Guess who's back? Hide yo wives, hide yo kids, because this asshole is back on the trails!
First, I want to say that I'm fully aware that this isn't the perfect base vehicle for my intended use. But I have a history of picking the wrong base vehicle for intended uses, so I'm sticking with that. It has "cuteness" factor, which was the only buying criteria I was given by the wife. It defies logic, but it must be obeyed.
What I'm starting with:
1980 CJ7
Chevy 350 w/ Quadrajet carb. TF904 Transmission. d300 t-case
Scout d44's, 4.56's, Detroits front and rear
SUA, probably about 4" lift. Rancho 5k shocks. 1" body lift.
Goals:
Make this a reasonably reliable "drive around town and get a soda" vehicle, that can also do some reasonably hard trails. I don't know that I ever need to run Pritchett in it, but probably get close to that level and still be able to drive comfortably at 55-65 mph on the road for short runs to/from trails. I'm not driving it to Moab, but I would like to be able to drive it to like, Elephant Hill. That's the gist.
Driving it home was frightening. Swerved everywhere, probably not safe over 40 mph...so it has some work to do.....
Most likely build list:
New Tires (Done: 35 x 12.5 r15 BFG KM3's)*
New Sway bar disco's (Done, just need time to install)
Some sort of TBI setup
Seats/harnesses
Some tubework to make the cage more family safe.
More comfortable and flexible suspension.
*The new tires solved 80% of the on-road issues. I think the slop in the sway bar will probably take care of a lot of what's left.
I think on that last point I'm probably leaning towards buying the Moto Built Stretch fuel tank that allows me to push the rear axle back ~4", then do some combination of wagoneer/XJ/YJ leaves to push the rear back 4, and the front forward about 2". Get some extended shock towers to run some longer shocks, and overall lower the suspension about 2" from where it sits now. I know it won't ride like coils and links, but I think it would cost half the price, flex ok-ish, ride better than it does now, and I won't have to comp-cut it. If I'm getting to the point where I want/need to comp cut it, I'd just sell the clean-ish CJ and pick up an old YJ or TJ (or possibly, a built S10 based truggy
).
Anywho, here it is in it's initial glory. If you have advice for things to do or not do on an old CJ like this, or good insight about the best way to get rid of the carburetor, let me know.
First, I want to say that I'm fully aware that this isn't the perfect base vehicle for my intended use. But I have a history of picking the wrong base vehicle for intended uses, so I'm sticking with that. It has "cuteness" factor, which was the only buying criteria I was given by the wife. It defies logic, but it must be obeyed.
What I'm starting with:
1980 CJ7
Chevy 350 w/ Quadrajet carb. TF904 Transmission. d300 t-case
Scout d44's, 4.56's, Detroits front and rear
SUA, probably about 4" lift. Rancho 5k shocks. 1" body lift.
Goals:
Make this a reasonably reliable "drive around town and get a soda" vehicle, that can also do some reasonably hard trails. I don't know that I ever need to run Pritchett in it, but probably get close to that level and still be able to drive comfortably at 55-65 mph on the road for short runs to/from trails. I'm not driving it to Moab, but I would like to be able to drive it to like, Elephant Hill. That's the gist.
Driving it home was frightening. Swerved everywhere, probably not safe over 40 mph...so it has some work to do.....
Most likely build list:
New Tires (Done: 35 x 12.5 r15 BFG KM3's)*
New Sway bar disco's (Done, just need time to install)
Some sort of TBI setup
Seats/harnesses
Some tubework to make the cage more family safe.
More comfortable and flexible suspension.
*The new tires solved 80% of the on-road issues. I think the slop in the sway bar will probably take care of a lot of what's left.
I think on that last point I'm probably leaning towards buying the Moto Built Stretch fuel tank that allows me to push the rear axle back ~4", then do some combination of wagoneer/XJ/YJ leaves to push the rear back 4, and the front forward about 2". Get some extended shock towers to run some longer shocks, and overall lower the suspension about 2" from where it sits now. I know it won't ride like coils and links, but I think it would cost half the price, flex ok-ish, ride better than it does now, and I won't have to comp-cut it. If I'm getting to the point where I want/need to comp cut it, I'd just sell the clean-ish CJ and pick up an old YJ or TJ (or possibly, a built S10 based truggy
).Anywho, here it is in it's initial glory. If you have advice for things to do or not do on an old CJ like this, or good insight about the best way to get rid of the carburetor, let me know.
