Jeep CJ 7 1982 with AMC Straight 6 Lifted and Lots of Fun Custom Extras

Jeep CJ 7 1982 with AMC Straight 6 Lifted and Lots of Fun Custom Extras

As a daily driver, this timeless classic CJ7 has been slowly upgraded through the years with fun extras and especially enjoyed going “topless” on the beach.

Engine

The In-line AMC 258bStraight 6 Cyclinder is mostly stock on the mechanical side, but has advanced from the Carter Carb days to a Weber Carb, Crane’s Cams Ignition System, MSD Distributor, Electric Fans, Aluminum Radiator, Holley Electric Fuel Pump and Regulator, and Off-Road Poly Fuel Tank. There is no history of overheating, oil in the coolant, or smoke in the exhaust. Overall the engine runs smooth and quite with a relatively easy start, however living in Arizona, I have removed the choke cable, so on cooler days, you may have to flutter the pedal initially to start and put up with a bit of warm up time. The valve cover and oil pan gaskets were replaced, so there are no significant leaks or wet spots under the motor. Like all older vehicles, some seepage may come with the territory. As the engine is currently in running condition, I have not investigated compression testing or considered rebuilding. The 35 year old engine may be due for some mechanical servicing at any time or down the road.

Transmission

In 2011, the original light duty Borg Warner T5 5 speed transmission failed beyond the point of repair and was replaced with a medium duty AX15 kit from Advance Adapters which included the AX15 transmission, plating, bell housing, fly wheel, u-joint, and drive shaft. Overall the upgrade was a solid improvement in shifting and alignment, however I was still left with occasional clunks and other oddities most likely originating from the chain driven transfer case. One shop suggested dropping the transfer case and rebuilding. Since the jeep was driving without issue, I never found the time to investigate the transfer case or gear down the universal to match the taller gearing of the AX transmission. The transfer case does still activate the 4wd High and Low, but requires shifting on a flat surface and sometimes rocking to alleviate pressure to allow the shift.

Electrical

By 2009, the electrical was a mess of tangled splices and mysterious wires to nowhere, so I undertook a full re-wire with a Painless Fuse box and Wiring Kit. The fuel pump, ignition, and fan are on switchable circuits that can be killed or started from the dash. In the re-wire, I left out the automatic fuel pump kill for rollovers and accidents. In general, good practice would dictate going back and adding the rollover kill switch. Overall, all circuits are well marked and logically planned out.

Suspension and Tires

The jeep has at least a 4 inch Pro-Comp lift kit combined with 35 inch Big O Off-Road Tires and American Racing Rims. Through the years, I have forgotten which kit I installed, but was sure to address the issues of a dropped Pitman Arm and other steering components. Still, the Jeep does misbehave a bit when going over 65 mph, so I removed the power steering belt to run faster on the highways with 80 mph speed limits. Compared to many older jeeps, this CJ offers acceptable to better road manners in most situations. The power brakes do stop strong albeit braking distance could be a bit better with larger rotors to match the taller tires. A shackle reversal has also been a consideration for better on and off road suspension performance.

Body and Cosmetics

Originally equipped with a basic roll bar, I extended the cage to fully enclose the driver and passenger. The protection could be improved by adding a bolting plate on the undercarriage or increasing reinforcements especially for serious off-roading or crawling. The aluminum dash board offers rust free pleasant aesthetics as a background for classy round Autometer Gauges. Cordeau racing seats were combined with a five point racing harness to keep passengers in the seats when on rough terrain. The front and rear tube bumpers were more JC Whitney styled aesthetics touches to finish the outside than practical upgrades for the trail.

The floor is solid and free of rust. To provide a practical surface, I sprayed in a heavy duty bed-liner. As I had initially intended to build up more of a crawler than a driver, I did not opt for a high end paint job. Unfortunately, the gorgeous green paint did not hold up as well as expected on some of the side panels and will need a little sanding and repainting on the rear driver side panel. Another option to consider would be replacing the troublesome areas with diamond plating instead.

Overall

Purchased in 2004, this CJ has come a long way from being a barn find and is halfway to being a truly amazing Jeep while commanding style lost in the new plastic Chrysler Jeeps. Most of the work was performed from 2005 to 2011 and with a growing family and business, the jeep was ultimately retired to short town runs in 2012. In 2015, she was garaged and just started from time to time in order to keep the engine in working condition. With endless potential, this CJ can be built in almost any direction or just enjoyed as a “real” jeep without further work besides occasional maintenance.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or call my business line at 575.737.8521. The Jeep is now housed in Montclair, NJ. Showings or test drives are available by appointment.

To view a few video clips of the jeep driving and running, please check out:

1. https://youtu.be/ArIuDAOUiAw

2. https://youtu.be/Wyo8LyyVLsg

3. https://youtu.be/dm9dMiWc1fc

Thanks.. RJ

quick list

engine: AMC 6

transmission:

transfer case: Dana

lift/suspension: Pro Comp

wiring: Painless

ignition: MSD / Crane’s Cams

carb: Webber

fuel: Holley Electric / Poly off-road tank

cooling: electric fan / aluminum radiator

tires: 4 Big O 35s 3 directional and 1 mismatched cross pattern

exterior: acceptable, peeling paint / imperfections, low to no rust

seats: Cordeau racing with 5 point harness

roll cage: custom extended

overall: working / drivable, unknown engine life or use

title: clear and on hand: VIN 1JCCN87E7CT010377