COLOR=orangered]PICS ADDED AT END[/COLOR]
This is the 85 CJ-7 that I am building for my Dad, it is nothing special, just a basic, wheelable rig. built on a tight budgit. Including new brakes (everything but master cyll), new clutch, shocks, tires, paint, everything below, total cost is less than $2500. Pics to follow sometime. I'm jus posting this to show one option for a simple, cheap to build CJ that it definately a good rig to learn to wheel in. all the fab work is shit a monkey with torches, sawzall, welder, and basic tools could do it. The hardest part of the projece was rememberig taht when you build a rig for someone else, you gotta build what THEY want, not what you want to build.

SPECS
-Welded 4.09 scout D44's
-SOA on stock springs
-D300/T4/150 4-cyl
-HI-crossover steering using Parts Mike arms, 75 travelall knuckles
-Front springs outboarded (to fit scout front)
-Custom driveshafts (cut from auto CJ fronts for clearance)
-Bar tied into frame, plates for full cage built into tub while fixing floors
-34-950 TSL's with tubes on 15x7 wagons
-Non-polish grade 409 stainless rocker protection ( the ANTI-BLING, sandblasted surface)


Like any rig, there are lots of shitty parts still in it, the T4 sucks, the 150 is sackless, and the hi-crossover just aint gonna cut it. The plan here is to keep it light, we considered the scout-sourced 258/T-19 wide/D20 combo, but then the D44's we already had would be marginal. for the use it will see, most everything should be fine, at least for a year or two. My dad is also a kinda conservative wheeler, and isn't too hard on the stupid pedal.[

Welded front? Better fab up a steering box brace, an old jack handle works fine for the budjet minded.

If it was mine I would keep the D300 and get a 4.3 V6(fuel injected) and if you have the money a NVG 4500..

I have a cj2a that I bought a D300 from Ty here on the board I connected it to an old Chevy tranny (thought it was a SM420 but apparently it is not..waiting till I can afford the 4500) with a 95 4.3 V6 in front of that..

The jeep is already built, for the most part. Motor/tranny swap will come later, but as far as the 4.3 goes, i do have a low-mileage 94 vortech that i can get for dirt money, complete with auto tranny (460le or 700-r4, not sure which) just trying to finish it as is, see how it goes. if it comes up short on power, then its back at it again for a motor swap. maybe use the 4.3 with a 4-bbl intake from GM. I know injection is GOOD, but it is also a major pain in the ass, unless you buy a harness. 4Bangler, good call on the steering box brace, i reinforced the front crossmember where the box mounts, becase it was torn out, and the outboarding brackets beefed up the frame where the lower mount is. a cross-brace is in the plans now, probably going to make it from 2" boxtubing, if it will clear my drag link. thanks for all the advice.

Originally posted by FCwheeler
if it comes up short on power, then its back at it again for a motor swap. maybe use the 4.3 with a 4-bbl intake from GM. I know injection is GOOD, but it is also a major pain in the ass

and you will never stop kicking yourself in the ass for not going ahead with the efi the first time. trust me.

I have to agree with high5 on the FI.. As far as it being a PIA If you get a good electrical manual for the vehicle your harness and computer are from it is pretty simple.. Time consuming but simple..

I also agree with High 5 on the EFI. I have never heard anybody regret going with EFI. Although, I have heard some dissatisfaction with some of the Holley systems. Howell TBI, factory TBI and TPI never heard any complaints. I run LT-4 system and I am very,very happy with it.

Sorry, no action shots from the SNo-run, broke too much shit to have time to take pics.
SIDE VIEW

Front View (Note Bent tie rod, bald spare on passinger's side, bent rim, and shit)

The only problem with EFI is if your computer takes a spike in the back door. Of course this pretty much shuts everything down. I got to stare at a tow strap for about an hour because we couldn't diagnose what caused the spike. What the hell, it was kind of a thrill seeing what we could get up and over with a strap, and one dead Jeep!

So they make a carb version of the Vortec??? I didn't know that. My '92 mill has the better breathing 4.3 heads (as I am learning, there are three types of heads), but not the saweet Vortec heads. You get 210HP bone stock running EFI, Gawd, why would anyone sacrifice things like not fuel starving at high angles or 20MPG, or reliable starting and running, or no vapor lock, or only 15psi fuel pressure . . . .

And if you are getting the 460LE (electronic 700), you will prolly be getting the computer anyway. That tranny cannot run without it, I believe.

just wire the computer per factory specs, a fuse blocks eliminate spikes. There is no good argument in my mind why carbueration is better than EFI, sorry. If you are going to run only a 4.3, fawget fancy-schmancy. The Vortec mill makes hella power bone stock. Upgrade to an Edlbrock timing chain, high colume oil pump for the steepies (both less than 80 bones) and roller rockers (gravy); you'll have Maytag reliability and 225HP. Any more and you should be in V-8 land anyway

BTW, your Jeep is sweet, don't sell it short. Any running CJ-7 is a gift. Mine is all over the garage waiting to get together (yea, I know). Do yourself a favor and get that mill and tranny if is cheap like you say. And store if ya have to. You will thank yourself later.;)