OK so my lil truck will be.. 22 this September..
it's time (yep anyone who knows me knows I will have a good cry when it's gone)
the new rigs I am looking at are in the 30K range
(yep used rigs are cheaper but with a very much higher interest rate)
I saw a '74 cj-7 for sale.... I could afford to restore it..
( I hope )
I just want a town rig with some light 4 wheelin'
yep it's a soft top.
good??
Bad???
and before you start.. a new one is right at the 30K mark..
AND.. my knees hit the dashboard..
I don't know much about the CJ7 but the 70's the Am manufacturers weren't well known for making lasting vehicles. If your current vehicle has a solid frame, you might want to consider restoring it. A new paint job and rebuilds on your mechanicals might suit your needs. I've had 2 70's "project cars" and both would have cost 3x their final value.
my last ragtop was a '77 CJ 7 with Quadratrac, equivalent to today's Rubicon. I restored it with a fiberglass body, one piece front front end, custom dual exhaust......etc. It had a 304 V8 and I got 16 mph. I loved it, and wish I had never traded it for a 4 door Cherokee "family vehicle".
About 2 years ago I got rid of the Cherokee and bought a rebuilt 97 Wrangler. It belonged to one of my oldest friends, who builds custom trucks and cars ( has had a couple in major car mags). I have to say, as much as I loved my old CJ7 for it's simplicity, this Wrangler is much more comfortable.
Skibo wrote:I don't know much about the CJ7 but the 70's the Am manufacturers weren't well known for making lasting vehicles. If your current vehicle has a solid frame, you might want to consider restoring it. A new paint job and rebuilds on your mechanicals might suit your needs. I've had 2 70's "project cars" and both would have cost 3x their final value.
my current ride is a lil D50.. 1988
it would take over 15K to even get it close..
C-Dawg wrote:my last ragtop was a '77 CJ 7 with Quadratrac, equivalent to today's Rubicon. I restored it with a fiberglass body, one piece front front end, custom dual exhaust......etc. It had a 304 V8 and I got 16 mph. I loved it, and wish I had never traded it for a 4 door Cherokee "family vehicle".
About 2 years ago I got rid of the Cherokee and bought a rebuilt 97 Wrangler. It belonged to one of my oldest friends, who builds custom trucks and cars ( has had a couple in major car mags). I have to say, as much as I loved my old CJ7 for it's simplicity, this Wrangler is much more comfortable.
Chris I took a second look.. this one is not worth the effort..
(and without trying to sound anti---- you name it)
the pre 80 does not need to pass an emissions test..
(also the newer ones really tear up my knees)
Hmmmm.... I'm not 'zactly olsdschool....we had a '96 2 door cherokee untill the twins came along.....then it was van city....... I just bought a used '09 JK (the new 4 door wrangler) It was really well set up with a 2.5" lift, 35" tires/rims, super chip, stereo etc...it had about 7k miles on it....I wound up paying $26k for it......it was listed on craig's list...
Since I bought it I added an ARB bull bumper on front and a super winch, side rock plates a hardtop and a safari rack...... I love it......it's fun......
Attitude: The difference between ordeal and adventure
Scars are Tattoos with really good stories
No matter where ya go....There you are.
Come Back, Come Back.....to the South Bering Sea Islands....
Conolulu wrote:I had a 1942 Willys...and loved that thing. It was a hell of a ride...
When I left the ex, it was in such a hurry, I left it too....
oh connie, that's a shame.
we're on our second Jeep Grand Wagoneer. The model we currently have we got off craigs list and is a jem. i believe the underside is galvinized so no rust. we baby that girl.
Last edited by MacPhin on June 10, 2010 8:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
JB on Anguilla 3/24/07 St.Barth's 11/7/09
Lately,newspaper mentioned cheap airfare.
I've got to fly to Saint Somewhere.
I'm close to bodily harm.
When I'm not on BN I'm on wranglerforum.com a lot.
A 74 CJ would be sweet!
I've got an 04 Wrangler, not old school by any means but I've had soooo much fun in it and I already know all I ever want is a Jeep.
It's my boat on wheels. I have not had the doors on or top fully on for weeks now.
I say go for it!!!!
"It's crazy and it's different, but it's really bein' free"
C-Dawg wrote:my last ragtop was a '77 CJ 7 with Quadratrac, equivalent to today's Rubicon. I restored it with a fiberglass body, one piece front front end, custom dual exhaust......etc. It had a 304 V8 and I got 16 mph. I loved it, and wish I had never traded it for a 4 door Cherokee "family vehicle".
About 2 years ago I got rid of the Cherokee and bought a rebuilt 97 Wrangler. It belonged to one of my oldest friends, who builds custom trucks and cars ( has had a couple in major car mags). I have to say, as much as I loved my old CJ7 for it's simplicity, this Wrangler is much more comfortable.
Chris I took a second look.. this one is not worth the effort..
(and without trying to sound anti---- you name it)
the pre 80 does not need to pass an emissions test..
(also the newer ones really tear up my knees)
Wayne, that's one reason I loved my '77....right on the VIN it said in big letters ":NON-CATALYTIC". My CJ7 was a weekend toy when I bought it, as I was driving a comapny car. We ended up taking a Sawzall to the body and stripping her down to the frame. I had a couple of patches welded in on the rear arches of the frame, installed new brake and fuel lines and a new suspension, then dropped a new fiberglass body on it. With the one piece front ends, it is SO EASY to work on, as the front fenders hood and grill all lift out of the way, exposing the engine. We had to make a custom radiator frame ( Twice, the first one was too tight and wound up destroying the first radiator). The only problem with the fiberglass bodies is sound, you hear everything, especially rocks on a dirt road. If I were to build another, I'd have the underside rubbercoated before installing, as it would deaden the noise, and give some insulation. After my divorce I drove the CJ7 for two winters, and can tell you the old heating systems just aren't made for cold winters. Even with a hardtop, I could just get the cab about 30 degrees above outside temp.....so if it was 10 below.....you could barely keep the windows defrosted
Jeeps have always treated me right....I've always had 4WD's...in high school I had a '72 Bronco and later a '77 Ford F-250. I've also owned a Bronco II, a International Scout II, a Subaru Brat and a Jeep Cherokee, but I think as long as I can drag my azz into a Jeep ragtop, I'll have one....there's nothing like 'em.
Having said that.....my '97 is starting to show a little rust. I'm going to have it fixed, but am thinking in a few more years, I'm going to have my buddy Chris drop a fiberglass body on it for me......and this is what I want, THE BRUTE....made to look like the old WILLYS JEEP pickups but you can still take off the top...I figure it'll cost me around $10K to do
I have a 87 Cherokee Laredo with 206,000 on it and a 89 base Cherokee with 189,000 on it. I'm afraid that I'm going to have to spend a little money on the 87 shortly. It needs 4 new tires, a new fan for the radiator and a bit of spot welding to close up a hairline crack in the exhaust manifold.
Captain Jack's Bar & Grill, Home to the Lost Manatee.
I had an '86 CJ7, loved it. Unfortunately I could not afford to restore it, but it got me where ever I needed to go. The body was in rough shape, to say the least, but I rarely had the top on or the doors in. And, at 6'5", I fit quite comfortably. After my daughter was born I swapped it to my father-in-law for an 87 Jaguar, and he sold it. Worst trade I ever made, I miss my Jeep on a daily basis. Now looking at the Islander. One thing for certain, I'll get another Jeep, and I'll never come back to any other vehicle.
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