The budget Rebuild by Ralph Hassel
The complete build is documented
here on www.Offroaders.com
This 1978 Jeep CJ-7 never started life as a complete Jeep; rather it was built completely from parts. The goal was to build a Jeep CJ-7 that was as close to an original Jeep CJ-7 in appearance as possible while upgrading weaker components with stronger components. Parts were acquired from many vehicles including many Jeeps (CJ’s, Wagoneers, Jeep Grand Cherokee’s, etc), several Scouts (axles, T-18A transmission & transfercase) as well as parts of unknown origin. Plenty of new parts were acquired as well to put together this Jeep. The titled, street legal Jeep was built over several years under a limited budget and limited time. The Jeep is primarily used offroad in the mountains of PA such as at Rausch Creek and the former Paragon Adventure Park as well as other privately owned hunting lands. The entire build project is documented on www.Offroaders.com as Project CJ-7. Specs and Mods below.
Specs & Mods:
Engine:
AMC 360 C.I. (5.9 Liter) Crate Motor from a Jeep Grand Cherokee, 14k miles on engine, HEI Ignition, True Dual Exhaust
Transmission:
Borg-Warner T-18A – Manual 4-speed, 6.32:1 1st gear, Rebuilt, Short Shaft Conversion, Centerforce II Clutch
Transfer Case:
Dana 20 – Rebuilt with Teralow Gears, 3.15:1 Low Range
Front Axle:
Dana 44 – Narrowed Wagoneer Wide Track, Scout axle shafts, CJ Dana 30 Outer Knuckles, Warn Hubs, PowerTrax No-Slip, Gear Ratio: 3.65
Rear Axle:
Dana 44 – 1976 Scout II, Detroit Locker, Gear Ratio: 3.65
Crawl Ratio:
61:1 (6.32 x 3.15 x 3.56 = 70:8)
Suspension:
BDS YJ Leaf Springs 3.5″ Lift, Double Military Wrap,Shackles 1.5” Lift
Custom Front Outboard Leaf Spring Hangers for Scout width Dana 44 axle
Body Lift:
1″ Polyurethane Body lift
Tires:
Interco Super Swamper SSR 33×12.50×15 Mud Tires, full size spare
Wheels:
Jeep CJ OEM Laredo, Renegade Chrome Wheels, 15×8
Steering Modifications:
AGR High Performance Pump
AGR Superbox 2 Saginaw Power Steering Gearbox
Heavy Duty Saginaw Steering Gearbox Mounting Bracket
Custom Saginaw Gearbox Brace
HEAVY DUTY Six States Tie Rods, Flipped Tie Rod and Drag link
Storage:
Tuffy Console Modifications Raised with additional Lockable Storage Below
Rear Seat Modifications, Raised and hinged with storage below & good place to mount 6×9 Speakers for Great Bass … In a Jeep!Ammo Boxes for Storage Mounted with Quick Disconnects
Bumpers:
Custom Made Front Bumper / Winch Mount, Bumper is an Air Tank, Air Outlet
Custom Made Rear Bumper / Tire Carrier / HiLift Jack Mount / Storage Rack, Bumper is an Air Tank with Air Outlet, Reese Hitch accommodations
Combined bumper air capacity is about 2 gallons of air.
Onboard Air:
Onboard Air – York AC Compressor Conversion, Pressure switch, 3 Air connection points (each bumper and under the hood), 1972 MACK Truck Air Horns
Armor, Skid Plates, Protection:
Sun Rocker Panel Guards
Warrior Rear 1/4 Panel Guards
Differential Guards
1/4 inch Steel skid plating protecting transmission and transfer case
Custom Oil Pan Skid Plate Protection
Custom U-Bolt Plates with Skid Protection
Full Roll-Cage, attached to frame
Recovery:
Warn 9500i, D-ring attach points front and rear bumpers
Lighting:
Lightforce Offroad Lights with H.I.D. Conversion 23,000 Volt High-intensity discharge Upgrade, Custom Wind shield mounts
Electrical:
Custom 12 Volt Ground Wire Backbone – Body & frame not the ground circuit
Relays for high amp circuits (Headlights, Highbeams, Spotlights)
Communications:
Cobra 148 GTL 40 Channel CB Radio upper and lower sideband, power mic (original 1980’s unit, “tweaked”). Also a backup Cobra 20 Plus CB
Mounted Garmin GMRS /FRS
Other Modifications:
Swaybar Modifications Scout Width 44 to CJ Frame
Bestop Softop and Bucket Seats
DIY Paint Job – ’77 Corvette Yellow
Rancho 9000 Adjustable Shocks
Rinoliner Interior
Hand Throttle from Bicycle Parts
MP3 Sound System
Rear Utility Lights
Jeep Project
Index of Articles
Project CJ-7 Article Index
Yes that’s correct. In fact, it’s a Waggy d44 wide track cut down to the width of my scout axle shafts, which are inside the Waggy axle housing and fitted with CJ Dana 30 knuckles. It’s amazing that it all works considering it is a bit of a Frankenstein front axle.