The good news is, after doing all that, he should be the proud owner of a fairly nice $25,000 Jeep!

The problem with shops like those who quote that amount is that they are used to doing work like that on a car worth $70-$100+K when done, so people in that market have and are willing to spend that kind of money, so that's what they charge.. because they can.

To do what you are asking should actually cost about half that, at most, but sadly you will pay dearly for a shop to do that type of work.

Many here have done what you are asking about for alot less, but a very high quality full on restoration can easily be quite spendy.

Hoss

 

Might be cheaper to go find one that's already had a facelift....then sell that one.

Many times the owner won't get back what he has in it.

----JEEPFELLER

 

If he's looking at shops to do it I'm assuming he has a bit of money to spend. A lot of folks do it for the love of working on it (no judgement), but if he's looking to have a shop do it he'd probably be better off buying one finished, unless the one he has is a rare bird or has sentimental value. If he can't find one just to his liking he can buy one mostly done and cheaper and then add or send it out to have that specific stuff done. Not really your question but ya know... :grin2: ...so yes if you can restore them well you could make some cash. Just have to finish it in like 4-6 weeks lol.

Quick google and he can get a nice jeep from 10-50k... https://cars.trovit.com/used-cars/jeep-cj7-restored-off-frame

 

My last strip and repaint CJ7 was $1500, I think I spent less than $3000 (amnesia is great when it comes to Jeep costs) overall including the new windscreen and the safari top. The body had a few holes, the drivetrain was OK. My J20 was closer to $5000 as I had it stripped to bare metal due to paint reactions but again the drivetrain was OK, included a large sum getting a tailgate for it from 6500 miles away and a rear step bumper fabricated from photos. Willys was $850 to cut out the rust and repaint.

Admittedly my labour is a LOT cheaper.

As in US I suggest the following is a budget IF there are no other problems (usually are). A body off is a higher standard than a body on rebuild. Taking off the body will let the frame be checked thoroughly and repainted and any bits attended to. At that point more issues become clear and the budget grows.

Crate engine / engine rebuilt by a really good shop / crate stroker / carb and headers $3000
Transmission overhaul $1000
Remove tub, build frame, install tub $3000
Install all mechanical bits and get running $2000
Painting of body $3000
Wiring harness $500
Electrician $1000

Total say $13500
Contingency 10%

The problem with a build is all the shiny Gucci bits you COULD have. Budgets tend to climb. This also needs a little project managing, farming out jobs to shops and people to keep the cost down. If your buddy has a space to work in and a few tools, and a few hours to spare.....

And at the end $10000 would be a good price to get for it, it is just an old CJ with new paint.

So if you get a quote for $50k, walk away. It is 300% more than what you should pay for a good build if your bodywork is truly in good condition. For $25000 I would expect a new frame, axles, steering, wheels and tyres and suspension to be included.

A few photos of body rebuilds I have carried out in the last few years.

 

My last strip and repaint CJ7 was $1500, I think I spent less than $3000 (amnesia is great when it comes to Jeep costs) overall including the new windscreen and the safari top. The body had a few holes, the drivetrain was OK. My J20 was closer to $5000 as I had it stripped to bare metal due to paint reactions but again the drivetrain was OK, included a large sum getting a tailgate for it from 6500 miles away and a rear step bumper fabricated from photos. Willys was $850 to cut out the rust and repaint.

Admittedly my labour is a LOT cheaper.

As in US I suggest the following is a budget IF there are no other problems (usually are). A body off is a higher standard than a body on rebuild. Taking off the body will let the frame be checked thoroughly and repainted and any bits attended to. At that point more issues become clear and the budget grows.

Crate engine / engine rebuilt by a really good shop / crate stroker / carb and headers $3000

Transmission overhaul $1000

Remove tub, build frame, install tub $3000

Install all mechanical bits and get running $2000

Painting of body $3000

Wiring harness $500

Electrician $1000

Total say $13500

Contingency 10%

The problem with a build is all the shiny Gucci bits you COULD have. Budgets tend to climb. This also needs a little project managing, farming out jobs to shops and people to keep the cost down. If your buddy has a space to work in and a few tools, and a few hours to spare.....

And at the end $10000 would be a good price to get for it, it is just an old CJ with new paint.

So if you get a quote for $50k, walk away. It is 300% more than what you should pay for a good build if your bodywork is truly in good condition. For $25000 I would expect a new frame, axles, steering, wheels and tyres and suspension to be included.

A few photos of body rebuilds I have carried out in the last few years.

I love that J20!! I've never seen that cab style in North America. What sort of power train?

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Agreed with everything stated here and we will tearing his down and doing it ourselves this spring/summer but wanted to bring up the quotes to see if people were actually paying these numbers.


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There are some places which specialize in Jeep restorations. Three come to mind.

http://www.millerbrothersautorepair.com

Toybox Jeep Facebook but no website

https://jeffdanielsjeeps.com/jd/frame_off.ashx

I'm sure to have anyone restore a CJ will be expensive, but not 50K expensive.

Good luck,

JS

 

https://jeffdanielsjeeps.com/jd/frame_off.ashx

I'm sure to have anyone restore a CJ will be expensive, but not 50K expensive.

Daniels will 100% be 40-50K. Just read reviews. He'll quote you at 25K, then threaten not to give you your Jeep back when you don't pay the mystery price they ultimately invoice you for.

Here is an example of exactly that

My experience is similar in being billed over double what was quoted to fix a locker not engaging and a clutch not engaging - and when invoiced over double what the highest range of my initial quote was (only in-person, not before) the guy informed me that they would not allow me to take my Jeep until paid.

Still not my contention though. That lies within the near-death experience I had from their work. Apparently someone missed tie-rod installation day at mechanics school, because not only was the rod not tightened in, but no cotter pins were installed at either end. The alignment shop informed me I was 1 thread away from loosing all steering. JDs was nice enough to tell me in no uncertain terms they did not remove the tie rod - which means they must have figured out a way for two forms of matter to occupy the same space at the same time, since the diff cover is impossible to remove with the tie rod in place when adhering to the normal laws of physics.

And the diff wasn't filled, and they broke my starter, and they did not reinstall a clutch rod boot, and they did not ultimately fix my clutch problem, and I ultimately had to diagnose my own trans problem on the phone and and.

If I needed a replacement fog light bulb and had $100 to blow on it, JDs is the place for you. I wouldn't trust them with an oil change, let alone a restoration.

 

I'm the wrong person to ask
As they say, "Jeeps are built, not bought"

Half the fun is doing the work yourself.
I did a total 'frame up' restore. Money wise? Paint was the biggest item

Excluding paint....I have maybe $3K into it....and that is including the $500 for the SBC and tranny

But.....lots of hours.....but fun hours.

 

Restoration quotes are like flat rate labor. They are purposefully high to cover any surprises.

Labor is by far the most expensive portion of the cost. Ask anybody who installed one how long it took to get a painless wiring loom installed and correct. Multiply that number by the going local hourly shop rate and you have a quite just for the wiring. While painting isn't that expensive, the prep work can take days. Unknown sections of bondo can cover damage, unseen cracked body supports underneath, broken body mount bolts, rust under the windshield, etc, continue to add to the cost. Then don't forget recovering the seats, all the interior bits replaced, dash pad, dashboard and all the instruments, then detailing everything out. That is just everything above the body mounts.

When you add rebuilding the engine, transmission, transfer case, drivelines, suspension, steering, brake system, differentials, fuel system, cooling system, and frame, then including detailing everything under the body. Added to all that, when somebody else is purchasing all the parts, they charge you retail on everything.

All this can begin to push the cost into the mid five figures and beyond.

 

This comment is depressing me with the actual details of what I still have left to do to my Jeep and what I didn't do correctly ...can a fourm moderator please delete it! >

 

I had someone install a 350, new trans, new rear end. Parts cost about 10k and labor about 5k. Did not do frame off. Already had good paint. 84 cj7. Novak for eng, trans, radiator, hyd clutch. East Coast Gear for new rear with disc brakes. Rebuilt my D300. Already had D30 front with discs. Spent another 10 on other stuff, but I am well pleased with results.

 

....quotes are ranging from 50k on the low end and the highest is just over 80k. Are these quotes off base or should I be restoring CJ's on a full time basis?

Sounds about right to me for a shop to do all the work. You should see what places restoring Early Broncos are charging. I might have $25K in mine and that includes a new TDK frame and a tub that needed a lot of repairs.

Yes. If you have the skills to be doing all the work required.

 

You should see what places restoring Early Broncos are charging.

Hadn't ever though about looking into those, after a quick google search. Ooooofffffff you're right some shops starting at 89k for a full resto and going up from there

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On my 80 CJ-7, I had a local restoration shop in Dallas give me a quote to replace the rear main seal and do a few other clean-up items. He said it would be a minimum of $3000-3500. I discovered a cooling leak and decided to just tackle it myself. I've spent around $1200-$1500 on gasket kits, engine hoist, engine stand, transmission jack, new clutch, new timing cover and other miscellaneous parts. Thinking when it's all done I'll be in the $2500 range once I have the trans and transfer case cleaned up and checked out by a shop. All that would have cost well over $10k at the shop and I'm having a blast working on it myself and showing my kids how to do it. Also have some cool new tools.

 

If you are seriously thinking of spending 50K on a CJ, give me 40K and I'll do it better than you are going to get anywhere. WTF. I could retire and do 2 CJ's a year as my retirement hobby.
ECJ7

 

This was my exact thought on the matter. But needless to say he has decided to have a shop built on his property to do the frame off himself, truth be told for the metal building/shop and the needed tools he is coming out at about 25k cheaper than the "lowest" quote he received.

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About 5 years ago there was a young lady on here, several of the guys drooled over her, anyway if I recall she paid about $35,000 to get her CJ frame off done. It looked nice afterwards too. Maybe someone will come up with her thread.

 

Full restoration of 1986 CJ-7 starts right NOW
Views: 15,343
Posted By wborisenok

Haven't see any new posts after her CJ was completed.

 

The nice thing about doing the job yourself is you are in control.

 

Was the quote for a 'restoration' or for a 'resto-mod'? Tracking down the parts/refurbing the original parts for a vehicle that hasn't been on the assembly line for 35+ years is getting harder and harder to do for a true restoration. Now if it is done as a restomod, i.e. TDK frame, repop tub if it is too far gone, repop steering column, repop seats, then the price should be lower and most won't notice the difference and will still sell for close to the price.