What's the best CJ7?

[Billofthenorth]

I don't mean to start an argument but which year CJ7 would you consider the best as far as ease of maintenance or quality goes.

Also is there any advantage to the four cylinder engine as opposed to the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l 6 cyl, other than fuel economy?

 

[mtnwhlr]

http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f49/best-cj-17892/
This is what everybody thinks.

 

[IOPort51]

owning a CJ is not an intelligent choice, You don't buy one because it is easy to work on or fuel efficient or smooth riding, like a Cadillac or handles like a sports car. I own one because, well, because not just anybody can.

the best one is the one you are proud to own, the one you feel the love for and the one that is a reflection of you.

 

[Old Dog]

The best one is the one you are proud to own, the one you feel the love for and the one that is a reflection of you.

^^No matter which one you buy, if you own it for awhile it will turn into this.^

 

[tjmons]

owning a CJ is not an intelligent choice, You don't buy one because it is easy to work on or fuel efficient or smooth riding, like a Cadillac or handles like a sports car. I own one because, well, because not just anybody can.

the best one is the one you are proud to own, the one you feel the love for and the one that is a reflection of you.

Outstanding comment . Any CJ is the best.

 

[Billofthenorth]

Lol, pretty much the responses I expected.

I guess it really doesn't matter anyhow, it's not like there are millions of them around, once I find one with the features on it I want, in the condition and at the price I want I'll get it no matter what.

 

[wm69]

I'm partial to an 86 IF it has a Dana 44 rear. To me, get a '7 or a Scrambler, Laredo package, A/C, hardtop with paddle style handles, T-176 Transmission with 3.31 gears, 20 gal poly tank. You get a better roll bar, better doors, widetracs.

Of course then you would need to eventually nutter it to get rid off all the comptuterized .

The next best option would be a 79-90 with V8, T-18 , Dana 20 , 3.54's. Still get AC with Hardtop. You'd have the earlier style tub/rollbar/doors but you also have no emissions/ computerized , optional V8 and T-18 , and better gears. Narrow trac but you'd have stronger 6 bolt hubs.

Depending on what you want it for, I'd say the 86 would be perfect for crusing/ collection/ daily drivable comfort and the 79 for beating in the mud/ hunting/ purely off road vehicle.

Get one of each. Problem solved.

 

[Petescj]

Im gonna tweak on these two ideas just a little bit. First thing is wm69 had a typo with the years of the second Cj. 77-79 had the wide ratio T-18 . After alot of consideration the V-8 along with the T-18 pushes this Cj to the top. The T-18 acts like a T-150 3 speed when your on road. My T-150 behind a 360 in my 78 CJ5 would pull all day long at 70 mph with 4.10s and 33 in tires.

wm69s 1st choice is then my second but only by a slim margin. I want the exact same package he mentions on both Cjs as well. Ive touted the T-176 on this board for quite awhile. Its a good Transmission , but the T-18 is great. Im not going to complain about the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l either. Great reliable 6 cylinder. I wont say the AMC 304 is better than it cause I dont believe that to be true. I take the V-8 model for the ease of swapping in a 360. The gearing in these is the real problem. The 3.31s arent that great and many came with the woeful 2.72.

Want to avoid the Nutter bypass and only have a little emissions to deal with? An 82 Scrambler will be the next choice with the options above. You lose the Dana 44 then and still encounter the same gearing issue.

So I guess what this all means is grab yourself a Cj and start the wrenches turning. Personalizing them to what you want is half the fun.

I'm partial to an 86 IF it has a Dana 44 rear. To me, get a '7 or a Scrambler, Laredo package, A/C, hardtop with paddle style handles, T-176 Transmission with 3.31 gears, 20 gal poly tank. You get a better roll bar, better doors, widetracs.

Of course then you would need to eventually nutter it to get rid off all the comptuterized .

The next best option would be a 79-90 with V8, T-18 , Dana 20 , 3.54's. Still get AC with Hardtop. You'd have the earlier style tub/rollbar/doors but you also have no emissions/ computerized , optional V8 and T-18 , and better gears. Narrow trac but you'd have stronger 6 bolt hubs.

Depending on what you want it for, I'd say the 86 would be perfect for crusing/ collection/ daily drivable comfort and the 79 for beating in the mud/ hunting/ purely off road vehicle.

Get one of each. Problem solved.

 

[Billofthenorth]

Thanks for the answers. Guess I should have been a bit clearer, I was referring to less electronics, mechanical stuff I understand, electronics is black magic to me.

As to what I'll be using it for....hmmm, well that's not an easy question, we don't have a lot of rock climbing here, woods, sand and some mudholes but basically it will be a general purpose 4x4 summer weekend get into the woods toy but also my go-to-at-the-end-of-the-world-omegaman-survival-vehicle. Something I can count on to get me and the dogs and some stuff where I need to go in a disaster or emergency and something I can fix myself even if parts aren't readily available. Also my driveway is full so it will be in the backyard under a tarp or small shed awaiting the call to duty so a smaller vehicle works for that.

Originally I had in mind a CJ2 or 3 but...I'm a big guy, those are old vehicles, harder to come by or find parts for, though probably easier to work on and I had an '83 CJ7 for many years (may it rest in peace) and I am more familiar with them. Some fuel economy is also desirable and a V-8 in a Jeep just isn't for me for various reasons including MPG.