Hello out there

[jmitchell3699]

Hey guys/gals,

I've been looking/reading over this site for a while now and decided to join. I'm in the process of selling my truck (2003 GMC 4x4, single cab, 4.8 V8, if anyone is interested) and getting a CJ7 or CJ5. I'm wanting to turn my future Jeep into a partial expedition vehicle, but still have it as a daily driver.

Cosmetic wise, I'm wanting bumpers, winch, jerry cans, axe, shovel, rack over back spare tire that will hold the jerry cans/axe/shovel, and possible a roof rack. I will search for a small trailer to convert to an expedition trailer as well.

My main reason, and first question, for joining this site is to get as much information from all of you all that have already built amazing vehicles; specifically cost. I'm not a rich person, and I assume most people on this site are not related to Bill Gates, so I wanted to know a rough idea of what I might be looking at as an investment?

Also, right now, I'm not too mechanically knowledgeable, but that will change as soon as I finish reading my CJ7 books. My next question is what all is needed, mechanically, to build a nice expedition rig? Engine? Transmission? Suspension? etc...

I'll go ahead and apologize for newbie questions and thank everyone for thier future guidance and suggestions. I've seen some beautiful Jeeps on this site, but not very many CJs. Anyone out there with a CJ that wants to post a pic of it?

Thank guys/gals

James

 

[JChatary]

First off....welcome to ExPo! :beer:

I'm sure you will be provided with lots of great info for your build up! Just make sure to post lots of pictures of your progress!

Have fun!

 

[absolute]

Welcome to the coolest place on the internet!

I'll post up from the CJ7 aspect! I haven't put together an "ExPo" build page yet, as I've been really busy both personally and professionally.

As far as motors, tranny's and transfer cases the possibilities are endless!
My CJ-7 started life with a 258 straight 6 and standard transmission and a Dana 20.
Now it’s running a Crisp 350 Chevy, TH350 Auto and NP205. I went with this setup b/c I'm familiar with Chevy equipment and I had the parts available. With the suspension I would recommend Rubicon Express Kits. Their products are great, and ride quality was greatly improved over the old leaves that were installed when I purchased my rig. (I believe they were rough country or tuff country) Other little things that you might want to consider on a CJ is a full roll cage. The factory bar is not sufficient. Spend the money on one that is professionally built. Don’t cut corners when it comes to your life.
The only thing I could mention with price is take your time and do research on QUALITY parts, no sense in buying twice.

Hope this helps!


Nick

 

[FourByLand]

Welcome to ExPo!

:26_13_1:

 

[86cj]

[Also, right now, I'm not too mechanically knowledgeable, but that will change as soon as I finish reading my CJ7 books. My next question is what all is needed, mechanically, to build a nice expedition rig? Engine? Transmission? Suspension? etc.../QUOTE]



Welcome to the Expo.....

I would suggest keeping your truck and finding a CJ with a good title and as many drivetrain parts as possible. The rest will probably need to be rebuilt or replaced to have a reliable Expo Jeep that is solid throughout, even the frame is prone to rusting and bending...

That being said a CJ is the perfect platform to learn and build your skills.. I know mine always kept me busy fixing something even when it was new. A CJ has some real "cool factor" built in, and is easy to work on. I say go for it, parts are easily available and as cheap as any.


If you want a DD Jeep a CJ is a bad choice, but a newer TJ or LJ could work out fine, my 04' LJ has been 100% reliable and literally rides like a Cadillac compared to my CJ........



What kind of fuel milage does your truck get I have heard good things about the Chevy V8? ....

 

[maximumrob]

I 2nd the thought of keeping your existing truck. It would definitely be cheaper, leaving funds for actually taking trips instead of writing about trips on blogs

You have a great truck to start with. Level out the front suspension, put a locker in the rear, add some slightly taller, streetable mud treads, and start going places. Maybe toss on a topper if you want hard sides on your "tent."

Money's a lot harder to come by when you're restoring an older truck. You'll likely shoot your wad on just trying to make it dependable enough to take on long trips and then you'll be poor, unable to travel, and still not have the truck you want.

Take pics and share here, regardless of which way you go.

Enjoy!

 

[Mayne]

I love old CJ's, but that being said, the wrong one and sometimes the right one, can be an absolute wallet drainer. I run a very stock running geared TJ to work and back evryday, and still use it for an expo rig. I like being able to wrench on my terms, not the Jeeps terms.


Welcome to the board

Mayne

 

[Root Moose]

If you want something vintage, save up and get something that is already 80% of the way towards your "vision".

Restoring a vehicle is a big money pit and some would argue even a waste of time. There are so many vehicles out there that someone else has already restomod'ed and then end up selling for cheap because they are tired/bored with it. That is the place to start IMO. That's what I'm effectively doing with my YJ. Bought a Jeep with a blown engine that had a recent body job done to it. Got it cheap.

As for DD'ing a vintage Jeep, it can be done if you are smart about the modifications. The biggest things are longer wheelbase is good (hence the reason why the CJ5 turned into the CJ7), good quality springs and shocks, proper steering gear and geometry to deal with lift springs and oversized (wrt stock) tires.

You can make anything work if you want to badly enough.

 

[jmitchell3699]

Thanks everyone for the greetings; much appreciated!

First off, my truck gets really great MPG for a V* 4x4; around 17 in the city and close to 21 on the highway.

Second, the reason I want an older vehicle is because I'm tired of hooking my truck up to a computer to find out what is wrong with it. Maybe I'm just not far enough along in my education of being a mechanic, but I want something that I can fix with a wrench or a screwdriver and not an IT guy. Correct me if I'm fooling myself by thinking I'll solve this problem with a CJ...you all are the masters :bowdown:

Third, everyone seems to have the exact same line of logic my dad has; save my truck and by a second vehicle when I have the money. Maybe I should listen to the elder wisemen of the world.

I am stubborn though, and really love the look of a CJ7. My expedition vehicle doesn't need to be large, just enough room to carry myself, my dog, some food, and a woman if I can meet one that'll ride in a CJ7 on a first date.

After saying that, I like the ideas everyone has mentioned about fixing up my truck for an expo vehicle. I've got some thinking and decision making to do. But, I'm in rush.

Check out the pictures of my truck below. Its a 2003 4.8 V8 regular cab, stepside 4x4 truck. everything pretty much is stock outside of what I mentioned; and a tow package and sliding back glass.

 

[madizell]

I have been driving a 1985 CJ-7 since 1991. It has gone through changes from 4 cylinder to V-8 and so on. Whether in stock trim or as currently built, I would not want to drive it as a daily driver. Any CJ-7 you find is going to have to be at least 22 years old since they stopped making them in 1986. The Dana 30/AMC20 axle combo on the later models is okay for general use, but the engine and transmission combinations were mostly weak. The BW T4 or T5 both suffer from lack of guts. The SR4 transmission is a waste of money and I would not recommend a Jeep that has one.

Regardless of the condition of the CJ-7 you find, you should expect to be spending time wrenching on it. All of the later CJ-7's also had a computer, but it was rarely an issue. The greater issues are with carburation and ignition systems. A 20+ year old car is probably going to leak air around the throttle plate shaft, and as far as I know, this can not be repaired without bushing the shaft hole and replacing the shaft. I don't remember ever seeing a kit for this. Simply installing a carb rebuild kit won't fix the most common issues.

Frame stress is also an issue on the CJ-7 series. The frame is boxed, but made of relatively light metal, and tended to rust from the inside out, and to crack at several points of high stress if used off road. All this can be repaired, of course, but it is something to watch for.

Also, all of the CJ-7's rusted out fast around the seams in the body. There are open pinch weld seams behind the tires, and in several other places, that collected dirt and then attracted water. It was not common practice to rust proof or undercoat Jeeps back then so most were not protected from rust. If you find one that has virtually no rust, it either sat in a garage for 20 years, or has a replacement body.

I would have to consider such a vehicle a project car, not a daily driver. I would hang onto the GMC as it will be far more reliable, and then buy whatever you want to have to play with as a second vehicle. The fact that the new GMC has an OBDII computer is not a downside. These computers are easy to live with and are generally reliable. A simple code reader will let you communicate with the computer, and for under $200 you can get a versatile code scanner that will not only read codes, put run diagnostic checks, should you need to do so. You can't do that with the old Jeeps, so when they conk out, you have to figure it out by your self. If your mechanical skills are up to dealing with an old car, you can easily learn to deal with the new ones.

 

[dennisuello]

Third, everyone seems to have the exact same line of logic my dad has; save my truck and by a second vehicle when I have the money. Maybe I should listen to the elder wisemen of the world.

That's what I would suggest. You can get a RTT and mount it above the bed and you'll be set for most trips. Save your $$$ for a Jeep.