Hall of Fame 4x4 Trail Riders

scso81 · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 25 Location: Louisville, Ohio

Hi All
I am about to start a frame replacement on my 1980 CJ. The old frame is past shot. I do have a frame to replace it with.
What I am looking for is advice, opinions, story's and such. Any help would be appreciated.
What I have so far is a 1980 CJ with a fiberglass body, soft top. 304V-8 T-176 4 Spd, 3.31 N/T axles.
The new frame has the W/T axles but I do not know the ratio of them. (yet)
I plan on taking the springs to canton spring. They said they could re-arch, and add a leaf for about $50 a spring. Was considering going to wrangler springs. But I do have a Myers 6' plow for the winter. So I need good front springs.
I plan on wire wheeling the whole frame. Am thinking about using por-15 on it.
I have to keep it reasonable, price wise.

Any thoughts?
Thanks.
Mike
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1980 cj7 304, T-176 4 speed, D300, Fiberglass body, Meyers plow.
Tow Rig, 97 Ford F-350 4 door Dullie Diesel.

jeepdaddy · Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 635

re-arching spring that are 30 yrs. old is a waste of $$$ .buy new - rubicon express and BDS both make high quality good riding leaf springs.

theres a guy up the road from my house that sandblasted my cj2a frame for $100 bucks . best $100 i ever spent cause i was going to wire wheel it also.

By jeepdaddy at 2009-09-12

i'm kinda i fan of the narrow trac axles. jeeps look so much better without the fender flares. i like when the tires don't stick out past the body.
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[quote="BATMAN"]I will be the first to say I see this post getting way outta hand[/quote]

FUBAR · Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 7:37 pm Post subject:

Personally I'd use a YJ frame to replace the CJ7 frame. Better in many ways.
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86 CJ that is slightly modified for occasional off road use.

cutlass327 · Joined: 02 Oct 2009 Posts: 122

Yeah, I thought about having mine re-arched, but I heard it doesn't last very well, and for $50 each, I think I've seen new replacements for not much more than that. My issue though with new is that it is almost impossible to find new springs at stock ride height.

For $100, I'd definitely sand blast - you'll find more spots that may need attention that way, but that is a good time to find them. You'd probably spend more than that on wire wheels and supplies anyways..
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"Got four on the floor and four in the air on that one, didn't we?"

78 CJ5 258, 3spd, stock axles/suspension, fg tub and fenders.

88 Ranger ext cab, 2.3l Turbo, 5spd, t3 at 20psi, fmic.

cutlass327 · Joined: 02 Oct 2009 Posts: 122

Ok, so I was just looking, and my memory must've failed, as I could not find the price for springs I was think I had found... Was looking on Napa's site, about $165 for 1" lift springs, each....

Trying to find stock height, the seems to be the closest I can get. Why is the 2.5" cheaper?? I figure stock would be cheapest, not much demand for them usually. I guess that can also be why they are more - not much demand..

http://www.4wd.com/jeep-parts.aspx?cid=17&jeep-sid=357&plID=68
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"Got four on the floor and four in the air on that one, didn't we?"

78 CJ5 258, 3spd, stock axles/suspension, fg tub and fenders.

88 Ranger ext cab, 2.3l Turbo, 5spd, t3 at 20psi, fmic.

scso81 · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 25 Location: Louisville, Ohio

Hello All

When I listed my intentions on here for a frame replacement I thought I would be getting hundreds of suggestions and lots of advice. I guess I am kind of disappointed. But I am very glad to hear from the ones who did respond. Thank you.

Anywayhow Things are finally getting rolling. I priced getting the frame sandblasted. Found a few places that would do it from $300 to around $450. Well that was a little much for my wallet. So I ended up getting a blaster from harbor freight on sale, got play sand from Lowe's and began to do the frame. I ended up spending a little under $100 and a few days work. Now I have a nice blasted frame that I can work on and a sand blaster. It was a job but so well worth it. The frame needs repaired on both rear horns, otherwise it is in great shape. I purchased a few items. Got a heavy duty steering box mount, stainless steel brake lines, a proper fiberglass body mount kit, a new 4" suspension lift kit including shocks, boots, dropped pitman arm and transfer case drop kit. I did get some por15 and have already painted the transfer case mounting plate. Wow that por is nice! Will be doing the whole frame once it is ready. I will be using the '83 30 and 20 axles. The 20 has already been blasted and painted with the por. The 30 is next.

Well this is where I am at the moment. Any suggestions on reinforcing the frame to make it stronger? any other suggestions?

Thanks for all your help!

mike
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1980 cj7 304, T-176 4 speed, D300, Fiberglass body, Meyers plow.
Tow Rig, 97 Ford F-350 4 door Dullie Diesel.

cutlass327 · Joined: 02 Oct 2009 Posts: 122

Here's a link to a good writeup where he's repairing his frame. Does a nice job of it, and IIRC he even tweaks out the common CJ lean.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/coiz-1979-cj7-frame-off-resto-picture-crazy-647199/

What kind of compressor do you have? Just curious, because a sand blaster would be nice, but I figure none of my compressors would be big enough. Of course, IF I was to splice them together with a couple hoses... Hmmm...

As for suggestions on here, unfortunately there are not many on this site that run CJs anymore - you, me and I wanna saw Mike are the only oes I know of on here with them. Jeepforum.com is where I have gotten a lot of info for mine, and they are a friendly group. I've heard mention of a couple other forums where Newbies get flamed a lot for asking too many of the same questions without thoroughly searching..
_________________
"Got four on the floor and four in the air on that one, didn't we?"

78 CJ5 258, 3spd, stock axles/suspension, fg tub and fenders.

88 Ranger ext cab, 2.3l Turbo, 5spd, t3 at 20psi, fmic.

FUBAR · Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 1:56 am Post subject:

BATMAN · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 557

[quote="cutlass327"]Here's a link to a good writeup where he's repairing his frame. Does a nice job of it, and IIRC he even tweaks out the common CJ lean.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/coiz-1979-cj7-frame-off-resto-picture-crazy-647199/

What kind of compressor do you have? Just curious, because a sand blaster would be nice, but I figure none of my compressors would be big enough. Of course, IF I was to splice them together with a couple hoses... Hmmm...

As for suggestions on here, unfortunately there are not many on this site that run CJs anymore - you, me and I wanna saw Mike are the only oes I know of on here with them. Jeepforum.com is where I have gotten a lot of info for mine, and they are a friendly group. I've heard mention of a couple other forums where Newbies get flamed a lot for asking too many of the same questions without thoroughly searching..[/quote]

Fubar has one to.

Mines still sitting, still trying to figure out the best option to get it up an running
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'Ol Blue 79 CJ 5
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spanky99tj · Joined: 25 Jun 2006 Posts: 605 Location: canton, OH

quote; Most people seem to buy new JKs and don't know much about restoring vintage jeep.

not so much we don't know how, most of us use our jeeps daily and don't have the luxury of being able to have more than one vehicle.
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silver 08 Rubicon Unlimited

my lug nuts take more torque then your import makes. buy AMERICAN

cutlass327 · Joined: 02 Oct 2009 Posts: 122

I use mine as a DD. I just drive my Honda for the MPG, and just got the Ranger running again (flat tire with buggered lug nut had to be torched off) and thought I'd drive it this week... Miss the CJ, but I thought I'd leave it under the carport for the bad storms...
_________________
"Got four on the floor and four in the air on that one, didn't we?"

78 CJ5 258, 3spd, stock axles/suspension, fg tub and fenders.

88 Ranger ext cab, 2.3l Turbo, 5spd, t3 at 20psi, fmic.

scso81 · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 25 Location: Louisville, Ohio

Cutlass

Thanks for the thread! I have been going through pages and pages there. There is a lot of good info!

I cheated with the compressor. My cousin has a welding shop in Massillon and I was using his compressor. The sandblasting I have been doing at home I am using one of those gasoline ones. Works great!

Mike
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1980 cj7 304, T-176 4 speed, D300, Fiberglass body, Meyers plow.
Tow Rig, 97 Ford F-350 4 door Dullie Diesel.

scso81 · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 25 Location: Louisville, Ohio

Fubar

I agree I see a lot of JK's out there. Unfortunately I can not afford one. Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much money. That is why I am restoring an old one. But actually I think it is better because it is a part of me. As for the YJ frame. They rust out as much if not more than the CJ frames, hard to find a good one, and besides I already have a CJ frame. Got it for next to nothing. Plus now I have an extra set of axles for free..... Smile

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1980 cj7 304, T-176 4 speed, D300, Fiberglass body, Meyers plow.
Tow Rig, 97 Ford F-350 4 door Dullie Diesel.

scso81 · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 25 Location: Louisville, Ohio

Batman and Spanky

Thanks for the info. Luckily I still have my 1 ton ford to drive daily so I can get the CJ rebuilt. Well if you saw the frame you wouldn't drive it! lol

Probably a dumb question but how do you post pics on here?

Mike[/img]
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1980 cj7 304, T-176 4 speed, D300, Fiberglass body, Meyers plow.
Tow Rig, 97 Ford F-350 4 door Dullie Diesel.

cutlass327 · Joined: 02 Oct 2009 Posts: 122

Yeah, I'm on there constantly, I go between Facebook, Here, and Jeepforum. Gives me something to do at work when we're not busy Wink

A lot of good info on our CJs there.
_________________
"Got four on the floor and four in the air on that one, didn't we?"

78 CJ5 258, 3spd, stock axles/suspension, fg tub and fenders.

88 Ranger ext cab, 2.3l Turbo, 5spd, t3 at 20psi, fmic.