post pics and specs of your cj in use.

[bftank]

never posted in the jeep forum before. always been a fullsize guy, but the wife prefers the smaller stuff and is just getting into the 4wheeling, camping stuff.

we are looking at buying a cj either a 5 or a 7.

i would like to see pictures of your jeep cj's, how camping stuff is packed. best mods. different setups.

after doing some research. i am looking at the cj for the pass. diff, and ease to work on. would like to eventually put in a 5cylinder mercedes 300td. stretch the wheel base, and put in full width 1/2t axles. with 35" tires and keeping it as low as possible.

thanks, derald

 

[jeepdreamer]

Welcome!!!

Haven't gotten around to building mine yet but in a few months it will start going fast...I hope. Here is what I'm starting with.
IMHO you may find the MB diesel is just to under powered. Nuke-proof, sure...but not much in the way of get up and go. You may look into the plethoria of other options out there though. My current favorite is putting in a VW TDI... One day...

 

[bftank]

i like your scrambler jeep dreamer! ihaven't seen very many hardtop models. what are your plans for it?

what kind of horsepower do these make stock?

from what i have researched the 300td makes 135hp and 270lbft(?) stock and can be made to make 170 hp with fuel pump mods. not really looking to make a basher, more like something to explore rougher backroads and tight trails.

 

[jeepdreamer]

Terms...

Just realized you are from Rifle! Funny, I was just through there in endJun/EarlyJul picking up my scrambler! I bought it from a fellow in Snomass and it was staying at a friends in Glenwood Springs. I picked it up on leave (I'm in Iraq) and drove it down to El Paso, Tx where I am stationed! Small world...haha.
Anyway...
The "build" will be in several terms...as in Short, Med, And long term goals. The real short is it will be sitting until I return home. I have been slowly aquiring parts and pieces for the build but money has more boundries than dreams! So far it will get basic Jeep related parts of importance. Weak links are being eliminated and the goal is for reliability and budget. This jeep will be going to Germany with me for several years and I need the heavy expensive stuff out of the way before I take it.
The build will go fast once I'm back but I'm hoping to take some pics and have the thread continue.
Power shouldn't be an issue for me. One of the POs had an AMC 360 swapped in a few years back so It is a wolf in sheeps clothing there. Need to do some basic maintenance stuff and eventually it will get a fuel injection system and I will be happy.
The tranny will be getting replaced with a much stronger (NV4500) one to eliminate the potential car tranny dying. Plus I get better gears.
Front and rear axles are going to be swapped as well. I found a good Dana 44 w/gears and an ARB for the front.
I have an AMC 20HD (wagoneer axle) for the rear and a detroit and gears for it too.
The springs I will play with a little and determine which ones I want to run. Gonna keep 'em pretty flat like YJs to retain good flex and ride and mount them SOA (spring over axle) for lift. Tires will likely be BFG KM2s of the 35" size. Need to fab up a better rear mount/bumper as the factory stuff is weak.
Also am hoping to nab a decent ARB bumper for it I found. Working out the details but have my fingers crossed. I have the winch I need but this will save me a little time making my own bumper.
I also found a set of 6" wide YJ flares to try and help cover the tires. Tread poking out is a big no-no in Germany and kinda makes a mess if your pulling a trailer.
Speaking of which..I have a late 1940s Bantam 1/4 ton trailer that will share some of this love eventually. I will be using it for extended runs to the wilds and it should be pretty easy.
Stuff to come....
Gonna try and find a good RTT for it. I will have to build something between a roof rack and an exocage to keep the weight off the hardtop. I don't think it would hold up long. But I can handle that. I'm also hoping to stumble across an affordable fridge/freezer and figure some way to mount it inside.
I'd also like to find an awning or two to be able to extend the shaded areas around it once its set up as a camp site.
Way to many really good ideas floating around on here...Keep your eyes peeled!

 

[Piet]

... just getting into the 4wheeling, camping stuff....
we are looking at buying a cj either a 5 or a 7.

Couple Questions:

1. What kind of off-roading do you do? Gravel Road, Trail, Extreme, Rockcrawling?
2. How many people need to fit in the jeep?
3. What are you mechanical skills?
4. What is your expected budget?

The CJ7 has more space than the CJ5. (I really would like a CJ8 for Off road adventure travel). That being said, I am running a Jeep YJ with a CJ& front end.
It gets me the CJ looks, with a wider, boxed YJ frame. (and cheaper budget). Have a Passenger side drop. Can camp with two for a week with no trailer.

 

[bftank]

piet love the jeep, any picks of it packed for one of those week long trips?

to answer your questions

1. this is going to be a beginner jeep for the wife, so we will start out on the easy trails, gravel roads and basic obstacles, hoping to build up to the more extreme stuff. mostly getting to the good hiking trails, backcountry stuff for right now.

2. just me and the wife. if we take the danes (2) it will probably be in the suburban. possibly some kids in the future.

3. i built my suburban, swapped in a 366 tall deck and adapted tbi to it, swapped axles 3/4t truck axles in. fabbed brackets and such, decent with my welder. do all my own mechanic work on all the cars.

4. i would like to leave it stock until she wants to upgrade to more difficult stuff. budget is currently getting spent on dodge and suburban. i already have a couple full width flattop dana 44 chevy axles, a 4 bolt 350, (2) sm465 trannys, (2) np205's, and (1)np203. still need a mercedes motor, adapter.

i like the versatility ofthe cj7, availabel hardtops, easy to stretch the body. more stuff available.

but this is really tempting me

http://westslope.craigslist.org/cto/1875014615.html

talked to the owner today, says it runs good, but top speed is 45 mph. i imagine that's typical for something this old.

i like the 4500 dana 300 combo in your jeep piet. what did you use to adapt them? AA?

jeep dreamer,

sounds like some solid plans for the cj8. my family is from germany, a cople of my sisters have been back. always enjoyed the pics from our german members on here. so beautiful. one day.

i checked on the hp thing.

some wikipedia comparisons

mercedes 300td 125hp/170tq stock
vw tdi 1.9 100hp/235tq stock
gm 6.2l 130hp/240tq stock

i want to stay away from the electronic injection of the tdi, to keep it simple. i might consider the 6.2l. they seemed to be similarly priced.

 

[Root Moose]

I'm thinking that the VW TDI numbers are not accurate or it is some kind of non-automotive setup that was posted to "cook the books". IIRC they are around 175 - 190 lb-ft rated in the VW cars. Still a healthy engine.

I'd stay away from the GM diesels.

2¢: You can buy a lot of gas for the money it's going to cost to swap in a diesel. Not to mention the time to do it. Get a 92+ YJ (EFI), swap in a CJ dash and front clip if you must, be happy with a reliable, usable Jeep.

 

[Hill Bill E.]

I love my CJ!! For longer trips, I take my expidition trailer with (M416 w/RTT)

I do however keep all the spare parts, tools, fluids, etc inside the CJ.

Having the spare axle shaft/driveshaft in the trailer, doesn't help much if your 30 miles away on a trail:snorkel:

Drawer in back, with tools and small parts (spare hubs, fuel pump, misc bolts)

Fluids/grease/rags inside plastic storage bin:

Spare drive shafts, axle shafts, tie rod and drag link secured behind the front seats:

As far as mods:

Wide trac D30 from an '84 CJ7 w/6 bolt hubs from the '80

D44 rear axle (Scout II)

Stock 258 CI motor w/MC2100 carb swap, HEI dizzy and aluminum valve cover, custom air intake.

Stock T4 tranny and D300 T-case, twinsticked and clocked flat

3" spring lift, 1" body lift, 33x12.5-15 Maxxis Bighorn tires

Custom 6 point rollcage, custom sliders, custom rear bumber/swing away tire and equipment holder

Warn 8000i winch with Master-Pull Superline XD winch rope

Hard top and full hard doors, soft top with lower hard/soft upper doors and bikini top.

Probably forgot a few things. Been building and modifying it since '97:coffeedrink:

 

[bftank]

thanks for the pics hill bill e. very nicely packed and creative.

any other cj owners out there wanting to share? i've looked through all the jeep pics, just wanted to get the cj pics all here.

so i assume that cj7's have a c channel frame?

 

[Root Moose]

so i assume that cj7's have a c channel frame?

That is correct. The YJ frame is much better provided it isn't a salt belt truck.

 

[Hill Bill E.]

That is correct. The YJ frame is much better provided it isn't a salt belt truck.

Nope! Some of the later CJ's have a fully boxed frame.

Both my '80 and my '84 CJ7's did.

I'm not positive on the dates, but I believe it was in '80 they went from the "C" channel to the boxed frame.

X2 on the Rust Belt Rigs!

My '80 came from TX, and the original frame and body are solid. **(which is why the CJ gets parked in the barn, as soon as the salt trucks start rolling for the winter!)Only rust was under the front legs of the roll bar.

The '84 I bought (for the drive train/wide trac axles) was a MN Jeep, and it was horrible!!

I drove it for two months, getting the engine running nice, before swapping the drive train into my '80.

I was suprised it didn't break in 1/2! The tub actually did, when removed from the frame:Wow1:

It had a boxed frame, but it looked like swiss cheese!:snorkel:

 

[Root Moose]

Hmm, I'm pretty certain my MY85 CJ8 had a channel frame... Mind you, it's been a number of years since I sold it.

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Hmm, I'm pretty certain my MY85 CJ8 had a channel frame... Mind you, it's been a number of years since I sold it.

It also could be "One of those Jeep things":snorkel:

Depending on what plant they were built in, some of the CJ's varied a bit here and there, as they were built with a lot of sourced parts.

Some tubs siad "JOOP" insteap of "JEEP", some of the '86 models got a D44 rear axle, instead of the M20.

Lots of 'wierd stuff' happened along the way:coffeedrink:

 

[FreeManDan]

I find your lack of pics disturbing

 

[bftank]

hill bill e didn't realise you were from ne mn. my wife is from hibbing! i know what you mean about the salt belt fargo was the first place i had seen salt bounce as it was dropped from the truck!

good to know about the boxed frame cj, will have to look at some. i've been leaning towards trying to find an 86 model w/a 258, a stick and dana 300.

more pics please!