Our CJ-7 build is getting close

My son's CJ-7 is almost ready for a test run. It's a 79, originally a 6. He's had it over 20 years and did a lot of off-roading with it. I built a 304 out of a bunch of extra parts and swapped it in years ago. It got so rusty he stopped driving it about 10 years ago. It's been out side the whole time and not stored properly which hasn't helped it. In 2012 he decided to get it running, replace all the lines and just patch it enough to drive it, but when we got into it, it was too far gone. We probably would have been better off with a new reproduction frame, but I like fixing what I have which sometimes bites me in the behind. The body is an 89 YJ which was supposed to have very little rust. It had less than the original but certainly not rust free. And it sure wasn't the simple bolt-on that we were told it was.

It's not a fussy restoration by any means as he intends to off-road it, so the point was to make it "safe", reliable and rustproof and paint everything as much as possible to make it easy to keep clean.

Right now it needs the flairs, some finish wiring and too work the bugs out. New wheels are on the way. The next big projects will be rebuilding the front and rear ends and narrowing the 9" Ford rear to match the front. Bumpers and doors and then maybe a proper paint job. This is just a lacquer spray can touch up and the nose is Eastwood's 2K catalized spray can chassis black. It's OK for now...

Converted the YJ body to the CJ tailgate and gas filler. Tail pipes have to be trimmed. and bumpers fabricated.

 

My goal was to try and stiffen it up with real tubing crossmenbers instead of the stamped tin. The one by the shock mounts is the old roll bar narrowed in the center. 

I just hope it's strong enough. I have to over design to make up for my crappy welding. POR-15 works great for something like this. The mufflers are Jegs $29.00 that sound like Flowmasters and it has twin cats. There are aluminum heat shields under the floor.

All the way from Cape Cod, Mass to Albany, NY. Looks like the Beverly Hillbillies.

Supposed rust free body

If I could weld, I'd be dangerous

 Shade tree mechanic

Bed Liner makes it passable. Other side and drivers floor had to be done too.

Engine runs great but has a vibration that I suspect is a wrong damper or flywheel. Have to sort that out.