1982 CJ7 Build Thread - update 5/17

RacerX

Professional Knucklehead; aka Jeffncs / RacerX
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Looked at one and put a deposit on a CJ7 today. Once I have it home, y’all see pics and get the details.

1982 CJ7
Straight 6 (4.2l)
5 speed

3 small rust spots and a dented rear valence. Otherwise, clean, solid body.

This is a project for my kids and I. They’ll learn to drive stick with a manual clutch unlike most!

Been a while, but a new project is was overdue!!
 
Love my sum CJs!! I have a 1981 CJ5. Waiting on pics!!
 
67C94A54-030C-48C4-B0F8-A96D5B717A67.jpeg Laredo package
Original Texas Jeep
Sitting on 35s that run at full turn like a banshee (also dry rotted!!)

I’m going to back her out tomorrow for full pictures to document as bought.

My plans include:
Complete mechanical overhaul/refresh
Full wiring harness replacement
POR15 and undercoat interior
POR15 frame and underbody
Full roll cage with 3 point seatbelts at all 4 corners
New tires and rims
Repair a few rust spots, straighten body and paint
Black on black finished rig
 
Got a great deal on it.... ridiculous purchase price.

Working though drivetrain now. Found the yoke on the rear diff is messed up. May need to replace it - going to be lots of little surprises.
 
That's awesome. I have an '05 TJ that I'm getting ready to rebuild. It's headed to the body shop in the morning to get some floor pans and supports replaced and the whole body painted.

As soon as they're done with it, I have a garage bay full of new (and a few used) parts to install that I've been collecting since February. First on the list is to pull both front and rear axle units out and send them off to Jasper to get remanufactured.

While they're out, the Jeep will be up on blocks and 2 pages worth of parts will be replaced.

Congrats on your new rig.
 
If you decide to sell those wheels I might be interested, just depends what they are.


I’ll definitely sell them...eventually. My budget won’t allow for the purchase of replacement tires and rims for a while. I’ll post them in the BST at some point. I can’t promise to send a note to you as I’ll likely forget.

I have no idea what they are yet though.
 
Bought Centech wiring harness - starting install this weekend
Installed replacement column after rebuilding it
Have every piece to make dash new again
Selected a color - Sebring red which is a stock 83 CJ7 color

Once it’s running again (harness replaces) l, I’ll start shopping for wheels and tires. Target is 15x8 rims and 33” tires. The 35s on there now are too wide for the flares and 4” lift.
 
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Bought Centech wiring harness - starting install this weekend
Installed replacement column after rebuilding it
Have every piece to make dash new again
Selected a color - Sebring red which is a stock 83 CJ7 color

Once it’s running again (harness replaces) l, I’ll start shopping for wheels and tires. Target is 15x8 rims and 33” tires. The 35s on there now are too wide for the flares and 4” lift.

Tell me about you column rebuild. The gear behind the key tumbler that moves the ignition switch keeps stripping.

I have 33's on 15x10, no lift, but it does bump the wheel wells in some areas.
 
Cool ride from an era before they became a POS....
Had an 80 Cj7 hardtop with factory AC:confused:
FWIW find a front-end guy who knows his way around Jeep suspension and alignment...(Tubular axles, wedge shims etc.) before you invest in new "shoes".

Best of luck on the new project!
 
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Painted dash using PPG Single stage Sebring Red. Third time is a charm...right? I tried satin black and didn’t like it. I shot it with Sebring Red the second time, but the paint fouled during the curing process. Looks like the paint is taking this time. Difference being that is waited a day between priming and topcoat.

I also cleaned and Coates the inner fender wells and firewall using POR15. If you’ve never used it, it’s awesome over rust. It’s UV sensitive, so you have to topcoat if it’s exposed to the elements.

I laid out the engine harness and dash harness. Once the dash paint cures (overnight), I’ll start the installation.
 
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This thread makes me thankful I have no interest in projects like this.

I just don't have the patience to do something like this, correctly.
 
Looking good!! I been working on my CJ5 pretty regular. My goal is to drive it to work (heres the kicker) and back home lol (60 miles round trip) I am getting close!!
 
Dash harness installed - went in quite easily actually.

I used a Centech harness. This is the second harness of theirs that I’ve used. They’re on par (or better) with Painless but you’re not paying for the marketing. If you ever cal their shop, you’ll talk to the owner. Good guy.

I’m happy with the finished product.

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This week I’ll work on the engine harnessand taillight harness. The Centech product is so well thought out... factory connections, high quality wire, everything loomed from factory...

Next up are brakes- will replace booster, master cylinder, soft lines and drum brakes parts.
 
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Awesome thread, thanks for posting multiple pics as you go through a process.
Love a good build thread!
 
Dash harness is 100% compete.
Engine harness 99% complete (couple straggler wires to terminate)

Safety check passed; function check....passed when the Jeep fired up!

I have to finish rear chassis harness and get some replacement tail light (broke 6 of 6 mounting bolts when I was pulling the lights to install the rear harness). I took that as a sign to stop for the day.

image.jpg image.jpg
 
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Pulled off the rusted to heck windshield frame last night and found it was already a reproduction... thin steel and the interior was bare steel.

Using a largely rust free frame (dented corner) and a corner from a rusted frame, I’m going to make one good w/s frame.

I cut out the bad corner and coated the full interior using POR15 applied with, essentially, a big Q-tip (big cotton swab on a metal wire).

Tomorrow I’ll precisely cut the replacement corner to size and weld them together. More pics to come tomorrow.

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Bought 15x10 rims and 33x12.5x15 General Grabber tires today. Pics coming soon as I still need to collect the goodies.
 
After chasing rust all morning and into the afternoon with the mig, I was finally able to get the section welded in to my satisfaction. It took a lot of patience and a walk away or 2, but I’m happy.

I recoated the interior with almost a full quart of satin black rustoleum. I just poured it in and rotated the frame to let it ooze around. Best I could do now that it’s integral again.

FDE12F2D-010C-4F55-A619-A3901353C620.jpeg
 
I haven’t had a lot of time, so mostly just tinkering on the Jeep for the past month. I found a little time today, so I pulled off the 35s I’m favor for 33s. Clearance is SO much better with these tires in combination with the 4” lift.

44971F45-4830-444D-8DC0-BEA68B5EE7BD.jpeg

I also shot paint on the heavily repaired windshield frame. I’ll shoot the other side after this side dries to the touch. (Won’t actually touch it - just maneuver it to a hanging position to shoot paint onto the front side. The corner is the repaired section I explained earlier in the thread. I’m really happy with the way it turned out.

7675CC01-B992-446B-A392-0576F68DD879.jpeg

8FEBCE9E-B5CD-422B-B85E-E08CF922F988.jpeg
 
I have to chase down a few electrical gremlins in the dash - windshield wipers and heater doesn’t work. Think I mis-connected something in the column harness. I hate electrical gremlins!!!
 
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If you put a small, 2 or 3 inch, body lift on her it will prevent a whole lot of corrosion issues down the road while giving additional tire clearance at the same time.

I used to race these things with 4.0l and 383cuin engines. Too much fun!
 
Rebuilt my carb Saturday night. Runs better without tuning the carb yet... I’m supposed to have the week off so I’ll invest some time into tuning it and getting it ready for bodywork.
 
Finally had some time (made some time for myself!!!) and got back to the Jeep...

Had to work out a couple electrical bugs. Traced the passenger brake/turn signal issue back to the steering column harness. Fixed and works well now. Diagnosed inoperable headlights to the floor dimmer switch (part ordered).

Once the electrical gremlins were on the retreat, I started on rust repair. I cut out and welded in a patch panel into the passenger side below the “Jeep” stamp. Turned out really well and will only require a skim cost of putty to make it near perfect.

742A0991-7BBD-44FA-9EDC-ED8EAECE6A66.jpeg

D910E18C-7B4B-4721-89D6-27CE4D0D3244.jpeg

I’ll move on to the same repair on the driver side. From there, I’ll drop the gas tank to avoid blowing myself up while w do steel repair on the rear fender wells, corner dents and while replacing the rear valence (part ordered).

(For those off you with a keen eye for details... I’ll repair that small hole in the floor this week.)

I hope to have most of the rust spots cut and welded over the next few weeks. From there, I’ll dive deep into body massaging to get the panels as straight and clean as possible for paint (March/April).
 
Nice looking work. I’m hoping in the next two years to get my hands on a 73-79 ford truck for a project.
 
I had an hour to install some new locking hubs so I took it! Drivers side went on smooth as butter. The passenger side was a can of worms... turns out 2 of the 5 bolts in the hub are damaged (one stripped; one has a broken bolt). Looking for a cheap, used replacement now. Hoping to avoid buying new as I’ll end up redoing the whole brake system while it’s apart!

The hubs look good at least...
 
Keep it up man, love a build thread!
 
Unfortunately... most places only sell and gun-rotor assembly. That forces me to buy 2 full assemblies to ensure the brake rotors are matched. Removing the gun also means I’m futzing around with the wheel bearings. I’ll likely end up (best case) regreasing them or (worst case) having to replace all 4.

my other internal debates are:
Replace the calipers?
Replace the brake pads?

replacing a single $90 hub is turning into a $400 front end rebuild if I’m not careful / selective.
 
On another front, I received the replacement rear valence panel to find it some weird “one size fits nothing” panel. I looked at it in every way and angle - short of cutting, bending, and rewelding - it’s not at all usable.

I found an alternate and ordered it. Hoping that one fits better. I’ll find out next week when it gets delivered.
 
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