1985 Jeep CJ

258

Manual

1JCCF87E7FT139883

Salvage

Gasoline

[zipedit] 1985 Jeep CJ7 Up for sale is my 1985 Jeep CJ7 with a non-operable 5-speed manual transmission. Please read everything carefully. I am giving lots of details on this Jeep. The Jeep has a SALVAGE title. History I bought this Jeep in CA around 2007 as a non-running project. I bought the aluminum 15x8 wheels while I was in CA along with new 30x9.5R15 tires so that I could get it towed home to South Dakota. The Jeep had a small underhood fire at one time (probably the reason for the salvage title) and after getting it running, I understood why. There was serious blow-by of the oil through the oil breather. I am pretty sure the oil spurting all over a hot engine was probably a contributing factor to the fire. This Jeep was pretty well a top of the line Jeep with AC, full carpet, and cloth seats. However, by the time I got it, there was a mismatched seat in it, the carpet was hardly in good condition, and the AC was long disconnected. I pulled the engine and did a complete rebuild on it with new a new camshaft, new pistons, rebuilt the head, ground the crank, and bored the block. This was all done by a reputable machine shop in Mitchell, SD. I assembled the engine myself. At that time, I also did the "Nutter Bypass" (something to do with bypassing the emissions on the troublesome stock Carter BBD carburetor) because of idling problems. After getting the Jeep running and driving it for a year or so, I decided to tear it down to the frame and rebuild it. At that point, I installed a Superlift 2.5" lift kit (springs on all four corners....NO LIFT BLOCKS!), repainted it (more on this later), bought a new Bestop soft top, converted the coil/points set up to a GM HEI, did the MotoCraft 2100 carb conversion using 1.08 jets, installed matching seats, made a new aluminum gauge panel with Dolphin gauges (more on this later), installed an EZ wiring kit, spayed the tub with a DIY Herculiner kit (Note: I sprayed this with a special gun and I did not roll it on), replaced the clutch plate and associated parts, had a new exhaust installed and did the Chevy Blazer heater motor upgrade. After this, I did not do any other major changes other than installing a new set of 31" tires last summer. The Good New tires installed last summer. Mastercraft Courser LTR 31x10.5R15LT. I think they were around $700.Complete Bestop softtop. Includes all the hardware. The rear window was rarely used and is still in great condition. The top never saw a winter. If I drove the Jeep through the winter (rarely), I put the hard top on and never let the softtop see snow. 6579 miles on it since the total rebuild. I usually stored the Jeep in the winters (although I drove it last winter) and only brought it out in the spring through the fall. It was mostly driven from my house to work and once in a while a trip to Sioux Falls, SD (70 miles one way) or Pierre, SD (180 miles one way). Figure another 1000 to 1500 miles on the engine for the year or two that I drove it after rebuilding the engine but prior to the tear down. I'm going to guess 8000 miles on the engine. Interior is sprayed with a DIY Herculiner kit. This has held up amazingly well. I used the special gun to get the coating on thick. I did not seal it with the clear afterwards so the black has turned into a darkish gray. I did the interior tub, the foot boards on the side and the doors. Has an aftermarket center consoleTilt wheel with a GT Grant steering wheelSuperlift 2.5" suspension lift with springs on all four corners (NO LIFT BLOCKS!!!)HiLift Jack MotoCraft 2100 carb conversion with 1.08 jets. I'm using a manual choke. GM HEI ignitionChevy Blazer heater motor conversion. After doing this conversion, the heater now puts out more heat on low than the old one did on high. Replaced the leaky prone plastic valve cover with an aluminum finned valve cover. Hint: DON'T use a gasket when installing an aluminum valve cover. I used red hi-temp gasket silicone and that took care of all the leaks.Has new wiring with an EZ Wiring harness kit. I used the 21 circuit kit just because it was only about $20 more than the 12-circuit kit. Needless to say, there are plenty of circuits left for lights and whatever else needs to be added.I left the AC compressor on the engine. I was always going to convert this to an onboard air compressor, but never got to it. I replaced the hood hinges and hold downs with stainless steel items. The truck runs great.The truck is super easy to work on now with the basic wiring and getting rid of the points distributor, the coil, the Carter BBD carb, and the FoMoCo starting system. If you live in a state that requires emission testing, you may not want to purchase this truck unless there is an exemption for older vehicles. The Bad The 5-speed T5 transmission is toast. I was driving this down the interstate last week when I thought it popped out of 5th gear. Upon trying to shift back into 5th, I found that 5th decided to mutiny and disappear. I also found that 5th decided to recruit 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Reverse during the mutiny. Fourth gear, however, decided to stay around and get me home. I researched this problem on a Google search and found that evidently one gear in the trans may have given up. Sounds like kind of a common issue with the T5 transmissions.It has a SALVAGE title The paint is really faded. I painted this with implement paint at the time because I couldn't see putting a lot of dollars into automotive paint since I did not see how much this would see off road or getting scratches or dings. Needless to say, the paint only held a shine for about six months before the fading started. I tried buffing it out one time without much luck. As luck would have it, this Jeep saw no off-road time. The only bondo (from what I can remember) is across the top of the truck just ahead of the windshield and the left front fender where some idiot texting on a cellphone decided to change lanes while I was occupying the said lane. The wipers work off and on. I replaced the switch last week (about two days before the 5th gear mutiny) but they still come and go as far as working. I have a new wiper motor for it that I have not installed. When I rewired it, I soldered all of the connections but maybe a ground or something is loose or maybe the motor is bad.The driver seat side is broken from constantly sliding in and out of the seat. (see pic).The brake master cylinder leaks a bit. Last year, I had to bleed the brakes about every month or so. I was going to replace it this year before summer, but with the trans out, I decided to leave it as is.The top of the transfer shifter handle is broken off. I have a replacement that I will include. I have the knob, but the threaded part is still stuck inside. The rubber boots around the transmission shifter and the transfer shifter are cracked. They should be replaced.The next is something I've just learned to live with. The transmission shifter handle is held in place with a cheap crappy piece of plastic. I've replaced it a couple of times but it would break about a month or so later. After the last time it broke, I just left it off. The shifter handle can just be pulled out of the housing easily without that piece in there. Like I said, I just learned to live with it.There is a tad bit of rust coming through on the driver's side just below the door. There was some diamond plate corners on the rear corners. I never filled the holes in when I removed them to paint the truck. I was going to reinstall them but I had some concerns of the body panel rusting so I just left them off. I no longer have them.I do not have the door panels for the hard doors. I was always going to make some out of 1/8" hardboard and vinyl but never got to it. I rarely drove the Jeep with the hard doors on anyway and most of the time, I drove it doorless.I have the back seat, but it is still the original tan color. I never installed it after the rebuild. At the best....it is in fair shape. I never installed the dash lights for the wiper and heater controls. I have a new set *somewhere* but cannot find them. I still have the used set that I will include.The Jeep could use a new muffler The "I Would Probably Do Different" ListI wish I used AutoMeter gauges instead of the Dolphin gauges. I had to replace the fuel gauge already because I did not trust the reading on it after running out of gas a couple of times. After I installed the AutoMeter gas gauge, I haven't had any problems. The temp gauge reads hot all the time. I KNOW the truck is not running that hot. There is an electronic speedometer in it that I have not recalibrated for the bigger tires.Although I haven't driven the Jeep much since putting the new tires on, I wish I'd gone with the 30" tires that I had before, The Jeep is a little sluggisher...especially on hills....than it was before. It's definitely more noticeable with the bigger tires.I painted the steel doors with the Herculiner kit on the premise that I would have the luxury of taking the doors off on nice days before installing the soft top and I could just toss them in back until I needed them. That way I did not have to worry about scratches. I'm not sure I would do that if I could do it over because I rarely drove the Jeep with the doors on it anyway. ExtrasReplacement transfer shifter. Knob is included however the threaded shaft is broken off in it. Might be easier to get a new one. Replacement new wiper motorBack seatVarious suspension bushings that I either had duplicates of or didn't installTransfer gasket and seal set CASH UPON PICKUP! I highly recommend to look at the Jeep before buying! The Nope ListI won't take checks, cashier checks, money orders, PayPal (other than the deposit) ship the Jeep anywhere by wiring me $5000 and I can keep the difference lowball offers (I don't NEED to sell this.)help selling itI'm not parting anything or selling anything separately Payment/Pickup $100 down through PayPal upon purchase. Cash for the rest when the Jeep is picked up. I can work with you as far as a timeframe to pick up the Jeep and pay the rest of the balance due. I would prefer within 14 days, but I'm open for discussion. Trades About the only thing I would be open to on a trade is a 1988-1993 Ford Mustang. Body condition is not important, however it MUST have the following: 5.0L HO V8 Automatic Trans Good Interior (especially the bucket seats, console and dash. Must be black, gray or red for colors.) Prefer not too many miles over 100,000 Must be in running/driveable condition Clean wheels and good tires I will not trade the Jeep and cash for the Mustang. It either needs to be the Mustang and a bit of cash or an even trade.Additional Items After Posting the Ad The Jeep original color was a color that I called Diarrhea Brown with a tan top. Unfortunately, I don't have any pics from that time in it's life. The original tan top got stolen before I had a chance to pick the Jeep up at my son's house in Los Angeles. I ended up buying a different hard top because of that. I see in the AutoCheck title thing that it is not showing a mileage discrepancy. When I installed the new electronic speedometer, I left it at 0. The mileage as of right now is showing the 6579 on the odometer. Upon getting a new title with the new odometer reading, I am pretty sure that will flag.I see I bought the Jeep in Jun 2006. I've owned it longer than I thought.