Old School CJ7 build

[cj777]

I found myself not having time to travel to anywhere worth wheeling a built Jeep so I sold my one ton CJ on 42s to downsize to a TJ on 38s...which I then sold to find myself jeepless for the first time in 20+ years. I missed having a CJ so it’s time to build another. Goal for this build is to keep it pretty mild (full bodied, leaf sprung, ~35” tires, sbc, np435, Dana 300, axles tbd) and basically have something fun and fairly presentable to drive around and take to URE or similar occasionally. I’m going to keep reminding myself throughout this build that I am not swapping one tons, coil overs, etc.

Picked up a cj7 frame and a YJ tub to get started

 

[cj777]

Next step was to pull the tub off and start stripping everything down to the bare frame and blasting it and painting it with a coat of POR

 

[cj777]

Built new body mounts out of 3/16” plate, replaced the rear crossmember, added new 4” Superlift Springs, front & rear shackles, and MORE heavy duty steering box mount and upgraded all of the leaf spring hanger hardware to 1/2” and it’s a rust free roller again

 

[rodney eppes]

Did you pull the wheels off the trailer, & drop it on the ground, to work on the CJ ?

 

[cj777]

Did you pull the wheels off the trailer, & drop it on the ground, to work on the CJ ?

Good eye! Yep, had the trailer pulling double duty as a work area to keep things (mostly me) off the cold ground

 

[Creekin]

What power plant?
304, 360, 401?

 

[cj777]

What power plant?
304, 360, 401?

I've got a few SBCs around that need a home, so it'll likely be getting a 350.

 

[cj777]

Made a little progress during the quarantine.

-Installed all new YJ body mounts, a 1" body lift, and got the tub mounted
-Installed new Trans-dapt 4563 motor mounts, and got the engine mounted. The motor is a mostly stock build TBI 350 with a standalone harness. The drivetrain will be SBC > NP435 > Dana 300.

Next steps are to finish body work on the front clip, and start rebuilding the NP435

 

[cj777]

It's been a while since an update....making some slow progress.

-Finished body work on the front clip and got it installed
-After about 50 mock-up attempts, finally got the transmission worked out. Built some brackets to tie the Chevy bellhousing to the Ford NP435, then to an Advance Adapters kit to a Dana 300.

 

[cj777]

Well I got the transmission, a new clutch and flywheel, JB Fab twin sticks, Novak hydraulic slave cylinder, and YJ pedals and master cylinder installed. Unfortunately, Rock Auto sent me the wrong throw out bearing and I'm not getting enough engagement so I've got to pull the tranny out and do it all again.