Topic: Tell me about this Jeep

[Scott S]

 We bought an investment property a few months ago. One of the "neighbors" has this old Jeep Renegade sitting in the front yard. I put "neighbor" in quotation marks because I don't think anyone actually lives there. The Jeep never moves.

 I don't know much about Jeeps but it looks like a '70's model. Would it be a CJ5? I can see headers and side pipes, so it appears to be a V8.
 I haven't gotten up super close to it because, well, trespassing, but from a few feet away it appears surprisingly solid. No exterior rust that I can see. Just a lot of moss and mold. I can't tell much about the inside or floors.

 I found out who owns the property and I'm thinking about contacting them. Tell me about this particular era of Jeeps.
 I know rust is an issue. I know the V8, if it's the AMC version,  is thirsty. I know all rubber,  etc., will need to be addressed.
 If the engine is one of the OEM options, are parts available?

 I can see just cleaning it up, buffing the paint,  make it run and stop safely and just have fun.

[Don R]

 I'm not a jeep guy but my friend who is says the 304 amc engine is a popular motor to leave in these days. Some guys swapped in the 401 but that's excessive in a stock chassis.
  I put a small block chevy in one, which was an easy swap when they came with the turbo 400 trans. All you had to do was swap the trans to a chevy case and weld in motor mounts. Then adapt a few wires and hoses and you were jeepin' as they said back then Holy Toledo!

[Scott S]

 I'm being told it's a CJ7. Any idea what year? I can't find that exact color/stripe combo on any Google searches.

[Kelly E]

It's a CJ7, you can tell by the big skid plate to protect the automatic transmission. They have a bit longer wheelbase which is good.

[Marks78]

I would guess 1979 or 1980 going by the decal design.

https://www.jeepfan.com/tech/cj-renegade-spotters-guide-page-2/

[Kelly E]

It looks like a good project. Playing in the Jeep world is fun. You can get anything that you can think of and a bunch of stuff you can't.

[Stev-o]

Yes, a CJ7.  I've had a couple buddies who have owned them and I have rented them when on vacation...one word...fun!   But, be prepared to expect a different type of driving experiencing from your car or truck, they can be bouncy! There are endless threads on this...

https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&safe=off&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS786US786&sxsrf=ACYBGNShVDuM9-_j5jAHytGBOHpeN9fIFg%3A1581981549320&ei=bR9LXuiUE4TYsAXk1o64Dg&q=driving+an+old+jeep+is+bouncy&oq=driving+an+old+jeep+is+bouncy&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.35i39.55812.55812..58443...0.2..0.84.84.1......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71..23%3A12-44j24%3A12-3.6YMvtvHLMXs

[Don R]

 My thought is go wide on a jeep, rubber fender flares and as wide a track as you can fit. My opinion is formed by my friends jeep rolling over in loose gravel.  He did have a good roll bar and his step daughter had a back injury that she recovered from.

[70CB750]

I drive CJ7 since 1998, it has 300 000 miles + on it. Just ask me  if you have any questions


Just Empty Every Pocket

[Stev-o]

Just Empty Every Pocket

Ha!  Hadnt heard that one before...

[Bankerdanny]

The obvious difference between the 5 and 7 is the shape of the door openings. The longer WB CJ7 has a square opening. The CJ5 has a kind of Oklahoma shaped opening.

[BigJimG]

CJ7, 76-79, based on the 6 bolt front hubs, narrow axles, and early door handles.  Per the earlier post, the decals would place it near to 79.  The last year for a factory V8 was 80 IIRC. 

[Scott S]

 I sent a letter to the owner of the property (nobody lives there) and haven't heard anything back....yet.

[HondaMan]

I've got a later one (1993) with the Bulletproof Six (4.0L) in it. Near 200k miles. It needed a new radiator and all fluids changed, windshield, and 4 new (plastic) door handles and [plastic] grille. Now it is my winter to-work ride. The 4WD has turned out to be handy here this year, has been much icier than normal.

[my name is nobody]

in between the 304 and 401, there's the 360. A little more common than the 401 and is a direct drop in
if your replacing a 304. Steering is well.....an adventure

[HondaMan]

in between the 304 and 401, there's the 360. A little more common than the 401 and is a direct drop in
if your replacing a 304. Steering is well.....an adventure

That AMC 360 is apparently also a bulletproof engine, from what my neighbors (with one) all tell me. Not like the MOPAR 360, which I have in my motorhome and leaves me wishing it were a 318...

[70CB750]

I have the AMC 258 - with TBI from 4.3 Chevy.

At 260 000 miles the T-5 ate 3rd gear - so I replaced it with NP435.  First gear is 6.69, I dont use it much

[evinrude7]

I've got a later one (1993) with the Bulletproof Six (4.0L) in it. Near 200k miles. It needed a new radiator and all fluids changed, windshield, and 4 new (plastic) door handles and [plastic] grille. Now it is my winter to-work ride. The 4WD has turned out to be handy here this year, has been much icier than normal.

i've had an 88 and a 96 with the straight 4 liter, 4x4.  bulletproof is an understatement.  drove both to 250K miles and sold still running strong. 

[HondaMan]

I've got a later one (1993) with the Bulletproof Six (4.0L) in it. Near 200k miles. It needed a new radiator and all fluids changed, windshield, and 4 new (plastic) door handles and [plastic] grille. Now it is my winter to-work ride. The 4WD has turned out to be handy here this year, has been much icier than normal.

i've had an 88 and a 96 with the straight 4 liter, 4x4.  bulletproof is an understatement.  drove both to 250K miles and sold still running strong.

Heck yeah, I waited until a local one got PAST the 150k mile mark before making my offer for it. They smooth out there, need a new radiator, and stand up tall again.

[evinrude7]

Radiator and a few sensors was all mine needed.

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

[333]

Not quite bulletproof motors, any of them. The timing chain rides on a nylon coated sprockets, and in the 90k range, the nylon cracks off, throwing the timing chain. I don't know about the later ones, but the earlier ones were close clearance, so when it happens, bent valves.  I had a couple 343s, which is the same as the 360.

[ofreen]

I have a '73 CJ5 with the 304 that my dad bought like new in 1974.  By the time I got it, the tub was rotted with none of the 14 mounts to the frame intact.  The steering column was literally the only thing holding the tub to the frame.  The tub would lift off the frame when you pushed in the clutch.  The frame was cracked in several places because the tub wasn't reinforcing it anymore.  The CJs of that time (commonly known as orphan jeeps) are not well thought of by jeep enthusiasts because of their structural flimsiness.  But mechanically it was (and still is) in great shape.  Because it was my dad's and I remember when he bought it like it was last week, I took it all apart, fabbed a new floor, boxed the frame, spent a small fortune on parts, and did a few other minor mods.  It is now a very nice trail jeep.  The engine is not a hotrod, but adequate for most things.  333 is right about the nylon toothed gear, it is not if it will fail, but when. 

[754]

Show us your Jeep with the turbo or blower on it.. the one that scared the crap out of you as a kid. The day your Uncle gave you a ride and took it up to 90 mph.l

[HondaMan]

Not quite bulletproof motors, any of them. The timing chain rides on a nylon coated sprockets, and in the 90k range, the nylon cracks off, throwing the timing chain. I don't know about the later ones, but the earlier ones were close clearance, so when it happens, bent valves.  I had a couple 343s, which is the same as the 360.

That sounds like the old Ford Boss 302 engines. They were famous for that if someone redlined them above about 70k miles. Replacement gears were all steel.

[RAFster122s]

If you are willing to pull the body off and strip it down then you can empty your pockets on it. Price several and price them with the 400 motor... It will always be cheaper in the long run to buy one with the work done...just like on bikes. Price a good set of tires for your intended use. Just buy them after you have it running and major systems replaced like brakes: brake lines and hoses, brake master and slave cylinders.rotors and drums... Clutch parts if needed.
Check the steering play and linkage for abnormal movement.
Sitting the brakes may have rusted the vehicle into not moving without a towtruck. Seen it happen in humid climates where the rust of the rotors and drums around the calipers and pads and inside the drums and the shoes was enough you couldn't begin to get it rolling. As humid as NC and SC is...