Bought a CJ!

22250 Views 135 Replies 28 Participants Last post by MisfitSeven, May 10, 2014

dmoffat

Discussion Starter · Feb 12, 2012

-- This does turn out to be my build thread. Dana 44/14 bolt swap starts on page 7..

Haven't had a Jeep for a few years and really been missing it. Found a '77 CJ7 on craigslist somewhat near by and picked it up Saturday night. I am so freakin excited. It's kinda rough, but that's exactly what I want. It has a good running 304 and a Powertrax locker in the front. More pics to come, this is one from last night..

I've got tons of plans for it but I'm still in research mode. Think I want to do an SOA with YJ springs to start with, but I'm not sure how or where to gather all the parts for that. I don't like the 3 speed manual in it now, (too tall of first gear) so I'm debating swapping and converting an extra SM465 I have. It needs a new top, probably just get a Bestop Tiger top. It came with the full doors but they don't fit with the cage the previous owner had built. Not sure what to do there, may start over with the cage.

Comments or advice is welcome. Once I start making progress I'll start a build thread with plenty of pics.

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1 - 20 of 136 Posts

cj-ing-rj

· #2 · Feb 12, 2012

Welcome back to the cj world!!! Just remember there never finished so take your time and enjoy...

papa355

· #3 · Feb 12, 2012

sweet, good luck with it. doesn't look as rough as mine did on day one.....lol. Is the frame good?

JeepHammer

· #4 · Feb 12, 2012

Well, you are a CJ guy, so you know the rules!
Service EVERYTHING, from fuel/air filters down to flushing the brake system with some fresh fluid...
Can't trust ANYTHING the PO might (or probably Didn't... DO!)

The only big red flag I see is the 'Power Trax' locker in the front.
When you service the front diff, you might want to check the center pin in that locker.
I've never had any luck with them. Broken half a dozen in the past few years.
There is a hardened pin, but they charge you extra for it...
Typical, don't put the hardened pin in the thing in the FIRST PLACE!...

Once the hardened pin was in place, I didn't have issues with them...

dmoffat

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 12, 2012

I'm not that terribly experienced with CJ's.. I had a CJ8 for a bit but I never did much to it. My other project Jeep was a TJ.

I had it in the shop cleaning it up and checking it out today for a bit. It is really rough sheet metal and bondo wise, but the frame appears okay. It's going to take a lot of work I can see that but that's what I wanted, something to keep me busy.

The powertrax just got put in, but I'll be sure to check it out. He sent the original spider gears with me, as well as an aluminum intake and two brake wheel cylinders.

I've just got to sit down and set my plan for a Stage 1 build. I know I need a better crawl ratio.. am I on the right track with the SM465 or is there a better way?

John87

· #6 · Feb 12, 2012

JeepHammer said:
Well, you are a CJ guy, so you know the rules!
Service EVERYTHING, from fuel/air filters down to flushing the brake system with some fresh fluid...
Can't trust ANYTHING the PO might (or probably Didn't... DO!)

The only big red flag I see is the 'Power Trax' locker in the front.
When you service the front diff, you might want to check the center pin in that locker.
I've never had any luck with them. Broken half a dozen in the past few years.
There is a hardened pin, but they charge you extra for it...
Typical, don't put the hardened pin in the thing in the FIRST PLACE!...

Once the hardened pin was in place, I didn't have issues with them...

is this the same issue with the AMC20 rear? discovered today that is what i have in my rear. is there a visual difference between the regular and hardened pin?

dmoffat

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 13, 2012

3

Just add a couple pics of the simple little things I did today other than cleaning out the inside.. I've got so much to do. Also order the Tigertop for it this afternoon.

Terrible hitch from PO.

Hitch no more.. nothing like torching next to the gas tank.

Chopped off part of the front bumper.

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LargeAl

· #8 · Feb 13, 2012

Congrats on the CJ...and welcome back to the world of "what the hell is wrong now!?!" :2thumbsup:

urbikesucks

· #9 · Feb 13, 2012

Sucker......, jokin its a money pit but there fun.

dmoffat

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 13, 2012

Thanks guys. It's definitely going to be a money pit. I'm beginning to back off the SOA idea for now. I just want to clear the 33's I've got and wheel it for a year or so then try building my own link suspension or do the soa next winter. Contemplation this Black Diamond 3' lift.. http://www.quadratec.com/products/16110_004.htm Figure with tube fenders my 33's should be okay. I like the looks of the Smittybilt XRC's http://www.quadratec.com/products/12508_300X_PG.htm and their rear fender flares to match.

papa355

· #11 · Feb 13, 2012

dmoffat said:
I'm not that terribly experienced with CJ's.. I had a CJ8 for a bit but I never did much to it. My other project Jeep was a TJ.

I had it in the shop cleaning it up and checking it out today for a bit. It is really rough sheet metal and bondo wise, but the frame appears okay. It's going to take a lot of work I can see that but that's what I wanted, something to keep me busy.

The powertrax just got put in, but I'll be sure to check it out. He sent the original spider gears with me, as well as an aluminum intake and two brake wheel cylinders.

I've just got to sit down and set my plan for a Stage 1 build. I know I need a better crawl ratio.. am I on the right track with the SM465 or is there a better way?

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/my-bbc-cj-project-1019388/

check this jeep out and ask KW, about the trans. I think he still has that same trans in his monster jeep

dmoffat

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 17, 2012

papa355 said:
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/my-bbc-cj-project-1019388/

check this jeep out and ask KW, about the trans. I think he still has that same trans in his monster jeep

That thing is a monster for sure!

Front tube fenders and an Optima red top battery showed up today. Top should be here tomorrow. Lift kit, wheels and rear tube flares should be here next week. I cannot wait.

Ratchet

· #13 · Feb 17, 2012

dmoffat said:
Front tube fenders and an Optima red top battery showed up today. Top should be here tomorrow. Lift kit, wheels and rear tube flares should be here next week. I cannot wait.

:highfive: YES! I like where this is headed.

dmoffat

Discussion Starter · #14 · Feb 19, 2012

5

Made some progress today. Installed the new Tigertop and Smittybilt Tube fenders as well as the rear flares. It's starting to come together. Hopefully 3 inches of lift doesn't leave my 33's looking small. I haven't done anything for the side marker light yet, I think I'm going to stick a couple small LED's on the inner fender so it has something. My lift and 4 of my 5 wheels will be here next week but I have to go to Kansas City for training next weekend. Guess I'll see if I get an ambitious after work one day.

hacking up and installing tube fenders..

Took it on a bit of a test run to make sure things are functioning properly. Seems the dog likes it too.

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dmoffat

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 21, 2012

2

Wheels and lift kit are here. Have a funny feeling I'll be working late to get it done.

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papa355

· #16 · Feb 22, 2012

lol.........

Are those dick cepek tires? hard for me to read the side

dmoffat

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 22, 2012

4

papa355 said:
lol.........

Are those dick cepek tires? hard for me to read the side

Yep the old ones are. They're 29x12.50r15's. I'll bet they're nearly as old as I am.

I did get the lift and everything on. I'm so glad the PO had replaced the spring bushings recently. Everything went almost too easy. I do need to get some wheel spacers though, can't turn very sharp at all.

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John87

· #18 · Feb 22, 2012

2

the reason you cant turn sharp is your steering arm is at such a sharp angle due to the lift and not installing a drop or flipping the tie rod. also, if it has never been adjusted, im willing to bet you only get about a 1 and 1/8th turn from straight to right, and close to 2 turns from straight to left? when installing a lift the geometry of everything up front is thrown off.

ETA:

here, red is where you are, green is where you would be with a drop pitman arm

and here, red is where you are, green is with a tie rod flip

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dmoffat

Discussion Starter · #19 · Feb 22, 2012

I wondered about getting a drop pitman arm. I will see if I have even turning center to lock each side. Thanks for the input, I do appreciate it. Will definitly look into flipped steering arm, that sounds like a better idea that the drop pitman. Biggest reason I say I can't turn very sharp is because the tires rub on the springs. I ordered some 1.25" spacers to solve that problem.

John87

· #20 · Feb 22, 2012

dmoffat said:
I wondered about getting a drop pitman arm. I will look into that and see if I have even turning center to lock each side. Thanks for the input, I do appreciate it. Biggest reason I say I can't turn very sharp is because the tires rub on the springs. I ordered some 1.25" spacers to solve that problem.

ohh, DUH! i didnt even think about rubbing. i told you all that because that is what we determined here this past weekend. before we decided on a new tie rod, we adjusted the old one. had to bust out the torch, massive pipe wrench, and a 4 foot metal pipe to break it free to turn it outwards. invest in all of the above and pb blaster. and motrin.

you should be able to adjust your steer stops to prevent rubbing, if you dont want spacers.

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