About a month ago I wrecked my TJ. It was a great vehicle and did everything I asked of it but her time has passed an I must move on. And while I like all the JKUs and JKs, the WJs, I see on this board, none of those called to me. I lusted in a different direction. Something with character, something you weren't quite sure if it made sense to buy, something that might break down, something that drives like an old school bus... I bought a 1983 CJ-7. This thread will help as I begin prepping it for my winter DD, hunting/fishing/camping rig, and overland towards the western and northern US rig.
So what had happened was... after I wrecked the TJ I began to look for it's replacement. I knew the replacement would be another Jeep but I did not know which one. The basics at purchase were that it needed to have 4wd, needed to be able to tow my 1942 Willys MBT full of camping stuff, and to take my family of 4 around during the winter. My lovely, and very understanding wife, agreed that an old CJ-7 wasn't that much different than my old TJ, and agreed that it would fit what we needed it to do. I am a lucky man. I began looking at CJ-8s but $$$$ became a factor, or should I say $$$$$ cause those things are really going up. I soon realized I could get a nice CJ-7 for what I could get a ratty CJ-8 or TJ for, and I bought a CJ-7.
I went to look at a CJ add that said "1983, 6cyl, 5spd, hardtop". When I arrived the seller was a retired fireman from out in California and such a nice guy to deal with. I also found a rust free CJ-7 with a 4.2 block and a 4.0 head, a 5spd transmission, aftermarket a/c unit, etc. I checked it out and took it for a test drive where everything seemed in working order. I made an offer and he agreed. I barely slept that night thinking about my new purchase.
The following day I went back to pick it up and he said "before we do the paperwork help me get the extra parts". Extra parts?!?! What extra parts? He proceeded to unload half his garage onto the driveway for me to take home. Boxes and boxes full of new parts for the CJ. Then we went inside and after signing the title he said "let me get you the book". What book? He had already given me 3 repair manuals in the extra parts stash from the driveway. Well "the book" was a 3 ring binder full of receipts for all the work that had been performed on the CJ since the early 1990's. What a valuable source of information. As of two weeks ago this is mine, and where I start my project:
So what had happened was... after I wrecked the TJ I began to look for it's replacement. I knew the replacement would be another Jeep but I did not know which one. The basics at purchase were that it needed to have 4wd, needed to be able to tow my 1942 Willys MBT full of camping stuff, and to take my family of 4 around during the winter. My lovely, and very understanding wife, agreed that an old CJ-7 wasn't that much different than my old TJ, and agreed that it would fit what we needed it to do. I am a lucky man. I began looking at CJ-8s but $$$$ became a factor, or should I say $$$$$ cause those things are really going up. I soon realized I could get a nice CJ-7 for what I could get a ratty CJ-8 or TJ for, and I bought a CJ-7.
I went to look at a CJ add that said "1983, 6cyl, 5spd, hardtop". When I arrived the seller was a retired fireman from out in California and such a nice guy to deal with. I also found a rust free CJ-7 with a 4.2 block and a 4.0 head, a 5spd transmission, aftermarket a/c unit, etc. I checked it out and took it for a test drive where everything seemed in working order. I made an offer and he agreed. I barely slept that night thinking about my new purchase.
The following day I went back to pick it up and he said "before we do the paperwork help me get the extra parts". Extra parts?!?! What extra parts? He proceeded to unload half his garage onto the driveway for me to take home. Boxes and boxes full of new parts for the CJ. Then we went inside and after signing the title he said "let me get you the book". What book? He had already given me 3 repair manuals in the extra parts stash from the driveway. Well "the book" was a 3 ring binder full of receipts for all the work that had been performed on the CJ since the early 1990's. What a valuable source of information. As of two weeks ago this is mine, and where I start my project:
