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Suspension and Engine choices for CJ7

Hi folks! I'm in the market to buy a CJ7. I used to have a CJ5 with a 304 and owned 3 YJs so I'm fairly familiar with the jeeps (although none were very modified). I have questions about motor choices and suspensions.

Motor: I love the sound of the 304. And I also liked the fact that on the highway there was plenty of power. I know nothing about the inline 6 except for a 4.0 liter I had in a YJ (not impressed whatsoever). I've "heard" the 6 has the same amount of torque. But I'm wanting to put 33s on the Jeep so I'm not sure if the 6 is going to be as good on the highway and have enough umph to turn those tires as well as an 8.

Suspension: Like I said, I'm wanting to put 33s on it and be able to drive down the highway without the death wobble. What all do I need to do to a stock CJ suspension to keep from killing myself ? There seems to be tons of different suspension modifications and I'm not sure what works well in combination (shackle reversal, body lift, add a leaf, leaf over, shackle lift, leaf spring lift, etc. etc. etc.). I'm also unsure what type of shock to get (skyjacker, Old Man Emu, Black Diamond, etc.).

Wheels/Tires: I'm looking at some M/T wheels and some type of aggressive

33s. Is there a gearing recommendation? I know nothing about transmissions/gearing. Would you have to regear the rear differential, transmission???

So, having said all that....any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Allen

Reply to
<ABanks5
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CJ7s are out there with the 304 and even larger AMC v8s. These were produced in smaller numbers than the 6 cyl so they're harder to find. They do sound great and are strong runners. There are also many ways to swap in a 350 Chevy, however this adds a lot of cost & complication. Depends upon you level of patience and the depth of your wallet.

As for lifts, if you want to stay with 33's you can run as little as 2.5" of lift. Otherwise go with a 4" kit which will allow you to run 35s. Gearing will have to be addressed either way, 4.10s run well with 33s. 4.56s or

4.88s with 35s. Naturally the extra torque of a V8 can get you over the hump with higher gearing.

There are several good spring lifts out there, but the Rubicon Express kit seems to get top billing these days. Rubicon converts the CJ's narrow 2" front springs to 2.5" which improves flex and the overall ride quality. There's also a good kit by OME, which is really their YJ kit with adapters. YJ kits can be fitted using one of several adapter kits out there. The advantage is slightly longer springs, and of course wider front springs. Another good Mfr I'm hearing about is BDS, but I have no experience with them. Lifts to avoid are anything Rancho or Pro Comp. Stiff as Hell and many problems with sagging & uneven ride height.

Then, of course, you could also consider a custom or Black Diamond coil over lift....a whole 'nother ball game!

Reply to
Gerald G. McGeorge

Allen, I guess the debate rages on. I built a 75 CJ5 a few years ago.

360 amc and Jeep t18 4 speed. the jeep t18's are extremly hard to find. I still have the one that i ran in that jeep. I am putting it behind a 401 in a 1994 wrangler. there are a lot of angles of performance. if you want a manual trans, run a 360 amc and a ti8 or nv4500. for auto I would run a tuned port 350 chev and 700R4. the Idea is that the tourque converter covers the lack of "grunt" at low rpm's of the chevy motor. The 360's make a tremendus ammount of torque at or just off of idle. as for Amc motors I think that 360's should be the most plentiful, the most common motor used in the full size cherokee. I would not go lower than a 373 gear behind the amc V8. I would look for what I want and pay the price. all of those little parts and pieces are much more than one would imagine. it is real easy to spend a few thousand doing a swap. Happy Hunting archie =) =) =)

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1994 Jeep YJ Wrangler, 4 Cyl. 5 Speed CJ tailgate, flush mounted the tail lights Pending AMC V8 Swap (401,t18,mod 20) Dana 44 front and 9inch Ford rear

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2001 Jeep Cherokee 2 door 4.0 automatic Husky Floor mats Cobra CB
Reply to
archie

I've been happy with my setup, other than the rough ride (not much can be done about that in a CJ). I have a 2.5" Superlift, extended shackles, and a 1" body lift. Plenty of room for 33" Baja Claws. With shims to get some castor back, it tracks pretty well. A shackle reversal would help a bit with the "twitch" on bumpy roads. I've heard that upgrading to the wider Wrangler springs is a huge improvement in ride quality and control.

I also run a 304, T-18, and 3.55 gears. It cruises fine, and I usually skip 1st gear on the street. I'd go with steeper gears, like 3.73 or

4.10, if I had it to do over. If you are more of an auto tranny guy, the 700R4 (Chevy overdrive trans)is the way to go. You will need adapters for the transfer case and engine, but the overdrive lets you run taller gears and still hit highway speeds. If you end up swapping in a Chevy engine, save the trouble and swap in a 700R4 while you are there.

I started with the 258 and 3.07 gears. UHHG! That's fine for 30" tires, but that's about it. I've seen the I6 pump out some very good power with some mods, but a stock V8 still beats it. Bonus: the AMC V8 is an easy bolt-in. The 304 and 360 are very common and are plenty strong for a 3500# Jeep. Don't expect anything resembling gas mileage....

My $.02: soft springs, just tall enough to clear your tires (2.5-3.5"). Adjustable shocks tuned to your liking. A mild V8. 3.73 or

4.10 gears and a four-speed manual, or 4.56 with an auto w/ overdrive.

Good Luck! Ryan

Reply to
Ryan

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