hows this..
is..say..1987
your dad gets most of the parts to an 80 cj-7 and proceeds to build a jeep with your help..32" tires, chrome 10" wheels, shortshaft d-300, totally rebuilt. and for your 16th b-day.. a metalic gray paint job. dad gives it to you,so of course whithin 3 months you roll is so bad both frame rails are bent over 6", the tranny's output shaft is broke odd in the x-fer case, and the engine is pushed back 9"...
so......
you buy a wreck of a cj for $500 with no top, no doors, no floors etc..(late fall in wisconsin)
about 2 months goes by before you destroy the tranny, bend the tie rod, and tear the exhaust off. you dont have the $$ to fix it, so you sell it to your uncle who completely restores it and still owns it to this day.
1989...another rotted jeep for $500, but this one has a t-18 and a good running 304 (and hard top w/doors)
1990...body completey rots off thats jeep, and again broke..you strip it for parts and buy.GASP..a car
1992...you find an old cj-7 sitting in a yard that doesnt move.. knock on the door, but no answer.
1993...you enlist (AKA get a JOB) and go home on leave, knock on that door again, and buy a 76 cj-7 from a nice widdow that has 56k original on it with a 304 and q-track.
1994..you burn up 2 x-fer case chains and hydrolock the engine
1995..swap in a 360 and marvel at how getting stuck in saltwater acouple times doesnt do cj bodies any good.
1996...find a great deal on another 80 cj-7 and buy it...no need for 2 jeeps, so you sell the old 76. that winter, drive the 80 from south carolina to wisconsin to paint it and pick up the spare hard top w/doors and install the t-18 since you already broke the t-176 in this one.
1997...this is the nicest looking jeep you have ever seen.. you are happy... and about to go on the boat for 9 months, so, when a buddy offers a lot of $$$, you sell your pride and joy..he rolls it 2 weeks later.
1998...find a good deal on a cj-7...fiberglass tub, 258, pearl white paint, 4" lift, 35's, and once again you are happy untill you take it to tellico and break the front ring and pinion 2 hours into the first trail.
1999...install a 360 hp engine in you jeep, and tear the fram in half several times...initiating a frame off resto costing all your $$$. might as well upgrade the axles too, so you build a d-44 for the front..lockers, tj frame, 1 pc axles in the AMC 20...
2000...swap in 1 ton axles, and eventually cut then down and get at a lot of the little things irritating you..
2001...wheel the jeep about 5 times before roliing it and totalling it. must start over.. again..
every time my jeep is looking pretty good.. i have to start over.....thats hell...
~~Elusive~~
1 ton tj-7 thingy R.I.P. (Rest In Pieces)
Current State...rolled
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