Well Guy's It's not an XJ, it is a Jeep.
It will require alot of fabrication.
My buddy has a '78 CJ7, that was pretty rotten.
The front is a one piece glass clip, the rear is GONE



The frame need a bunch of work too.
The previous owner cut holes in the side of the frame to insert bolts to hold on the skid plate etc.



The engine is the 304 AMC V8 it has a Quadratrac TC and Dana 30 and 20 axels.
It is already running 36.5" mudders.

I picked up a Wrongler tub from a YJ last night. So here is the Fab part.
In order to convert a YJ tub to a CJ there is about 5 steps you have to do.
Add holes to the windhield cowl for the defroster, move the gas filler from L side to Right side, Fill the fender flare holes. Tailgate has to be changed from swing type to fold down type.
On the CJ frame I have to move the rear body mounts and drill new holes in the rear cross member.



Here is the donor tub, it need all the usual rust repair, windshield bracket area, under roll bars, rear corners, under the jeep emblem etc.

What do you think ?

MOD it or stock CJ ?

Nitro

 

Mod it, no sense going back when you are this far in. It's not like it's ever going to be stock again.

 

UPDATE 7/14

Well the YJ tub is off the frame and the CJ tub is stripped and also off the frame.
The YJ is stripped and all the rot is exposed.
Time to make some patch panels. (Body came with driver floor replacement panel.)
More pics today.

Tub off frame.



Rot.





Old CJ tub stripped and ready to go.



Nitro

 

UPDATE 7/16.

Well got alot of the rot, sorted out.
Making patch panels today.

Passenger side, have to fab a new lower portion of the cowl support.



Driver side, same situation.



Rear wheel well front edge, both sides.



Windshield mounting surface, both sides.



I made cardboard templates, and will cut out the patches today.



Here is the old cowl support brackets, cut out for fabricating templates.



Nitro

 

It's an eep lol!!

 

Productive lunch break at work.
Patch panels fabbed, nice to have shears and metal break.



Side patches with flange, rear wheel arch tub corners, R side floor patch.



New lower portion of cowl side support brackets.

Nitro

 

You got some big 'uns taking on a pile like that! Kudos!
BTW, how did you end up with an AMC 20 on a V8 Jeep with Q-trac? Should be an offset 44. You sure?

 

I can't vouch for the config it left the factory in !
But I am sure it has a 304" V8 mated to a THM400 and that it has a Quadratrac TC with vacuum switch in glove box.
I also am 100% on what a Dana 30 low pinion front looks like and an AMC 20 Rear.

Not to worry, I have a set of 44 axles waiting in the wings.

Nitro

 

UPDATE 7/17

Right side cowl support almost done floor patch fitted.
Moved tub into barn, close to welder.
Time to start burning metal.



Almost ready.



Cowl support, almost there, floor patch looking good.



Floor pan on Driver side getting roughed in.

Nitro

 

Update 7/20~22

Did some work, CJ tailgate and brackets arrived.
Body mounts arrived.
Cut a bunch of holes in the floor, took out all the rot.
Should be putting things back soon.
Got all the broken bolts out, need to replace a few missing weld nuts.

Old CJ tub completely stripped and off the frame.

Pics in the AM.

Frame has more work than originally anticipated.

Oh well.

Nitro out.

Frame , powertrain.



Old tub, what is left of it.



New tub, being converted from YJ to CJ and repaired.



Floor and rust patch repair. Seat bolt reinforcement repair, they all crack.

 

Pics added.

 

Update 8/1/12

Got some more patch panels cut.
Almost ready to start welding.

Also picked up:

Steering column cover.
Windshield *****.
Gas filler collar.
CJ Tailgate and Brackets.

Nitro

 

good build man ill be watchin this one

 

Update 8/13/2012

Tub flipped over to get to the bottom and deal with Rear rusted mounting plates.
Paint stripped back and getting ready to burn metal.

No new pics not much to show.

Nitro out.

 

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