Your Dream CJ Build

[cj7inthetwigs]

IMO if it looks like a jeep it's a jeep.
Mine is an AMC (all makes combined) for sure.

Amc
Makes
Combined
Well, Can't be any clearer than that! Nuff said

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[cj7inthetwigs]

You wanna explain the logic behind that? In the 25 years I have been wheeling from what I have seen the tougher the situation is for a CJ the better it looks. The Bronco is a fine vehicle BTW, so nothing against them. Everything has its limits.

I noticed the picture of the finest example of a Bronco.

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[Hedgehog]

I am a 5 string banjo player. No a good one, but I enjoy it very much. I'm also a big fan of Earl Scruggs. People love his 1934 Granada banjo and go to great lengths to own one Just like Earls. Over the years Earl has had 3 necks, the drum went from a skin drum to a plastic ones of various type, the tone ring has been modified, it's been refinished and the rim has seen some work. Basically the banjo went through many rebuilds, but is and will always be considered Earls 1934 Granada. So goes the old story. I've got an original '34 Granada, its had a new neck 3 times, the tone ring has been changed, the rim was changed, new tuners and tail piece, I love my new resonator. Nothing sounds as good as my original '34 Granada ..... but there actually is nothing left of the original banjo.....

So we take our Jeeps. Add wide and extremely tough axles out of something like a Ford truck. We change out the suspension for greater articulation, coil overs for example. We either get an after market frame or completely modify the one we have. Bigger brakes and brake systems, tougher transmissions, steering, seats, electrical components, cooling, bigger tires and the list goes on and on. Please don't get me wrong, I understand the desire to make things better with better parts and the very human need to try different things. This is not intended to run anybody down, no it's a bit of a celebration of ingenuity.

Occasionally I wonder why folks that want a bigger tougher vehicle, but still want a Jeep don’t start with a big tough vehicle that likely can be purchased for a fraction of the cost the very same parts would cost individually. Then convert it to a Jeep. I used the Bronco for an example because its shorter than the average pick up with all the big tough components that are so desirable. When I first moved to Tucson there were a couple very nicely done Camaro bodies sitting way up high on solid 4 wd frames, why can’t the same thing be done with a Jeep body. Therefore the idea, why change a Jeep into a Ford, why not change a Ford into a Jeep?

 

[jpeck71]

Therefore the idea, why change a Jeep into a Ford, why not change a Ford into a Jeep?

Nice explanation! I'm not sure I'm in complete agreement since we're in different situations but I understand where you're coming from.

 

[Torxhead]

I am a 5 string banjo player. No a good one, but I enjoy it very much. I'm also a big fan of Earl Scruggs. People love his 1934 Granada banjo and go to great lengths to own one Just like Earls. Over the years Earl has had 3 necks, the drum went from a skin drum to a plastic ones of various type, the tone ring has been modified, it's been refinished and the rim has seen some work. Basically the banjo went through many rebuilds, but is and will always be considered Earls 1934 Granada. So goes the old story. I've got an original '34 Granada, its had a new neck 3 times, the tone ring has been changed, the rim was changed, new tuners and tail piece, I love my new resonator. Nothing sounds as good as my original '34 Granada ..... but there actually is nothing left of the original banjo.....

Oh yeah, Foggy Mountian Breakdown!
Flatt & Scruggs Foggy Mountain Breakdown - YouTube
Turn up the volume!

 

[Hedgehog]

The great Earl Scruggs left a vaccuum in the banjo world that will never be replaced. Thats not saying that there aren't some great banjo players out there today, what I am saying is there was and will be only one Earl Scruggs.

 

[AussieCJ7]

I am pretty close now

Staring with a CJ7 . Mines an 83

Sj Cherokee Dana 44 front scout d44 rear. Both with air lockers and 4.56 gears
Stroked 4.0L (just have a standard 4.0L but wish it was stroked)
Dana 300 with jb low
Aw4
High mount winch
RE 4.5 lift
Cut Guards to fit 35's

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

The game today is to outline the "perfect" CJ build that is a street legal expedition vehicle/rock crawler.

You buy an old CJ-7 (~1984 / wide track) to build and your budget is the cost of a brand new Rubicon X (~$40,000). List all aftermarket upgrades you would do (brand/model) and preferably why that one over another.

The basic criteria are as follows:

- Price is no option but extra expense must be justifiable, so a 10% upgrade in quality for double the price is no good.

- It should still be street legal and have very minimal body modification.

- You don't have to post a whole build, just chime in with whatever parts you want to.

- Feel free to *politely* disagree with peoples' ideas if you think something else is better quality, or better for any other reason.

My build if I had 40k.

Tdk hybrid frame for a CJ8 (these are designed to run tj suspension)

Since I have a plethora of money I would have the cj axles professionally modified to mount to the tj suspension. I would stick with with stock w/t axles 3.73 gears. Preferably a rear 44 from an 86 if not, a 20 with one piece, Limited slip and, maybe ,trussed.

1.5 to 2.5 inch tj lift.

Since I've moded the the original axles for the tj suspension, oem chromed steel rims will be used. 31 inch A/ts, I'd say bfg tko s but since money is plentiful some really ba looking ats will be used.

Body exterior would be made to look completely oem, scrambler decals, Olympic white, full hardtop option.

Black Laredo style interior with the silver stripes, a.c. from a yj, fold and tumble rear seat. All oem style gauges and wheel, tub lined w quality carpet cut to be Removable without tools, high quality sound system.

It would be powered by a rebuilt or crate 4.0 stroked motor. Nsg 370 6speed manual, Dana 300 rebuilt with the 4:1 gears and twin stick.

That should put me close to 40k I'd think.

 

[CJAKE7]

Yall have great ideas. Don't mean to hijack the thread or anything but a modification that can't be bought is to enjoy it with family or friends. I personally think this is the best modification that could be made to a Jeep. Taking my son camping, a date with my wife or the good old days with my buddies tearing up the back roads of Northern Pa shooting moon travelers at each other, these are the modifications that are irreplaceable and can't be bought. These are what makes my Jeep the best modified Jeep ever. I know each and everyone of you have these modifications as well.

 

[Peanut Butter]

My Ultimate goal is to make my Jeep safe enough to take my grand-kids down the coast! :grinjeep: Rod

 

[mtnwhlr]

I really like the turn this thread has taking

 

[Hedgehog]

I'll bit, my honest and true CJ wouldn't be a cj so I'll simply call it a jeep.

I'd start with a stainless steel body from that company up in Washington or Oragon, don't remember where or the actual name, that makes complete jeep bodies to your specifications. I'd do an intermediat CJ5 front and cab, similar to a pickup where the body can atriculate some. The back would be similar to the CJ6 , but long enough to sleep in. I'd have them or another company that knows what they are doing make a hell for stout frame.

Power train would be a nice neat VORTEC V6 with T-18 Transmission and Dana 300 Transfer Case , I'd try to have low gears in the D-300 with twin sticks and CV joints all around. With an external hydrolic clutch. Also a ~20 gallon gas tank. A suspension that doesn't look like a spider on the rack. I'd like to run 36" tires as long as the final jeep sits like BusaDaves jeep.

Axles would be a Dana 44 in the back a jeep wide track if possible. Gearing ... Who knows probably 3.73' or 4.28's. If this were a perfect world I'd like a true two speed rear end with road gears like a 2.73 and a set of off road gears like 4.58's. .... a part time locking differential, an OX locker if possible. Front axles ould be similar, with power disk brakes. Good old drum rear brakes.

Power steering, an adjustable steering wheel, vynal high back seats, hard top with a decent gun rack/vault. Front a rear winch. Plow rig, on board air. Recover points and receiver hitches everywhere. Round head lights, great first aid kit, emergency beacon. NO roll cage, but a roll bar with openable extensions for skinning! NO 3 point seat belts. A custom dash with electronic guages. Decent rock sliders. A place to hide my Glock under the dash. Nice but not trendy bumpers. A spare tire carrier that hides a gas and a water can. It would be nice to have the rear bumper hollow bumper full of some noxious fluid that could quietly spray the liquid on tail gaters and the occasional Lexus driver. I'd like the driver not to know it until they park on the outer limits parking lot or in the garage just find they have no paint from the hood down to the ground.... no I wouldn't do that but I like the sounds of it.

Paint would be something solid, no nonesence, I'm lik'in Catipilar yellow would be solid and tough.