Hello everyone,
I wanted to just introduce myself (i'm 34 and heterosexual lol)and my jeep (a 1983 Jeep CJ7 Renegade). I can't post pictures yet, but I will once I pay the money to be a premium member. I'm now almost $45k in the hole with medical bills, down from $85k...after trying to save my son (next paragraph)
Long story short, I have recently acquired this jeep after a rough last year or so. I recently lost my dad, my son, my dog, and my wife was diagnosed with cancer and just completed treatment. I have a 7 year old daughter that I am working hard on keeping myself sane for her. SO...I daily drive this thing, which is a big deal right now once you read the details on the jeep below. It is in pretty damn good shape, needs a little this and that, but gets a lot of compliments already. Keep in mind that I drive it around town and <3 miles to and from work. I essentially got it to bring a smile on my little girls face, and my wife (she used to have YJ 10 years ago), and to keep my mind occupied with tinkering. I am mechanically inclined, and have built several cars from a 600HP grand national to a 550AWHP Subaru STi, and I used to (before my son's death) do high performance driving instruction...I only mention it because I am a true gear head, and catch on quick. But, I do not know much about CJ's...but I have been just reading and reading on this board.
It is a 5-speed, 258 (rebuilt) but with a carb (YIKES) that runs pretty good actually. Interior is nearly flawless. it has A/C and crappy heat (I've read about the blazer blower upgrade).
It has a 4" Pro-comp suspension lift (yeah, I know....)
35x14.50x15 boggers on 15x12 steel pro-comp wheels.
Obviously, it rides like crap. Steering SUCKS. And, I am sure it has stock gears...it is undergeared terribly.
My thought is to just buy 33x12.50x15 general grabbers and throw them on there with some 15x10 or 15x8 steel wheels. I also need to get the steering taken care of, and I think for the time being I am going to just try to get caster right and do the shackle reversal kit? Long term, I will be taking this lift off and putting something way better and my trail worthy.
Long term, I want to make this a fairly stout trail rig. I'm pretty sure I will do an engine swap of some kind...but I don't know a lot about the 258.
I welcome any suggestions or worthwhile points. I'm excited about having this thing as it is pretty freakin nice. I ultimately want it to be road worthy, and not work to drive on the street like it is now, and also have the ability to go right to a pretty hard trail without me worrying about breaking stuff.
As I said, I have to work on this counting my $$ carefully as I still have dr bills to pay. I don't mind working on things myself, but I welcome meeting new people and having a helping hand. I can pay with beverages of your choice and a stomach full of good food.
Take care everyone. I am happy to part of the community.:2thumbsup:
I wanted to just introduce myself (i'm 34 and heterosexual lol)and my jeep (a 1983 Jeep CJ7 Renegade). I can't post pictures yet, but I will once I pay the money to be a premium member. I'm now almost $45k in the hole with medical bills, down from $85k...after trying to save my son (next paragraph)
Long story short, I have recently acquired this jeep after a rough last year or so. I recently lost my dad, my son, my dog, and my wife was diagnosed with cancer and just completed treatment. I have a 7 year old daughter that I am working hard on keeping myself sane for her. SO...I daily drive this thing, which is a big deal right now once you read the details on the jeep below. It is in pretty damn good shape, needs a little this and that, but gets a lot of compliments already. Keep in mind that I drive it around town and <3 miles to and from work. I essentially got it to bring a smile on my little girls face, and my wife (she used to have YJ 10 years ago), and to keep my mind occupied with tinkering. I am mechanically inclined, and have built several cars from a 600HP grand national to a 550AWHP Subaru STi, and I used to (before my son's death) do high performance driving instruction...I only mention it because I am a true gear head, and catch on quick. But, I do not know much about CJ's...but I have been just reading and reading on this board.
It is a 5-speed, 258 (rebuilt) but with a carb (YIKES) that runs pretty good actually. Interior is nearly flawless. it has A/C and crappy heat (I've read about the blazer blower upgrade).
It has a 4" Pro-comp suspension lift (yeah, I know....)
35x14.50x15 boggers on 15x12 steel pro-comp wheels.
Obviously, it rides like crap. Steering SUCKS. And, I am sure it has stock gears...it is undergeared terribly.
My thought is to just buy 33x12.50x15 general grabbers and throw them on there with some 15x10 or 15x8 steel wheels. I also need to get the steering taken care of, and I think for the time being I am going to just try to get caster right and do the shackle reversal kit? Long term, I will be taking this lift off and putting something way better and my trail worthy.
Long term, I want to make this a fairly stout trail rig. I'm pretty sure I will do an engine swap of some kind...but I don't know a lot about the 258.
I welcome any suggestions or worthwhile points. I'm excited about having this thing as it is pretty freakin nice. I ultimately want it to be road worthy, and not work to drive on the street like it is now, and also have the ability to go right to a pretty hard trail without me worrying about breaking stuff.
As I said, I have to work on this counting my $$ carefully as I still have dr bills to pay. I don't mind working on things myself, but I welcome meeting new people and having a helping hand. I can pay with beverages of your choice and a stomach full of good food.
Take care everyone. I am happy to part of the community.:2thumbsup: