Cj7ish build

Mstenz23

Member
Joined
May 6, 2016
Location
Ft Bragg North Carolina
So I bought this cj7 in Michigan. The tub was completely rusted through and the body mounts had to all be cut off. Now I got the tub off and I'm having a hard time deciding which route to go. Any ideas would be great. I also have a set of Dana 60s and chevy 14 bolt to put under it when I get the tub/body/ whatever installed.
 

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For which route to go.... Endless.
What are resources as far as plasma cutter, welder, shop tools, etc?

If you absolutely love having a CJ, pan the floors out and seal everything good.

What will make things easier down the road for axle/drivetrain swaps will be if you can track down a good YJ frame to start the build off of.

My build started exactly like yours is currently with just a YJ tub and bare frame(mounts cut off and everything). Make sure to have a good foundation to start with because it will follow you from start to finish. ;)
 
I just have basic tools and a welder. The cj tub was completely shot. It's no longer with us R.I.P. I'm either going to try and hunt down a tub of some sort which I'm having little luck with, or make a floor and get a bender and tube it out. It'll be a budget build for an offroad toy. Possibly streetlegal if possible (LOL)
 
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Then you have a set of axles, trans, and frame.
If your not a Jeep purist it's doesn't add up to much. If your are find another good tub. If not your better off selling the rest and buying into another route.

You got parts.....not much else at this point after trashing the tub.
 
For a tube style buggy you speak of based solely off a donar drivetrain....look at a Formula Toy.
 
Ok, you have a 4.2 i6, t-76 (?), dana 20 or 300 and Chevy 60/14bolt.

Not terrible, really. you've got a short, stout, and touquey powertrain. If it was me, I would look for something short and light to swap the whole package into, with a title, cheap to insure... Samurai? o_O :D

Keep it creative. Keep it wierd, and woosah! :beer:
 
XJsavage said:
Ok, you have a 4.2 i6, t-76 (?), dana 20 or 300 and Chevy 60/14bolt.

Not terrible, really. you've got a short, stout, and touquey powertrain. If it was me, I would look for something short and light to swap the whole package into, with a title, cheap to insure... Samurai? o_O :D

Keep it creative. Keep it wierd, and woosah! :beer:
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Sami and that sounds nasty.....I help build build a tube Sami buggy...it had a Chevy V8. To fit the stock firewall without hacking it and a front radiator the original owner stretched the frame 12 inches in the front. Maybe a V8 could be crammed......it a' be tight.
To the OP I wasn't trying to be rude.....I probably came off like a prick...wasn't intentional.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
Sami and that sounds nasty.....I help build build a tube Sami buggy...it had a Chevy V8. To fit the stock firewall without hacking it and a front radiator the original owner stretched the frame 12 inches in the front. Maybe a V8 could be crammed......it a' be tight.
To the OP I wasn't trying to be rude.....I probably came off like a prick...wasn't intentional.
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Haha. I'm not going to be offended by some post on the internet. I'm probably going to regret every decision with this thing but it's my first actual "build" so whatever. At this point I'm trying to find a tub to put on it. In the meantime when it's tubeless I'm going to start finding a way to mount the Dana 60 kingpin and the chevy 16 bolt axels onto the current frame since the trans and engine are already in it to make my life easier.
 
Mstenz23 said:
Haha. I'm not going to be offended by some post on the internet. I'm probably going to regret every decision with this thing but it's my first actual "build" so whatever. At this point I'm trying to find a tub to put on it. In the meantime when it's tubeless I'm going to start finding a way to mount the Dana 60 kingpin and the chevy 16 bolt axels onto the current frame since the trans and engine are already in it to make my life easier.
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Link it and stretch it cjs are short it will help it off-road


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Mstenz23 said:
I forgot to ask. What is a formula toy.
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Toyota drivetrain and frame. Add tube and walla' a very light capable rig. Companies support these so much you can literally order a prebent set of tubes..assemble and play. Hard core guys eventually four link them as well.
 
Screenshot_2017-09-17-20-41-17.png

These folks are experts.
If you don't own a bender, or don't want to pay someone local you probably could adapt this to a CJ frame fairly easy. However a few dudes on here would really appreciate your business and dedicate themselves to the hobby to pursue a means of income.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
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These folks are experts.
If you don't own a bender, or don't want to pay someone local you probably could adapt this to a CJ frame fairly easy. However a few dudes on here would really appreciate your business and dedicate themselves to the hobby to pursue a means of income.
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Simple google search wiuldnof goten far on my part but thanks for the info. I would like to just tube out my cj.
 
Mstenz23 said:
Simple google search wiuldnof goten far on my part but thanks for the info. I would like to just tube out my cj.
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I thought a polite rational response would be better than a good ole fashion Flame Job like Pirate 4x4....those folks would have burned you at the stake by now.
 
For the ammount of tube goes, a lot of it would depend on how many body panels you would want to use and if you incoorperated fenders into and what not. I've only done one full tube chassis before where I used a portion of the frame. 99 TJ tub/hood/grill with only a short section of lower frame to mount a skid to. It's involved but can be as nice as you want to spend time or money on.
In this build started nearly 5 years ago I used around 210' of 1.75x.120 DOM at an average of $5 per foot doing all the work myself on a JD2 m3 bender which alone cost me $650+ to buy. Consider it a lifelong investment though. End result I was happy with. completely SC street legal. If a 26 yo high school grad living in a trailer can do it, you shouldnt have any problems at all.
mytj_zps060c579c.jpg
 
Damn that thing is gorgeous. I don't have a 600 dollar bender so I need to figure out what to use or buy or whatever. Did you build the cage and fit the panels on or the other way around. I want to have it "look like a jeep" by peicing at least hood, front clip/radiator, and fenders up front, the dash and everything , rocker/kick panel and small rear fenders like you have on yours. Yours is what I'm looking to do something similar to. Partial tub but mostly cage
 
Directly behind where the seats bolt down where the tub steps up into the cargo area is where I cut it. Tub and frame as if you were to take and run it through a giant bandsaw lol. The frame was also cut about even with the firewall in front more or less. Stock hood still hinged to the tub like it always was and the grille was ever so slightly raked. From multiple frame attachments I built up starting with double B pilar and out from there. Honestly if I did it again I would simply have gone with a titled tub (yj,cj,tj ), a matching hood and grille and a stick of 2x4 .188 wall rectangle tubing. This TJ I found out last minute was very tweaked from an interstate rollover which left me in a bind.
Also check out the rigs of Metalworx and Jims garage on here. Theres some phenomenal builders here and motivation for days.
:beer:
 
XJsavage said:
For the ammount of tube goes, a lot of it would depend on how many body panels you would want to use and if you incoorperated fenders into and what not. I've only done one full tube chassis before where I used a portion of the frame. 99 TJ tub/hood/grill with only a short section of lower frame to mount a skid to. It's involved but can be as nice as you want to spend time or money on.
In this build started nearly 5 years ago I used around 210' of 1.75x.120 DOM at an average of $5 per foot doing all the work myself on a JD2 m3 bender which alone cost me $650+ to buy. Consider it a lifelong investment though. End result I was happy with. completely SC street legal. If a 26 yo high school grad living in a trailer can do it, you shouldnt have any problems at all.
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Do you have a build thread for this yj? Also, how much to rent out that bender ;)
 
Just a heads up as I don't know how long you have been at Bragg or know the area but DO NOT!!, I say again, DO NOT!! Take anything you want fabricated to any of the shops in Fayetteville. I was stationed there for years and have seen the abortions that have came out of their shops. Pay attention here and ask questions. The knowledge here is enough to build to your hearts desire. Good luck with your journey.
 
Mstenz23 said:
Do you have a build thread for this yj? Also, how much to rent out that bender ;)
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That TJ no, the current rig is Project Steampunk on here. It's odd and hard to follow but might have some useful stuff in it.
 
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