New Jeep questions

I finished (sort of) rebuilding a 1985 CJ7 about 6 months ago and sold it to a guy here in Alabama. I swapped in a reman 4.0 with fuel injection, gave it a new suspension, stearing system, wheels, tires, and paint. I sold it around January and used the money to buy a 1997 BMW 528i.

Now that the sun is out, I miss my Jeep. I want to rebuild a CJ5 and have a bit of a plan but could use some more help. I'm thinking of buying a 73 from a guy but I'm not sure if it's good or not. He's saying that the frame has some rust but he's not sure if it's rusted through. Knowing what I know, I'm pretty sure that means the frame is jacked up! Since I'll be putting a 350, LS1, or some other motor in anyway, is this a big deal? I've gotta weld in new mounts so who cares, right? Also, the body is shot and I think the axles might be as well. he only wants $900 for it but it may be a nightmare. What do you guys think?

 

Generally you get what you pay for - the more you invest in the vehicle you start with, the less it will cost you in the long term.

There's not a lot of advantage to the LS1 over the stock 304 from that period. You can put in the Chevy, but IMO all you're doing is making a brand statement, not a practical choice. The AMC V8s can be fit with TBI or MPI for no more than you'd pay for the LS1, and you'll be waaaay ahead in time and effort.

Sorry if this sounds too negative, but it sounds like you're looking at a parts car, not a good start to a project. Look for something with a solid frame, a solid body, and as close to the final drivetrain as possible. JMO.

 

I'll agree with you to an extent. The only problem I'm trying to avoid this time is that it's difficult to find parts for Jeep. Not so much hard as time consuming and costly. By the time I got done putting the 4.0 in CJ7 I could have had 350 swapped in. I found that I couldn't just go to the parts store and get a clutch assembly for my setup without driving and calling all over the city for two weeks! Not to mention the other gremlins that I ran into after the swap was done. I'll really have to start finding something with a V8 then. Thanks!

 

Well, if you're worried about parts availability, don't build an intermediate (72-75) Jeep. They are the red headed stepchild of the line. The 76-79 CJs are almost the same in appearance, have a similar drivetrain, and the parts are much more available.

 

Actually, parts are not hard to find for these JEEPs. You just need to know where to look . Plenty of internet sites that have all of the parts you'll ever need. Ofcourse, ordering forom the web does mean you'll have to wait a couple of days to get what you need.

Anyway, I have a 350 swapped into mine. I am very happy with it. However, it was swapped by the PO. I did not have to do the work. I would have been perfectly happy with a 6 cyl or AMC V-8 in a newer model but this was there and made the deal worthwhile. I couldn't have bought the adapters for what I initially paid for speedy and the frame was solid as well as the body.

If there is rust through anywhere on the frame of the JEEP you are looking at, keep looking for another JEEP. I think you'll be happier in the long run. Just my humble opinion

 

I'm sorry did I read you sold your Jeep for a bmw? Just kidding ....no I'm not ,R) Your comming back! By a Jeep any Jeep!R)

 

I wouyld stay away from the $900 Jeep and find something a bit nicer. Amazing what $2,500 or $3,000 will get you! Take a little tour on Ebay to see what is out there. If you want a project to work on buy the $900 Jeep. If you want a Jeep to drive enjoy and tinker with... pay up a bit!

Good luck!