 |
| Years |
1976-1986 |
| Origin |
USA |
| Wheelbase |
93.5 |
| Engine |
232 cubic
inch I-6, 258 I-6
304 cubic inch V-8 |
| Transmission |
T-150 3spd
T-18 4 spd
T-4 4 Spd
T-5 5Spd
T-176 4 Spd
SR-4 4 Spd
TH400 Auto
TF999 Auto
TF904 Auto |
| Transfer Case |
Dana 20
Borg Warner 1339
Dana 300 |
| Front Axle |
Dana 30 |
| Rear Axle |
Dana 20
Dana 44 |
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For many Jeep purists the end of the real Jeep Era ended when
the last CJ-7 rolled off the assembly line in 1986. Everything
else has become car-like. The CJ-7 set the bar for future Jeeps
- even today’s JK. Round headlights, 94” wheel base,
solid axles, and great gearing all created an out-of-the-box off-road
legend.
The CJ-7 was a huge step up for Jeep with the addition of 10”
of wheelbase over the CJ-5 and door openings that could be used
by anyone over 5’7” tall. The frames got marginally
wider in the mid section for strength and support, and a wide
trac version of the Model 20 and front Dana 30 found there way
under the CJ-7 improving its stability. The CJ-7 also received
longer wider rear leaf springs that not only let it ride better,
but increased the off road flexibility as well. If you wanted
options, you could choose from a variety of packages over the
years: the Renegade, with Levi’s seat covers and top, the
Golden Eagle (aka Super Chicken) with a giant bird on the hood,
stripes and a color matched roll bar. The Laredo was the top of
the option heap with available A/C, and another of the famous
1980’s stripe kits.
Easily modified and one of the strongest followings in the 4-wheel
drive market, the CJ-7 has every available aftermarket part available
for it. If some one wanted to they could actually build brand
new CJ-7 from scratch with all the reproduction parts available.
Lift kits can be installed with simple hand tools, gearing options
abound for both the Dana 20 and Dana 300 t-case, and you can’t
throw a rock in Moab without finding a CJ-7 with more powerful
Chevy small block swapped under the hood.
The CJ-7 came is so many different varieties it could take pages
to link them all together. From the 232 I-6 engine with a dismal
T-150 3 speed to the 304 V-8 with a GM sourced TH 400 backing
it up the list goes on and on. CJ-7’s were available with
only two axle gearing options: 3.54 and 4.09 and the last few
years saw only the 3.54 as the 1980’s gas crunch was in
full swing. But the Jeep that still looms in a barn somewhere
waiting for me to find would have to be a 1986 CJ-7 optioned with
a T-18 transmission, Dana 300 transfer case, and the venerable
Dana 44 rear end optioned with a Trac-lok. This combination was
the quintessential CJ-7 and the foundation for which thousands
have been built with aftermarket parts.
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