Commando

I know this only the second jeep topic in here, but I figured I will ask anyway. I am looking to buy a jeep, and there are a couple I am looking at, there are two that look like I may buy. So heres my question how compatible are cj7s and cj5s, the reason I ask is there is a 1979 cj7 with a decent frame and engine, but a rusty tub, and body also has bad seats and the 1966 cj5 has a decent tub and body, wheels, seats, and axles, but a bad frame and motor. So I figured for a grand I could buy both and combine the two, and make something out of them. Let me know what you think or if you have experience with the two. Thanks for looking.

78D200

The bodies are different. I would just get the cj7 and buy a fiberglass tub that way there you'll be set for life. never have to worry about rust and any damage is easily taken care of with the help of some fiberglass repairs kits.

While you have the body off, I would clean the frame and POR15 it.

Now the cj5 could have the old buick 225 which is a sweet little motor for a small jeep like that. the cj7 will either have the 4.2 or a 304. Both decent motors, but I would prefer the 304 as there are a lot more upgrades for it.

Commando

I forgot about posting down here in this section, but heres what happened; I confirmed the incompatibility between the 5 and the 7. Then my brother sends me this Craigslist ad for an 85 cj-7, I e-mail the guy and he sends me this,

"1985 jeep cj-7 engine replaced in 2000 256cid with Clifford intake,weber outlaw carb,headman headers custom made dual exhaust,t-5 trans centerforce clutch,dana 300 transfer case, amc 20 rear, with superior one piece axles,agr steering box,bracket and pump, drop pitman arm, hei ignition, tom woods driveshaft and joints,4” lift springs and shackles,new in 2005 steering wheel,windshield ,frame,hinges,and gasket. Body is rough holes throughout, but runs great. $1000.00 takes the jeep,title and spare parts."

I am reading this going I read 3 parts and the cost is already over $1000, so needless to say I bought this one:http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/m...o/1985%20CJ-7/

It runs and the description was very accurate and it is a straight 6 engine for those of you who don't know what an amc 256 is, I am happy with the deal, but now I have to teach myself body work to put a new tub on.

I am buying a cheap yj tub, the wrangler right after the cj-7, and hoping I can trade it for a nice cj-7 tub.

78D200

Sounds like you really made out on the deal. There are a decent amount of people out there that hate doing boy work and are willing to sell their rig cheap with a great drivetrain.

I would get a fiberglass tub/one-piece front end kit for it and call it a day. It'll take a some time to do the swap but you'll like it a lot better. Just test fir everything, remove it, paint it and then put it back together.

Brian Parmeter

Forget that.Did you check the difference between the cj7 tub and the yj tub?If you did you would know that all of the dimensions that count are the same.Even the hardtop off of a cj7 will fit a wrangler.Besides the fact that real jeeps have round headlights(LOL) I would slap that Yj tub on and call it a wheelin trip.

Commando

Been away for a bit and have figured the YJ tub will be going onto the CJ-7 frame. 2 mounts in front of the rear wheels do not line up, so I am going to skip them and the rear cross member needed to be replaced as the body mounts are wider apart. Painted and undrcoated most of it and hopefully will be putting it back together soon, been spending a lot of time waiting for the welder's and my schedule to line up, wish I could weld as it should take a few minutes to weld on.

Commando

Just reading through the description I posted from Craigslist, making me laugh a bit, the clutch was not centerforce, the cover was. The custom made exhaust is up swept at the end and the runoff from the rear flare drips right into it. The rest seems accurate except for the spare parts, a handful of stuff that I still don't know if it is for this application.

Brian Parmeter

If I were you I would practice welding on the frame that way when your not satisfied with the axles or the suspension you have enough experience under your belt to try a shackle reversal or an axle swap or spring over.My buddy had a 4 in lift on his 7 and took it off to go with a set of stock yj springs and a spring over.The reason why is the yj has a longer spring pack and a softer rate,then you do the spring over and you still have 4 in of lift and more flex.I have built alot of offroad jeeps and the best advise I would give anybody is before you dump a bunch of money into the suspension or bumpers or a winch#1 BUY LOCKERS AND GEARS!