Hey guys I'm Damien Bradford, I'm only 15 years old. My dad bought a cj7 about a year ago for hunting. My uncle talked my dad in going out to the snakes awhile back and me and him have gotten really interested in fixing up this cj7 as a trail rig and also as a daily driver since i will be driving in a couple months. I decided to post it up on here so i could get some feedback and opinions of what you guys think. I will get some pics up soon of what it looks like at the moment and tell you what we plan to do.
cj7 build
- Thread starter dames02
- Start date
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
I think you should put some quality tires on it and wheel it. Fix it when it breaks. 
Cool that you're looking for advice.
Cool that you're looking for advice.
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
How big are the photos? There's a thread around here somewhere that is a photo attaching tutorial.
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
It looks like a good start. I'd cut ALL the rust out rather than leave it there. If you don't, the rusty areas will retain moisture and debris and rot out your new pieces. Looks like a great starter Jeep.
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Congrats man, that's a good start!
Looks like someone has already spent some money on the rear axle, it doesn't have the original 2 piece shafts, if it is an AMC 20 axle. Does the rear axle diff cover look big & round, like a basketball? If so, that's a $300 upgrade and the best thing you can do to make an '80's CJ trail worthy.
What year is it? Only reason I ask is because some '86 CJ's had Dana 44 rears, which is the best factory option.
Looks like someone has already spent some money on the rear axle, it doesn't have the original 2 piece shafts, if it is an AMC 20 axle. Does the rear axle diff cover look big & round, like a basketball? If so, that's a $300 upgrade and the best thing you can do to make an '80's CJ trail worthy.
What year is it? Only reason I ask is because some '86 CJ's had Dana 44 rears, which is the best factory option.
A few things we plan on doing are:
-installing new body mounts with 1 in
-new engine mounts
-paint exterior
-rhino lining wheel wells
-cleaning up the frame and bottom of the body
-fabbing front and rear tube flares but will need some help because we dont have a tube bender
-installing rocksliders and rear corner panels
-some kind of rear locker
-new leaf springs with 2inches more of lift
-front stinger bumper that is street legal
-winch
-installing new body mounts with 1 in
-new engine mounts
-paint exterior
-rhino lining wheel wells
-cleaning up the frame and bottom of the body
-fabbing front and rear tube flares but will need some help because we dont have a tube bender
-installing rocksliders and rear corner panels
-some kind of rear locker
-new leaf springs with 2inches more of lift
-front stinger bumper that is street legal
-winch
Last edited:
gijohn40
too poor to wheel... :(
- Location
- Layton, Utah
looks like a great starter vehicle for wheeling... I have a 85 cj7 that I put 4 inch lift springs on it and have been having all kinds of trouble so I would recommend just staying with the 2 inch lift.
And as has been said cut out the rusted area before welding anything to it... otherwise your just asking for trouble down the road... and while your looking underneath make sure you look at the frame around the steering box... they have a tendency to break the frame or the mounts.
and you can always get some TJ rear tire flairs and put them on and it will give you a bit more clearance for bigger tires.
And as has been said cut out the rusted area before welding anything to it... otherwise your just asking for trouble down the road... and while your looking underneath make sure you look at the frame around the steering box... they have a tendency to break the frame or the mounts.
and you can always get some TJ rear tire flairs and put them on and it will give you a bit more clearance for bigger tires.
gijohn40
too poor to wheel... :(
- Location
- Layton, Utah
