1985 CJ7/5.3L build

myjeepsbigger · 12-27-2010, 10:38 PM

Not sure if it's taboo around here or not, but I'm in the process of putting a 2001 5.3L GM V8 in my CJ...and since I'm a newbie to this site, I figured I would share. My goals for this rig is to have a VERY reliable, strong, driver that can hit and occasional MILD trail (I have a full tube buggy on one-tons that I can use for the hardcore stuff...but trailering it everywhere just sucks.).

I added this CJ to my fleet of Jeeps early this past summer. It had been sitting in the weeds for a couple years and was suffering from severe neglect. Some birds had made the grille and heater housing into a sparrow condo and there were other unmentionable critters living in it as well. I trailered it home and had it running the same weekend (battery, starter solenoid, fuel pump, cleaned fuel tank, water pump, some lighting and electrical repairs). It was pretty rusty and a little beat up, but in surprisingly good condition considering its past. My girlfriend and I cruised it all over the place through the summer (and did some light wheelin), but the 258 just wasn't doing it for me.

Enough babbling, here are some pics:

Shortly after I got it home.

Cleaned up, different seats.

Cruisin

Lined up with it's siblings.

Then Summer ended and......surgery begins.

Oof!

These are all the 'unnecessary' wires I removed from the factory loom.

More coming up.....

myjeepsbigger · 12-27-2010, 10:49 PM

Fitting

Mounts

LS3 manifolds, new radiator, and few other goodies on.

Wiring done.

And that pretty much brings me to where I am now. I have the other fender back on and the rest of the drivetrain in, enough to take it for a quick spin and figure out that my trans (bought 2nd hand from a friend) is junk and won't hit 2nd gear. From the limited amount of seat time that I have with the new motor, I think I'm gonna LOVE it! TONS of torque and idles like a kitten.

The plans from here on out are to [obviously] get the trans replaced and/or rebuilt, bend up a new family-style full roll cage, and modify the fenders to get some more tire clearance. I'm wanting 33's with NO lift, NO flat fenders or tube fenders, and a factory-appearing body.

Stand by for further developments.

Coach · 12-28-2010, 10:42 AM

Wow, that looks great! That is exactly what I would like to do to my '86 CJ7. I'm saving up for it now. I have been worried about cost and was thinking about doing a junk yard TBI to get me by for a while, but looking at yours is making me want to do the swap again.

Any hints or tips to the swap would be greatly appreciated. Also any hidden costs I might run into would be great too.

Thanks and keep up the good work.

Coach

Cheepjeep85 · 12-28-2010, 11:22 AM

sweet. sounds like you got a good plan going for it.

myjeepsbigger · 12-28-2010, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

Wow, that looks great! That is exactly what I would like to do to my '86 CJ7. I'm saving up for it now. I have been worried about cost and was thinking about doing a junk yard TBI to get me by for a while, but looking at yours is making me want to do the swap again.

Any hints or tips to the swap would be greatly appreciated. Also any hidden costs I might run into would be great too.

Thanks and keep up the good work.

Coach

LOTS of hidden costs. I've got another $2k over-and-above the engine price, and I'm really not finished yet. It's unreal how quick that stuff adds up.

Coach · 12-28-2010, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myjeepsbigger

LOTS of hidden costs. I've got another $2k over-and-above the engine price, and I'm really not finished yet. It's unreal how quick that stuff adds up.

Do you think it could be done well for $4000-4500 total? That's what I think I could swing before the wife would ask me to start living in the jeep.

I have a friend that should be able to get me a good price on the engine and trans, but I'm not factoring that discount into my price goal above.

Coach