that will help out and let me use the lift at his shop and not charge me and arm and a leg. I also have a buddy that's a retired bodyman that is going to do the paint job for me cheap.

The first thing that I am going to do is pressure wash the HELL out of it! It has mud and dirt everywhere. I plan on cleaning up the motor, painting it, and replacing whatever is needed. I will also redo the whole interior, since it doesn't have much.....at least nothing that I can reuse. I also plan on replacing the lift kit since the one on it now is pretty worn out. Last thing would probably be getting it painted. Not sure if I am sticking with the same white/black combo or going with another color. With whatever color, I am going to keep the Golden Eagle theme though so I guess there goes $300 bucks at least for those decals.

Here are some pictures of it for now. I will post more as I start on it. I welcome all comments or suggestions since I am kind of new at this restoring thing. Wish me luck..... :chug:

StormRider ....AkA.... Louie.

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Nice find there Louie! I've never found a 77 Jeep in that kinda shape, most of mine come home in boxes on a trailer. I'd probably pick up a couple of seats a drive it for a while. Again nice find and keep us posted.

OG
 
oldguy said:
Nice find there Louie! I've never found a 77 Jeep in that kinda shape, most of mine come home in boxes on a trailer. I'd probably pick up a couple of seats a drive it for a while. Again nice find and keep us posted.

OG
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Thanks OG! I've been looking for awhile all over NC and SC and I guess the waiting paid off. I priced just the fiberglass parts and it's around 5k. So I guess I got a great deal considering that I paid $3300 for a CJ that runs. I did think about just putting in seats and driving it, but since my kids will be in it alot this summer and I am going to drive it 4 hours to Carolina Beach at least a few times this summer, I decided to go ahead a make it look and runs as good as possible. It will be my daily driver for at least 6 months out of the years and I won't be doing any offroading....just cruising on the sandy beach. :)
 
Well, yesterday after I pulled the Jeep into the shop to check out the compression I couldn't get to start. Checked it out and it wasn't getting spark to the wires but the coil was getting spark. I pulled out the dizzy and found that the gear on it was beat up pretty bad. Anyways, I guess I'll go ahead and order an HEI distributor to put in it. Was going to replace it anyways. I may have some questions for you guys when the time comes.
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I also looked inside and noticed that there was water in the oil so I guess it's got a bad head gasket. Either way, I was going to go through that motor and clean it and paint it. I will pull the heads and send them off to get cleaned up and inspected.

I am not too crazy about the 2 barrel carburetor that is on it right now. It seems like the PO had it locked on wide open therefore making not run right on cold start. I am not sure if I want to spend the money on putting on an intake manifold and 4 barrel right now though. What do you guys think?
 
From what little bit of the carb you can see under the air cleaner, I don't think that's the OEM carb. AMC used a Motorcraft 2100, that looks like a Holley 2300 series.

Holley 2300
images


Motorcraft 2100
interchange20.gif


They're an aweful lot alike, but they're also a lot different. The first thing I noticed was the fuel bowl, it's the dead giveaway that it's a Holley carb.

You don't have to buy a whole new manifold to put on a 4 barrell carb, just get an adapter. Summit or Jegs have the best variety.

514T%2BNYN%2BQL._SL500_AA300_.jpg



I remember reading somewhere about the teeth on the dizzy gears getting eaten up by the cam, but I don't remember what the cause was or what the solution was. Something about bronze gears for the dizzy. And because I have a L6, not a V8, I didn't pay it a lot of attention, hopefully someone will kick in the answer, becuase I don't remember.
 
Thanks for the info on the carb Elwood. Yeah mine is definately a Holley 2300. I will look into the adapter for the carb. I don't have to replace it not but it's something to think about in the near future. About the gear on the dizzy, I guess if I put the new dizzy in and the gear get tore up again then I will look into it.
 
Stormrider said:
Well, yesterday after I pulled the Jeep into the shop to check out the compression I couldn't get to start. Checked it out and it wasn't getting spark to the wires but the coil was getting spark. I pulled out the dizzy and found that the gear on it was beat up pretty bad. Anyways, I guess I'll go ahead and order an HEI distributor to put in it. Was going to replace it anyways. I may have some questions for you guys when the time comes.
View attachment 4548View attachment 4549

I also looked inside and noticed that there was water in the oil so I guess it's got a bad head gasket. Either way, I was going to go through that motor and clean it and paint it. I will pull the heads and send them off to get cleaned up and inspected.

I am not too crazy about the 2 barrel carburetor that is on it right now. It seems like the PO had it locked on wide open therefore making not run right on cold start. I am not sure if I want to spend the money on putting on an intake manifold and 4 barrel right now though. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
Be care full with replacement distributors for the V8. The gears can cause all kinds of problems.

Here is some great reading on this common problem. -->> About distributor gear wear (UPDATED!!)

And a good matched set of gears. -->> Matched Set of Gears
 
CJ said:
Be care full with replacement distributors for the V8. The gears can cause all kinds of problems.

Here is some great reading on this common problem. -->> About distributor gear wear (UPDATED!!)

And a good matched set of gears. -->> Matched Set of Gears
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info CJ! So do you think that I would be ok as long as I replace the cam gear that is in it right now and the new distributor gear with the gear set that you posted? As far as everything else internal, I guess it's all stock.

I am sure that I am not the first one to say this but it looks like I am going to exceed my original budget BIG TIME! :eek:
 
Cheepjeep85 said:
good lookin project you got there, but i hate to be the bearer of bad news, the metal and shavings from that gear had to go somewhere, and i'll bet the bearings in that motor show where they went.
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Thanks. I will tear the motor down and check it good. It actually ran pretty good the day before I pulled it into the shop. I am thinking that the dizzy gear wear is recent and hopefully it won't be so bad. I'll keep my fingers crossed.....
 
Stormrider said:
Thanks. I will tear the motor down and check it good. It actually ran pretty good the day before I pulled it into the shop. I am thinking that the dizzy gear wear is recent and hopefully it won't be so bad. I'll keep my fingers crossed.....
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i dont know about tearing the whole motor down just yet, but dropping the oil pan, and pulling a main cap wouldn't hurt. then again you might not ever have problems out of it.
 
Stormrider said:
I am sure that I am not the first one to say this but it looks like I am going to exceed my original budget BIG TIME! :eek:
Click to expand...


Welcome to the wonderful world of owning a CJ!
JEEP= Just Empty Every Pocket :chug:
 
elwood blues said:
Welcome to the wonderful world of owning a CJ!
JEEP= Just Empty Every Pocket :chug:
Click to expand...

Hey elwood or anyone else that knows alot about carburetors, I have a few questions to ask. So it looks like I have a Holley 2300 with what used to be a manual choke. Can you guys look at the picture and tell me what it's missing or what has been modified? Because if it's a manual choke, shouldn't I have some kind of choke cable coming from inside of the cab to the carb? The choke should be the flap on the top right? How come it is hooked up to that little rod which locks it in wide open all the time? Wouldn't that make it hard to run on cold starts? I just want it to run good hot or cold. I would add an electric choke if I need to.

Sorry....don't know too much about carburetors...:confused:
I am talking about the little rod in the first 2 pictures. The 3rd pic is of the accelerator and cable on the other side.
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It looks like I am going to have to replace more parts then I thought but what else is new with a restoration right? I am going to replace the clutch since it's worn and I have it out right now. Also going to replace the flywheel because the teeth on it are worn pretty bad. Too bad mine is a one piece and I can't just replace the gear ring. Anyone know where I can buy a decent one at a decent price? I am going to try and use the pressure washer and blast everything good on Monday.
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nice work there...got more done then i did this weekend...i enjoyed the weather 2 much i think :chug:...are you doing all this at your house?
 
polish85 said:
nice work there...got more done then i did this weekend...i enjoyed the weather 2 much i think :chug:...are you doing all this at your house?
Click to expand...

Thanks, I am trying to kick it in high gear. Just thinking about the nice weather that is coming makes me want to hurry up and finish it so I can enjoy the fun and sun. Yes I am doing all the engine and suspension stuff at my buddy's shop since he has a lift and more resource than I do at my house.

Ok, well the crank and cam bearing are bad. Most likely from the metal shavings from the distributor gear. Sending the heads and crankshalf out tomorrow to get them resurfaced and turned. Looks like we are going to rebuild it. I did manage to pressure wash mud and oil off of the engine, tranny, engine bay, and underneath of the Jeep today. Sorry didn't have time to take pics. Will take some tomorrow before I paint and undercoat.
 
Well lately I've been able to do some more work on the motor. I cleaned up everything and painted most of the stuff that is going back. The block and heads are still at the shop getting checked out and cleaned up. I will paint them too once they get back. I have decided to just used the stock intake and carb since the PO since rebuilt it. I however will convert the choke to electric. I did also get a chance to clean up the firewall and spray some undercoating on it.

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