Ahhh, The CJ-7, either you've owned at least one or known someone who has. This week's Throwback is a tribute to an increasingly rare icon of my childhood. enjoy.
I still drive a 1981 AMC CJ-7 and LOVE that rig! It now has 3/4 ton full width axles, dual transfer cases, 37" tires and stretched from a 93" wheelbase to 107". But, still has the original 258"/4.2L straight six. Such a great engine! Makes me smile every time I drive it!
I like to park my 1984 CJ7 next to a new Jeep and watch people walk by them. Mine is the head turner. Glacier Blue with Gray fabric. Lifted on 33s, Old school chrome wheels. Four old school KC lights.
Had an 82 with the straight 6. Would absolutely go almost anywhere. Except for the AMC rear end it was hard to kill it. 1pc axles fixed that problem for me.
Absolutely love this episode I myself own a 1980 Jeep CJ7 completely stock and I love it looking forward to some off-road vehicle reviews in the future.
flight2k5 They look way better, and are built more rugged than that 4-door mall crawler plastic stuff they make today. Compass, Patriot? 4-door wrangler?!? C'mon, those things couldn't make it through half what these old CJ's etc. could. Slapping the name "Jeep" on an SUV makes it sell I guess.
Anton Sander ok cool guy. Older doesn't make to stronger. The frame on cj's is garbage compared to a jk. The axles on a jk are stronger than a cj. Older cars are not better nor stronger nor safer than anything new.
To those who may ask how do I know it's a 1982 jeep? Just look at the wheel stance. My stock '82 tires reached to the mud fender extensions as in this jeeps case. The '81 CJ's tires of same type would sit over an inch closer inboard. Jeep widened the axles in 1982 due to legalities in roll over claims. God I wish I had the '82 hidden in a sealed wrapper out in the barn. Nothing sounded more like a truck than those in- line 258's moaning away in 4low through the firewall.
I would love to see a Throwback Thursday on the Chevy Chevette. My first car was a 1984 Chevette four door. It wasn't that bad of a car, It was a cheap RWD econobox that I could actually work on. I miss that little car...
I had a neighbor in the late 90's that had an early 80's Chevette in the garage that was practically mint condition. It probably had less than 30K miles on it. It had been sitting for a while because the distributor went out on it and according to him, it cost more than the car was worth. (Used from a junk yard?????) But he kept the tire aired up and the dust off of it. Anyway, I thought it was fascinating just as a survivor. Far too often there is too much snobbery in the car world where people thumb their noses at a car because it wasn't special or high performance in some way. But all cars are part of automotive history. Chevrolet sold 2.8 MILLION Chevettes over a 12 year run. Yeah......most people needed cheap and reliable transportation and don't care how their car will stack-up in automotive history. There's a reason that so many people today buy cheap KIAs. What I think is interesting: I have little doubt that if someone took a mint condition Chevette to a car show today, it would get a lot of looks and a lot of conversation. "My grandma had one....."
@@seiph80 This "car" WAS a joke. Had a co-worker who bought a NEW '78 "Scooter" for $3000, OTD. The only options he got were automatic and a cigar lighter ($10). The "car" was such a POS, the "door cards" were made of spray painted CARDBOARD with NO arm rests. Being a "Black" dude he was afraid of being shot when driving through the "hood" because he was embarrassing the "Bros" in the little shit box!
@@mindeloman You probably also remember the WORST car (even worser) than this POS, it was called the YUGO. People were buying it in record droves, SIGHT UNSEEN! Today people buy the "CHEAP KIAS" because they are ACTUALLY GOOD cars, well made! Being CHEAP doesn't mean they have to be crap! Check out Mototweek's Pontiac T-1000 test. It is a Chevette with different grille and taillights, MW was able to muster up a BLISTERING 0-60 time of 29sec, which is about the same as a Citroen 2CV with the 29HP "H.O." will do, but with more comfort!
@@TheOzthewiz I remember the Yugo. My childhood neighbor had one for a brief moment. Again, cheap transportation. I also remember that Pontiac T-1000. My cousin had one. She got into a really bad car wreck in that car. But just because a car was cheap and derivative, doesn't mean it was a bad car. My sister had a 2001 Nissan Altima. She couldn't have picked a better car. That 2.4L was bullet proof. And it was a chain engine so no timing belt maintenance. She put 400k miles on that car and all she did was change the oil in it regularly and a few cap, rotor, wires, and plugs tuneups. And of course an air filter once a year. That's all she did on it and got 400K miles. Sold it because she wanted something newer. Sold it running and driving. Lol. That was a damn good car.
I had an 82 cj7. Same tires and wheels. The tires had an annoying whine at hiway speeds on dry pavement and wore out fast. The brakes were terrible with my rears constantly lockingwhen the road was wet. It wasn't too hard to get into 4wd but getting it out required a short stint in reverse in order to relieve driveline stress. the old 258 loved to leak oil as am went with a cheap valve cover. It sure hated to Rev and in automatic form could barely maintain speed on steep hiway grades. I still miss it. I had it for 13 years before rust took its life. The 258 was still going strong without 100k on the clock.
The junk valve covers leaked. It will come OUT of 4 wheel drive easily if the wheels slipped while in 4 wheel drive. Like in mud . If not, the transfer case could bind. Same with any 4x4 back then. And inline 6 engines, arent supposed to rev. They are designed to make power down low..
They used Dana 300s from 1980 to 1986. Probably the best transfer case ever conceived. But yeah......it does take a little effort to get in and out. No big deal when you are used to it.
Loved these things, best was folding that windshield down. So long as you didn't mind it ruining the seals and making it pour water onto your legs whenever it rained lol.
HeliRy it’s illegal to drive on public roads with the windshield down. And now in some states (like Pa) it’s illegal to drive without the doors on. It’s rarely enforced but the fine is stiff.
He was correct at the end. Those cj7s were still Jeeps. What we have today is sadly no longer a Jeep as we used to know. Scoop up the old ones while u can.
This review may have ben done in 1981, however this is a 1982 model. My first new 4X4! Mine was copper-brown metallic with the hardtop, heavy tint and carpet wohoo. It had white spokes steel with centers. The tires can't remember the make were what we used to call town and country, fairly aggressive on todays stock options. As to those speaking of the good gas mileage, with the big 258 and 5 speed Borg-Warner T-5 I'd get 27 on the highway. That's imperial gallons however. Fuel economy in those days came at a cost in crawling power. It had 2.73 gears!
I was thinking the same thing! This Jeep has wide-track axles that were added in 1982 and an '81 would not have a T4 transmission as it was also introduced in 1982.
wavy gravy, one funny ossue i had was i tore many belt loops getting into my yj as they would catch the door latch holder, like it was designed that way, the eagle talon auto seat belt catching my head every so often.
I still own my 83 CJ5 with a straight 6 in it 258. This has been the best vehicle I've ever owned. I've used it for hunting and fishing and just having fun you can't beat this vehicle. Call me old school if you want that's just me. When I drive my Jeep people just stare at me when I pull in the gas station people want to know about it. A lot of times they think it's a Rubicon a newer vehicle. I laugh and say this thing's 38 years old that's what happens when you take care of things they last forever
The old CJ's are so simple, easy to maintain and work on. I still have my first car, a 66 CJ5, I use it up at my cabin. I hope to restore it someday. I learned to drive on my brother's 77 CJ7. I bought it off him years ago but the road salt destroyed it. No car new or old lasts forever without constant repair where I live...the bodies go before the drive train. When it got too rusty I installed a custom stainless body (back in 1995, looks as good as the day I installed it) and repaired the frame. Straight 258 and 3 speed. I still drive it. Have my dads 67 Wagoneer I grew up in. Kaiser 327 with 3 on the tree. It has 300,000 miles, runs but factory cam bearings need replaced. My son has my dad's 81 CJ7 and were fixing up a couple more. Too many projects, not enough time. No time to drive most of the stuff I've kept or collected.
@@mousetoad7040 it's really cool to talk to a fellow jeeper. All of us old school people need to keep hold of CJ's. Although I've had hundreds of people ask me to sell it, she belongs to me forever. If you keep up on the maintenance she will Outlast me. It's good to hear that your son's got a Jeep too. These memories will last forever.
@@kenrinard4595 Yup! I love old cars, especially old Jeeps. Somebody called me ignorant today for defending the older cars as simpler and easier to work on. At first I thought it was some kid trolling me, turned out to be some bitter old guy, lol! My son (with the 81) is also fixing up an 82 parts jeep with a poor quality fiberglass body as a winter vehicle. He will eventually put a new tub on his 81. The 85 CJ he and I are patching (tub is not worth saving, swiss cheese, but he is learning to weld, lots of holes to practice on. We bought it as a parts jeep for his 81, but saw it's potential and decided to save it instead. Some of my kids may want to get some of my vehicles when I am gone. My oldest daughter wants one of my Wagoneers, my oldest son likes the CJ's, but my youngest son has really inherited my love for the old Jeeps and cars and has excellent mechanical abilities. In grade school he asked for tools for Christmas or birthday as he said he'll outgrow or get bored with toys, but tools last a lifetime, lol! I'm thankful for a supportive wife who has accepted my hobby.
@@mousetoad7040 wow, sounds like you have a very cool family. It's funny we grew up the same way we had a 75 Jeep wagoneer, she came with a 401 I can sit here and laugh at the good times we had in that Wagoner.
@@kenrinard4595 Thanks, we have a lot of fun. When not at work, we do a lot of family projects. Oh! Those 401 Wagoneers were sweet! For vacations my dad would tow a Scotty camper with the old Wagoneer. He bolted a tire holder to the tailgate and added a 2nd fuel tank under the back. He had 2 fuel pumps, Perlux driving lights, electronic ignition (point system backup). He had redundancy for traveling. It's still set up like that. He added a fuel vapor return system after vapor lock in extreme caused vapor lock towing the camper cross country, made it home on 6 cylinders. The rear drive shaft those years had a ball and trunion joint which was troublesome. (he replaced it with a regular ujoint eventually), but once it failed and he removed the driveshaft, engaged 4x4 and drove it home on front wheel drive, LOL! Lots of adventures and stories. He loves that car but finally, at 88, he decided to pass it on to me and bought himself a used low miles Trailblazer, now he has AC (he's in FL), power windows, Power steering, and automatic transmission.
My son upgraded the SR4 transmission to a T176 in his 81 CJ7...also swapped the tired 258 for a 360. His daily driver! I offered to give him something a bit newer for his daily, but he loves the old school simplicity.
They used a different MPG rating system back then. What was 27 mpg then is more like 23 mpg today. Also, in real world tests today, we have freeways that are 65-75mph, while back when this was recorded, 55 mph was the absolute maximum, with most surface roads at 35-45 mph. Higher speeds today detrimentally affect real-world results published; if you drove like how they used to, you'll beat the EPA ratings of today's vehicles, though you may get killed by road rage incidents.
Everything is relative. A lot depends on overdrive gearing and the rear end differential. Remember, a 1976 Plymouth (Feather) Duster had an EPA highway rating of 36 mpg with the 225 cid Slant Six under the same fuel economy standards. I know if you drove a steady and calm 50 mph on the highway, you could get about 25 mpg from most six cylinder cars of that era.
This video was made in 1981. You can clearly see how technologies have helped us evolved in the past 30 years. Currently 4WD systems are completely computerized with almost no driver input required, at most flip of a switch. Stability control systems have decreased roll over risks significantly. Even the measurements of performance have GPS dash mounts to measure braking, acceleration, G-force, etc. No one uses a timer and roller to measure time and distance anymore lol.
My 82 cj7 with 258 & T5 has 33s, 4" lift, but all original matching numbers with no modern touches. The experience of driving builds character, but the experience on the freeway with 2,5" shackles, 2" springs, and bfg 33 12.50 is nothing short of any amusement park thrill ride.
You guys had an outtake show some time ago and I remember watching an early 80's Eldo spin out through the cones and the driver get out and bow. Would be cool to see that again or maybe make a new one!!?? LOVE TBT! Keep it up.
***** I am a 40 YO man that has LITERALLY grown up with Motorweek. When I hear John Davis' voice without being able to see the TV, I know EXACTLY what's on. Let John know he's never allowed to retire! ;) Keep up the great work, and I look forward to the EPIC blooper reel!
I love Jeeps and always have , the first Jeep I Rode in was actually a Willys , probably around a 1943 to 1945 CJ2A , it belonged to a Neighbor from across the street and He used to love to go out 4wheeling sometimes He'd take me with , I was hooked.. My first Jeep was a 77 CJ5 Renegade with a 304 V8 and a 3 speed stick on the Floor .. My last one was a 2011 Wrangler Unlimited (4door) .. I traded it in on a 2016 Ram 1500 , I'm going to Buy an older Jeep CJ5 .. The New ones are just to Expensive...
My father had a 79 CJ-7 Golden Eagle w/ a 304 and auto. Lots of fun times in it. He still has the back seat after 30 years or so. Why? I have no idea. I’m buying a 06 TJ tomorrow. The last of the AMC based jeeps (still uses a lot of AMC designed parts) and last year for the 4.0L.
Shocking build quality at 1:52. The transfercase lever on my 40+ tear old Land Cruiser FJ40 operates smoother. The Jeep was a good design. Shame it's build up to Chrysler's quality standards. Cheers
I bought a 1986 CJ7 Renegade in 86, one of four new Jeep CJs still on the lot. 4.2 liter 5 speed manual. A CJ is the real thing. It’s no Wrangler. Tough as nails and built for off roading. Not a vehicle you want to drive over 65. Owned it for 10 years and put 157,000 miles on it. If they made them today I buy one. Not your mothers Jeep at all.
Actually Chrysler destroyed the Wrangler already by making it way too creature comfort safety nanny filled full of bullshit electronics and controls to allow the dumb people to operate them.
I agree. They are adding things most owners don’t want so the mommy mall crawlers are comfortable! Just like the freedom top! Unnecessary crap that wasn’t needed!!!!
MW was careful not to overly criticize the Jeep's on road handling. Those vehicles were known to flip on the highway. Of course, owners added larger tires which didn't help.
For classic (CJ and similar types) I agree. But Chrysler was able to improve the Cherokee/SUV type Jeeps. At least for a while, around the time MB partnered with them they lost focus, or just got lazy and cheap. Quality started dropping off during the MB/Cyrus (?)/ Fiat changeovers. Each new owner wanted the name Jeep, but none of them seemed to know what to do with it.
Yup, J-turn, they hydraulically pulled the tie rod 2x faster than a human could steer with power steering. Consumer reports killed the Suzuki Samurai by recalibrating their test course until they could finally get it on 2 wheels. But Suzuki lives on in other country as the Jimney. I saw the redesigned one I think back in 2018 at the Manila International Auto Show while visiting there. That and the Mahindra still have the simplicity of the old school Jeeps. Todays safety standards would not allow anything like that today, I suppose.
Did the WWII military jeeps also required you to get out and turn the front wheel hubs to engage 4WD? I don't remember seeing any movie or documentary a soldier ever did that :)
They are referring to lockable hubs. Many old jeeps came with fixed hubs, we converted ours to lockable to reduce wear on the front axle joints and reduce drag, theoretically improving gas mileage. Later they became standard. Eliminated with the YJ/XJ. The select track probably had vacuum control in the front differential to release one axle from spinning. Anyway, in the winter if I know the roads are bad, I lock them in and leave them..That way I can engage and disengage 4x4 using the transfer case shifter. The select trac was vacuum control similar to modern 4x4's. I had that in my 84 and it failed in a snow storm and I could not use the 4x4 until I crawled under the car and manually moved the lever on the transfer case. I prefer old school locking hubs and manual linkage. My wife prefers full time all wheel drive. Military jeeps probably had fixed hubs, my 73 Wagoneer had "lockomatic" which if unlocked, would grab hold when accelerating in 4x4. So I could go out and lock them in, but I could get unstuck, even if not locked in. I do not know if they were factory or put on by a PO.
@@mousetoad7040 That was exactly what I was asking. Any old 4x4 needs to have to capability of engaging and disengaging their front wheels from the front axle, right? You can either do it manually, or automatically. But WWII military jeeps didn't need the soldiers got out the vehicle to do it manually, that must mean it was done automatically? :)
@@harrycallahan9733 WWII jeeps had fixed hubs, so the front axles always turned with the wheels, however, it does not matter if the transfer case is in 2x4. In 4x4 there would be bind on dry pavement. So the hubs were not Automatic, they just were left engaged and the transfer case shift lever in the Jeep was used to switch between 2x4 and 4x4, which ingages and disengages the front trave shaft from the powertrain. Same with civilian Jeeps, but some of those were given the optional locking hubs which can be (but don't have to be) locked or unlocked from outside. THe only benefit to being able to lock and unlock the hubs with manual hubs iss to save wear and tear from the front ales and differential from spinning with no drive load in 2x4 mode, which may or may not effect gas mileage in cold weather. My 67 Wagoneer came without locking hubs, but my dad added them when he bought the car new. My 66 Jeep had them (dealer option or added by old owner). WE even had a 76 CJ5 that like the WWII Jeeps, had fixed hubs, but my dad replaced them with Warn lockable hubs. By the late 70's or 80's, I think manual lockable hubs were standard. Driving with the hubs locked in all the time would be the same as fixed hubs in WWII or older civilian Jeeps. It won't hurt anything or be noticable, as long as you are driving with the transfer case in 2 wheel drive. The reason to unlock them in summer for city driving, is mainly to just not have parts moving unnecessarily. On newer setups like the later Wagoneers with Select trac or Quadra trac, as well as Wranglers, XJ's etc, they went back to fixed hubs but put vacuum controls to disengage the transfer case and front differential, but in many cases, these "automatic" hubs are still turning at least one axle needlessly. It's hard to explain without seeing how they are put together. Being a former mechanic, I've taken apart these systems. Newer vehicles have sealed hubs with axle shafts bolted right to them, like a FWD setup, they are not truly "unlockable" like the old manual locking hubs. With All Wheel Drive, there is constant 4 wheel drive but with a viscous coupling or something similar to allow it to work on dry roads without binding. Some systems automatically engage 4 wheel drive, but that is using wheel speed sensors and engaging the transfer case with an electric motor and possibly a vacuum control on a differential, but the hubs are fixed, not unlike the WWII jeep. Confusing? No car I've owned Required me to go outside to engage 4 wheel drive unless I had manually unlocked the hubs to reduce wear or theoretically improve mpg. In the winter or going off road, I leave the hubs locked in, and transfercase shifted into 2 wheel drive, and 4 wheel drive is available by shifting the lever. Just like WWII Jeeps. If someone wants to upgrade a WWII Jeep from fixed hub part time 4x4 to manual locking hub part time 4x4, they could, just like the early civilian Jeeps, but all they'd gain is less moving parts for less wear and tear, and barely noticeable mpg gains. The military was more concerned with simplicity than either of those. Sorry for the long explanation. I hope it makes sense,
@@mousetoad7040 Thanks for the detailed explanation for a newbie like me! Somehow I thought if the wheels were not disengaged from the front axle they'd bind when you make a turn or something, forgot there was the differential, duh :) Thanks again and have a great day! :)