Please do not use CJ and reliable in the same sentence again, ever lol. Historically speaking, CJs are rusty unreliable POS's (I've had 5 of em), and absolutely LOVE the one I have now. It's currently in the shop for popping thru the carb, which led to finding a stretched timing chain, which led to finding mains that were showing copper, which is leading to a "might as well rebuild" while I'm in here scenario. Understandably my situation can happen to any vehicle. You will find many CJ's that are in great shape and are daily drivers, but this privilege generally comes at a cost, both financial and time wise. Maintenance is crucial, and you will never have the longevity you get out of a Japanese car. Nasty stuff aside, CJs are the most fun vehicles I've EVER owned, and I'll never sell it. If you can find one with a rust free frame and body, the rest is just fixing mechanical stuff old school. Parts are getting harder to find, and are pretty expensive now. If you have the cash and patience, just do it.

 

Tough to recommend one to someone who isn't really mechanically inclined. Even new they took more maintenance than a modern vehicle does.

Don't let that stop you though, if it's your dream anyone can learn which way to turn a wrench.

 

The CJ isn't a POS, it is OLD. I've had my share of Toyota's. I grew up driving a 1972 Toyota pickup that my dad bought new off the lot and a 1976 Landcruiser. Great vehicles, but they broke just as much as everything else. As already said, maintenance is the key. ANY vehicle that is as old as a CJ7 is going to be work. How reliable it is will ultimately be up to you. My grandfather's 1955 CJ5 had over 500,000 miles on it by the time he passed away. Mind you, it went through three engines in that time, but it still did it and it was worth the effort for him.

I find that these older vehicles were built to last as in "years" (less plastic, thicker metal, cast iron parts, basic to work on, etc...) but not as many miles. Newer vehicles are built to last more miles, 200,000-300,000 miles easy on the original engine now days. It is not unheard of for a set of spark plugs to last 100,000. When I was a kid we pulled and cleaned the plugs every oil change. However, the newer vehicles don't last as many years. Plastic gets brittle and breaks, thinner sheet metal rots out sooner. Computers/electronics fail after 20 years and are obsolete. New vehicles can be extremely complicated to work on.

Don't get the two confused. Don't expect an older one to perform like a newer one. A CJ7 can outlast a modern vehicle by decades, but it is going to take more maintenance while it is in use.

 

The CJ isn't a POS, it is OLD. I've had my share of Toyota's. I grew up driving a 1972 Toyota pickup that my dad bought new off the lot and a 1976 Landcruiser. Great vehicles, but they broke just as much as everything else. As already said, maintenance is the key. ANY vehicle that is as old as a CJ7 is going to be work. How reliable it is will ultimately be up to you. My grandfather's 1955 CJ5 had over 500,000 miles on it by the time he passed away. Mind you, it went through three engines in that time, but it still did it and it was worth the effort for him.

I find that these older vehicles were built to last as in "years" (less plastic, thicker metal, cast iron parts, basic to work on, etc...) but not as many miles. Newer vehicles are built to last more miles, 200,000-300,000 miles easy on the original engine now days. It is not unheard of for a set of spark plugs to last 100,000. When I was a kid we pulled and cleaned the plugs every oil change. However, the newer vehicles don't last as many years. Plastic gets brittle and breaks, thinner sheet metal rots out sooner. Computers/electronics fail after 20 years and are obsolete. New vehicles can be extremely complicated to work on.

Don't get the two confused. Don't expect an older one to perform like a newer one. A CJ7 can outlast a modern vehicle by decades, but it is going to take more maintenance while it is in use.

I like this guy.

 

Kavephish is correct. The electrical system is a nightmare, you can stand 5 feet away and listen to them rust, Fifty percent of the transmissions used were garbage, the ones that had emissions were a nightmare and the list goes on.
I wouldn't own one if I couldn't work on it. Do yourself a favor and buy a newer jeep.

 

The electrical system is a nightmare,

Compared to what? Try working on a new vehicle's electrical system. I gutted a CJ5 and wired it from scratch because the insulation was rotted. It's actually pretty basic wiring and easy to follow. Wiring doesn't get much more basic than a CJ. I guess perhaps a model T. The CJ is not near as complicated as the wiring in my 1990's ZJs. I'd hate to try and mess with the wiring on a new Wrangler 4Xe.

 

Realistically, what do YOU expect out of it?

Will this be a daily driver or a secondary fun type vehicle? Will you drive it 100 miles out of town, or to/from the beach or in town? Do you have e a secured place to store it, or will it be left out in the elements? Do you need 4wd, or will that never be needed by you? Summer sun, or winter snow? How much are you looking to spend, and what is a reasonable annual maintenance budget? Is there a mechanical shop or mechanic near you that you trust?

ALL that makes a huge difference in if a Jeep is right for you.

Hoss

 

My cj5 has never left me stranded. Ive driven it for 23 years and didn’t really take good care of it after building it in 2002.
even so I recently took her off the road for coming onto a year for some much needed love.

 

miles of wires in a new one.....

But anything made 30 years ago will have needs and that can get expensive today as well if you plan to drive basically and antique for a DD. And plan to have it worked on at a shop.

 

Re-reading the original post I’d suggest a CJ jeep definitely be your (and and most others) hobby and have another vehicle around for when you want to tinker with it. They are great vehicle to learn on with aftermarket support and a huge knowledge base available in many forms. I wouldn’t call mine a daily driver although it has performed that task when my “reliable vehicles” have been in the shop.
even a resto-mod Jeep with an injection system will require reading up and some basic tools to work on when the time comes.
Id daily drive mine now cause I miss it so much…. Just need some time in the shop…

 

I daily drive my 1995 ZJ but it sees a lot of work/maintenance as well. Just replaced the cam sensor in it a few weeks ago as well as rebuilt the door hinges. Things wear out. My daughter drives a 97 ZJ and it seems like I am getting more and more phone calls from her about it. Last night she contacted me about the back hatch not unlocking. Both of these are "daily drivers", but they are both old and need constant maintenance. Add at least ten years of wear, rot and rust to that for any CJ.

 

I cant think of a better vehicle to start learning basic mechanical stuff on than a Jeep with the 258. Its a very basic design and very little electronics.
CJ's are honestly as reliable as you make it. What I mean by that is if you take the time and effort yourself, or pay a shop to work on it, they can last a long long time between major issues.( not including what you might break while off road)
Unless your idea of fun is speed coupled with sharp turns and the like, then there isnt a vehicle made that is more fun or has the "cool" factor of a Jeep CJ. The newer ones are measured against the CJ, and fall short.
IF you get one in good running order and keep it there with regular maintinance, they are reliable and sturdy.

 

I think they're reliable in the 258 configuration, only because I don't know the other engines, lol.

But as said above, if you want to learn engines? It's hard to beat the Inline 6. They can be simple, cause they are, and have a fair amount of support. The cool part? Is that even newer parts like heads and stuff will fit on them. For adding a bit of performance and pep if that's your thing? Fairly cheap to play around with. Hell, there are supercharger kits (smaller Eaton M62) for around $2,500- if fuel injected added. Cam choices, TONS of ideas like AC to air compressor, interior mods, if you are into custom ANYTHING, be it welding to painting to just buying stuff, any older Jeep is hard to beat as a hobby.

And in terms of reliability? What more can be asked of an engine? They are regularly seen above 200k miles and above if maintained.

And if you want one but maximum reliability? A rebuilt engine and Transmission can be had for cheap compared to new Jeeps/vehicles.

A second vehicle I would say is a must, but to be honest, where I live a vehicle is mandatory to even live, lol. So, I think it's just a good idea, be it 2 new vehicles, 2 old, whatever. 1 is none and 2 is one- always. Even new cars with a warranty can be "down" for a week or 2 because of labor/parts shortages.

 

Even new cars with a warranty can be "down" for a week or 2 because of labor/parts shortages

All too true my friend. Just surf the forums for new vehicles, Jeep or otherwise.

 

I've had my 80 cj5 for years and never had a problem.

 

We also have to be cognizant of the fact that all the people on here are CJ freaks and have dumped tons of money and or time intto their rigs. All the other CJ owners who haaaated their vehicles arent on this forum. Just sayin 🧑‍🔧🤷🏼‍♂️

 

I don’t care if it’s a CJ, TJ, YJ, XJ, ZJ, Toyota, Chevy, Ford, or whatever…. I’m have had them all… the fact is old is old. Technology is what it is.

 

Hello everyone-I have had my heart set on buying a Cj 7 for 30 years. My question is, how reliable are they? Is it going to be in the shop all the time? I don't know anything about repairing or restoring vehicles. Just trying to get some practical and realistic advice before buying.

CJ's aren't any worse mechanically than any of the other American offerings of the time. Later CJ's are more complicated than the earlier ones and the emissions were a nightmare, again, on par with other vehicles of the time. Compound that with it's age and they can be a mechanical handful today.

That being said, finding a good one can give you years of enjoyment. This means spending more money on the front end for a solid rig. It also means taking a mechanically inclined person to help with the inspection.

If this is your dream, buying one, for good or bad, will eliminate regret later in life.

 

I don't know exactly when I came down with it.

It coulda been when the stork flew over them at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in 1963

Or maybe it was 2 years later when I acquired my uncle's at my Granny's farm.

It was my very 1st Jeep

It was a hand-me-down

But, Never the less, it performed great feats over the years, and got a new paint job, while I built plastic models

---I still have it, it's the small one!!!!!

`

Then in 1981 I got one I could drive---A semi took it out.

Then I got four more---one at a time

I put each one through the wringer!

So back then I was a lot younger and dumber, but still I did most of my own fixin' and maintainin'

Those 1st five gave me the knowledge of just exactly what a mostly stock Jeep "could or couldn't" do.

Bring on # 6 "Mr. Jeep" and also #7 "Willy".....

I'm a bit more mature by 1991 when they came to my house.

It was time to still maintain my Jeeps, but fixing all of the frequent he!! damage all the time (like with 1-5) had calmed down a lot!

I've had these two the longest (32 years)

Each and every one of my Jeeps have been my Daily Drivers---It has always been imperative that I fixed them immediately so I would have a ride!

Pretty much since 1981, I have been looking over the same silhouette of a hood almost every day!

These are not "Cars" by no means---they are so much better!

Anytime I'm seen in another vehicle (usually with someone else), people ask what happened to my Jeep?

My Jeeps and I are "ONE", I told my 2nd wife to be, when we started dating in 2003---Guess who she rode in on Date #1???

Two years later, I couldn't shake her.

It was a 200 mile trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee... In Guess Who???

It's now 2023

Mr. Jeep is still my daily driver most of the time,

Willy has been in the background thus far, you ain't seen him yet!

He too is a Daily driver whenever I have some fair weather.

I think he gets around pretty good to be 77 years old.

No need to save him for a car show, He gets showed off in traffic!

NO DOUBT,

IF YOU HAVE A "REAL JEEP"

YOU WILL BE THE POPULAR ONE WITH THE LADIES!

OVER THE YEARS, I'VE PICKED UP MANY

IN MY JEEPS,

(MOSTLY BECAUSE, I DIDN'T WANT TO WALK, THESE ARE MY

MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION!)

Sometimes I sense the territorial jealousy within my wife when other gals come up to me and wanna talk "Jeep"

Take it from a "seasoned Jeep guy", all other vehicles are substandard!

I LOVE MY JEEPS---THEY LOVE ME!

Wanna be known as the best Papa in the world? All you gotta say is, "It's time to go, y'all jump in Willy!"

More pics? I have 2 albums in my profile!

-----JEEPFELLER

 

Thank you Jeepfeller: I wondered if my post was too long until I read yours 😂🤣😂

 

My Cj's are quite reliable for a classic vehicle.

But that still means you need to maintain them, regular servicing and inspection and replacement of parts as they are needed. These have short service intervals and even with a weekend machine, you need to set aside some time each year to service and GREASE them and go through all the systems.

If you can do this yourself for the smaller jobs and keep an inventory of basic spares and tools then you will find it is on the road nearly all the time. I keep oil, filters, coolant, brake and other fluids, spark plugs, radiator hoses, bulbs, electrical parts and grease at the house. If you use a shop, it is going to be dispiriting every time your daily driver os off to the shop.

If they are used regularly, they tend to break less frequently.

Rust is the enemy of a CJ, you need to buy one that is rust free and then treat it to multiple rust protections and keep on top of it. Then go through the cooling system, the parts are cheap and spending $50 on all new hoses and $5 on a thermostat and $40 on a water pump is peace of mind. Service the alternator and starter motor and replace all worn wiring and Make sure your charging system is working and headlights bright and you should be good to go.

 

I've had my CJ7 for nearly 42 years. It has been extremely reliable, never leaving me stranded anywhere and it has been on many Ski trips and 4-wheeling trips in Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico.

Things do eventually break. The pilot bushing wore out and had to be replaced. The bell crank broke. The heater fan motor was replaced. The emergency brake cables frayed and I couldn't release the e-brake so replaced the cables. Maybe I am just lucky?

 

All of these replies have good points to make. It sounds like you are financially ready to buy one. If you are, you will naturally have the few extra dollars to maintain it. No one says you can’t take it to a mechanic for preventative maintenance 1-2 times a year, plus oil changes. Even then you won’t need to change the oil that often if it’s a summer toy. Other than adding gas there’s not much easier work than changing oil in a CJ. Pick out one you like locally and ask the owner if you can have it inspected. Most trustworthy owners will say yes. If you asking it’s time to pull the trigger! Good luck

 

From the time my ‘82 came off the flatbed, until I drove it on the road with a fair amount of confidence, five years passed.
It hadn’t been cranked in 19 years, the wiring was burned out of the engine compartment, and it seemed like I replaced everything on it, lol.
That being said, I absolutely LOVE it! It’s dangerous, hot/cold, rides rough, noisy, not great on gas, easy to steal and have stuff stolen from, but it would probably be the last vehicle I’d sell.
I can walk out of my front door, look at my Jeep, and it makes me happy! Working on it is a labor of love, and as others have said: if you want to learn to maintain and repair a relatively basic vehicle, there is none better.
And despite the tendency of things to work loose, and peripheral things breaking, the 4.2 power plant is like a cockroach: you have to stomp it out to kill it. Mine fired right up after all that time, with some new external parts and some TLC, without even a tick or knock.
Nothing beats riding around in a CJ on a sunny day, slow, with the top off, especially far from pavement.
I mostly use mine to tool around my internal roads on my property and fill my corn feeders, and I always look forward to it. With my ranger hat and binoculars I feel like Jungle Jim, lol.
If you learn to do basic maintenance and repairs, it’ll probably seldom have to go to the shop for major ones, depending on general mechanical condition.
Either way, good luck!

 

I have owned CJ7s for most of my life, having run the Rubicon, Jeep Safari and other runs and used them as a daily driver. They have been my partner on search and rescue efforts after storms and earthquakes and brought supplies in and people out when needed. They have broken, broken down and made me feel broke on a few occasions...but with all of that I cannot say anything negative about them.
The bodies tend to rust a bit more than later models, but there are plenty of models out there that are less rusted than a Chevy pickup from Saskatchewan. I have a '84 CJ7 that will go anywhere I steer it and start and run all day long.
The inline 6 will not amaze on horsepower, but for longevity and reliability it is a keeper. Mine has the MPI configuration which is vastly superior to Mr. Weber's solution and feeds at any angle. Add a stainless header, mild cam and a few other modifications over the years and you have a motor that starts every time and runs like a race horse.
The axles can be a weak link, but when you find one with '44s it will take the larger tires and grin. To be clear, the "lesser" models with chrome moly axles have carried me on 35" tires anywhere 44's would have. Some like tires bigger than 35" but I have found very little 35" could not handle well enough (but I am not trying to be a hardened rock crawler).
The power train is an interesting assortment of changes over the years. Transfer case does ok, but the transmissions can be problematic if you are driving it hard. Mine was swapped out for a GM truck tranny years ago and has been flawless.
So as I look back on 40 years with one CJ7 or another, I have to admit a fair amount of modification and tinkering has gone into mine...but it is a labor of love, not frustration in any way.

 

I got my '77 with a 304 in 2000. It was pretty tired, so in 2003 I started to rebuild everything - engine, trans, t-case, axles, everything. It has seen rough service, so it's no surprise some things have broken. A shock mount broke because of a bad factory weld. I snapped the drive shaft in half, so built a new one 3x stronger. You get the idea. I tried aftermarket fuel injection but it was not reliable enough, so I went back to the 4 barrel carb. It just keeps on going. We were up at the head waters of the Colorado River last fall, where the stream was about 3" deep and 18" across.

 

If you can find a stock one in the Southwest US, that is a good start. They are not as much trouble as people say, when they are stock. Fuel lines are a big issue if they have not been replaced yet. They are starting to grab a premium price. My 83 needs new hardened valve seats and guided due to the alcohol in the fuel these days. It smokes. Collector car insurance is reasonable for them. First signs of any rust address it promptly. I had to replace the fuel lines and rollover valves in the tank as a "Professional" hacked the fuel system apart to "fix it".

83 CJ7 Renegade ordered from the factory in 1983 - one owner - not for sale
258 L6
T5-5 speed standard
Dana 300 t case
AMC 20 rear diff - drum brakes
Dana front diff with disc brakes
Hard top and doors
Soft top and doors

 

The zero mechanical skills you need a a wallet and a trusted local mechanic. If nothing else you're going to need the regular maintenance is everyone else is talking about. But with no mechanical skills I would suggest looking for a low mileage TJ, electronic ignition, fuel injection, 4.0 and ax15.

 

OK, so I agree that the Jeep in the 258 variety (I'm a YJ guy, lol) is reliable, ontop of that, easy to figure out- because ANYTHING can break down.

So, literally this morning, go to start it, nothing. Checked battery, checked starter (jumper from battery to starter and dead), ok. Starter it is, plus the main post was shaky- that's not right, lol.

Looked up YouTube vids on how to check starter, yep, dead.

This is where my love for the 258 comes in. I went to auto store, bought a new starter- $153 and lifetime warranty. Jeep has a 2.5" lift. Slid under there, swapped out starter in about 20 minutes. Starts right up.

So, first hand, starter hasn't given me issues for 6 years, god knows how old it is- reliable, IMHO. It is basic as basic gets with room in the engine bay. How do you grab jumper cables to test a new car? Too much crap in the way. And too complicated anyhow, lol. Which lends to TONS of vids on YT and other places to check these dinosaur like parts. Cheap- $153 for Lifetime Warranty? Can't beat that. With a small lift? Man, changing oil, changing starters, etc is stupid easy!!! I want a sports car, but then I think of having to jack it up just to check stupid stuff, lol.

Don't get me wrong, I have a Mechanic, I call him for the big heavy lifting, lol. Like my Upgraded bell housing swap (external clutch cylinders).

But overall? If you have patience, can read and watch YT. Overall, these things ARE cheap and easy to maintain on your own. Besides heavy/complicated crap that is super rare. I have ALL my tools in my Jeep. The only thing I've needed before out of the shed was stuff like a TQ ratchet when I swapped heads (nothing was wrong, just upgrade).

Hands down, reliable, easy to work on, plentiful parts and cheap when compared to other vehicles.

 

For the OP, I don't recommend any 40+ year old vehicle for anyone who isn't planning on working on it quite a lot. It's a fun vehicle to drive around in, they're undoubtedly cool, and I really love mine. But I've owned it for a year and am only now able to drive it regularly, and I'm sure it's going to need a clutch and other things fixed. It's old, and the quality of some of the components wasn't great when they were new. Most of them have had hack work done on them in the past by clueless owners. Having said that, the engines are really reliable and pretty hard to kill. If you have lots of money and buy a fully restored one, it should be fine for you; but expect to pay at least 20-25 thousand dollars for something like that. If what you want is the driving experience without the constant maintenance then you're better off getting something newer. The 2010 models I think are among the nicest looking of the "new" models, you can get a 2 door with removable top very similar to a cj7, and you can get a decent one for the $15k range. Probably not the answer you want, but old vehicles are really a hobby more than a mode of transportation and these things are more hobby than the average old vehicles...best of luck with your search and if you decide to take the plunge with the rest of us, we'll all be there to offer help if you need it!