Posted: 3/28/2026 9:54:03 PM EDT
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Traded a friend for this Cj7 about a year ago, but life got fucked up & couldn't drag it home until now. About 18 hours driving & 1200 miles in an old Ford to my buddies place and back. The way out.  And the way back.  Went good until about 3 hours from home & one of the hard fuel lines gave out & of course no replacement. Got a boat tank & an electric pump with some creative plumbing got us home.  Not in terrible shape, I've had the axles here since August or so.      And the replacement frame, cause this one is hosed.  Axles.  Got the 258 free spinning.  March 26, 2026 And running, with some redneck engineering.  It still lives! Ford ignition system, run with a GM module. The previously used boat tank & electric pump. Plus a random carb from a old Dodge truck.   So now the fun begins. |
set so it won't archive because all us gear heads know it will twice as long as we anticipated. 
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To say that you are on thin ice would be a vastly optimistic view of your current situation. The ice has melted. You are being supported by the surface tension of water.
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Looking at the work to be done; there got to be a better way on getting a valid VIN # and do your 100% build from spare parts than that. Who am I kidding; I looked at that type of thing back when for my own build |
The last thing a tyrant wants is their ideas to be judged on the battle field of truth and justice.
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Originally Posted By thunderopossom: My back hurts thinking about that much time in an old ford. What engine is in it? That one has a slightly hopped up 400 in it & the seat in it honestly, ain't that bad. Better than the semi I druve to pay the bills. Also have a 79 F350 with a 400 as well & a 79 Bronco that's getting a 351m put in it once I get off my lazy ass & do it. Got a couple of 460 to be built & a 429 to shoe horn into the wife's 59 F100. So many projects. So little time & monies. |
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Just hauled a much newer jeep with a much newer truck for 1//2 the time and still kinda mad about it. Im not a jeep guy but my wife loves em.Attached File |
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The before and after of a cj7 that belongs to a friend..the only original parts left on it is the windshield frame and the actual frame.. the tub and hood are fiberglass and the fenders are reproductions. We had a lot of fun building it. His girl friend at the time picked the colours..   |
To say that you are on thin ice would be a vastly optimistic view of your current situation. The ice has melted. You are being supported by the surface tension of water.
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Originally Posted By Danted: Just hauled a much newer jeep with a much newer truck for 1//2 the time and still kinda mad about it. Im not a jeep guy but my wife loves em.https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/513119/1000063424_jpg-3738163.JPG And a trailer that probably weighs half as much as well. I was always a Ford truck & Toyota car guy until I got the first Cj5. Now I love the little bastards. Went from none to three & back to none. Now I'm back to three again.... sorta. This one, a 69 Cj5 that was mine before & is coming back in a few months. And a basket case of a Yj that'll be a trail buggy someday, with a big block. Just to piss off all the UTV guys that annoy the hell out of me. Originally Posted By Striker: The before and after of a cj7 that belongs to a friend..the only original parts left on it is the windshield frame and the actual frame.. the tub and hood are fiberglass and the fenders are reproductions. We had a lot of fun building it. His girl friend at the time picked the colours.. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/135/jeepcopy-3738221.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/135/jeep23-3738227.jpg I've seen that one before sometime. That purple just stands out & stays in your memory. This is my end goal I think. I really like the color anyway, but with less chrome. Not a fan of shiny shit on vehicles.  |
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Never owned a CJ7, only a very old Willys CJ5. But I do understand the Jeep thing, they are fun as hell. OP you got a usable hardtop(!) and that looks like a solid frame, so it is an excellent start to a fun little rig. Jeep put all kinds of engines in from 4cyl to V8 in the early CJ models. The CJ7 has always been the best OG Jeep for versatility, and a little less tippy than the CJ5 and mil-surp ones. Looking forward to more pics! |
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For motivation…here’s a picture of my 1984 CJ-7 🤪 Attached File |
Not strictly Cj related, but it's Cj related.  Bronco stuff. Realized last week that I needed to free up some space in the shed & either buy another stand or free up one of those as well to really get rolling with the the Cj (no pun intended). So the Bronco is getting an engine. Needed new gaskets, seals & a general freshen up. Valve covers could've used some paint, but that didn't happen. The plan was to slap a new flex plate on (why it was pulled in the first place a year ago) & bolt the trans back on last weekend. Damn rain had other ideas though. |
After a couple months of bullshit, the title headache finally got straightened out and the title came in. So now its time to get to work. First off, getting him off the trailer & ready for the tare down.  Jeep Cj7 restoration. Will it everything? He's kind of a steaming pile of craptastic awesomeness at this point, but less so than some of the others I've got in the lineup. Next order of business, starting in on fixing the replacement frame. I really truly despise the type of repair done to it. It just creates another rust trap, but sometimes it is what it is. I've had to do the same in the past. Regardless, the old repairs came off without much fuss & should come in handy still. Pictures aren't cooperating right now unfortunately |
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Started getting after this clapped out crap over the weekend. Was raining, so nothing else to do I suppose. First up, turning the old repair into the new by getting choppy. The crap is already mostly the right shape & is thicker material than factory, so might as well.   Step 2,measure a butt ton & slowly cut to fit about another billion times. Exceptionally fun with rusty metal.    Tacked on & then glued on. Used a heavy copper backer & ran it very hot.     Cleaned up athe rear crossmember & gave it a good coat of rust converter primer & ran a burned in the inside of my repair for my own peace of mind. Least until I ran out of gas for the generator I run the welder on & said fuck it & played video games the rest the evening.  Fortunately this is worse side.  Check out these super awesome factory welds on the crossmember gusset. I reckon it's just one more thing to fix. 
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Well, the wife said that I got a midlife crisis Jeep. She might as well get a midlife crisis Jeep. The shameless hussy just had to one up me. 1967 Wagoneer.    Nevermind the two finger salute, she's not fond of having her picture taken. But the proud mama & her new old Jeep   1967 Jeep Wagoneer restoration. Aka Jolene. This'll most likely be putting my Cj & the Bronco on the back burner for a while. But whatever, I'm excited about it too. |
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Interesting I got a sort of casual “would you want this?” for a (I think ‘58) Willys. I’m debating…….  |
You should move to the right lane, where the rule of vehicle and traffic law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf, and the left lane is the land of wolves now.
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Originally Posted By fttam: Interesting I got a sort of casual “would you want this?” for a (I think ‘58) Willys. I’m debating……. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/287916/IMG_4794-3780568.jpg That looks like either a Cj2a or Cj3a. Somewhere between 1946 & 1953. I'd take it. But I'm also a known glutton for financial punishment. |
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Originally Posted By Mattgunguy: That looks like either a Cj2a or Cj3a. Somewhere between 1946 & 1953. I'd take it. But I'm also a known glutton for financial punishment. Originally Posted By Mattgunguy: Originally Posted By fttam: Interesting I got a sort of casual “would you want this?” for a (I think ‘58) Willys. I’m debating……. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/287916/IMG_4794-3780568.jpg That looks like either a Cj2a or Cj3a. Somewhere between 1946 & 1953. I'd take it. But I'm also a known glutton for financial punishment. You’re right- the daughter has the year wrong. It’s a CJ2 but not sure of the year yet. |
You should move to the right lane, where the rule of vehicle and traffic law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf, and the left lane is the land of wolves now.
Did some questionable jeep things the other day.  Jeep Cj5. More poor choices. But it may pay off.  1980 Jeep Amc 304 V8. Will it run? |