(T)rail vehicle

[Jalicunning (Jim Cunningham)]

One of my other interests is older Jeeps. I have had a series of CJs. The one I have now is a 1980 CJ7 I bought 10 years ago from the original owner, who paid $5700 for her brand new. Times sure have changed, you can spend six figures on a Jeep now, it’s kinda crazy.

I grew up next door to the original owner, Wade, and this Jeep. He set it up for hunting, probably around 1982. It has many cool features, but the most distinctive IMHO is the safari seat on the hood. Wade’s original seat mount dry rotted last year, I think it was the one he put on in 1982. So yesterday I reused the hardware and made a new wood mount.

Keeping it G rated…a flatcar load I did last year

[John_Bouck]

I had a 1943 MJ back in the late 1960’s. Army Surplus.
Bare bones, no top, heater nothing.
I can still remember the fun I had with it.
Today, I ride a Polaris RZR doing the same thing.

[capecodtodd (Todd Haskins)]

Old JeePs are cool and your “safari” seat must be wild to ride.
In 91 I had a 85 CJ7 and it was a fun vehicle. I used it as my daily driver. I miss that old JeeP. When I met my wife she had a basic 2002 Wrangler that she had bought new. The only options were hard doors and a CD player. We still have it but the frame has rotted out. I’d like to get it fixed but that is not cheap even if we could find a frame.
If I was loaded I’d like to find another CJ7.

[rmccown-admin (Bob McCown (Admin))]

I had a 79 CJ5 that we shoehorned an AMX 390 in. That was stupid dangerous. Also had a 2019 JL.

[Pete_Lassen]

Bob, back in 1973 a guy in highschool put a very modified 327 in his Jeep , he actually raced a 350 camaro and beat him in 1/4 mile. That thing looked scary at high speed!

[Jalicunning (Jim Cunningham)]

Seems like JC Whitney used to sell frames, but never tried to find anything for something that “new.” Would be a beast of a project for sure.

[Jalicunning (Jim Cunningham)]

My has the indomitable inline 4. I can’t imagine a 390!!! I try not to go more than about 40. Lap belts only and just a roll bar. I still feel like I should wear a helmet.

[Deneh (Bruce S. Gebbeken)]

Used to own a CJ-5 built in 1974. Had the original AMC 304 V8 with front and rear TrakLoc differentials, Hooker headers, Crane cam, Offenhauser manifold, Holley carburetor with double pump, 4:27 gearing and TruTrac 11x15 tires. Raced in in the California desert many times, but really no wins and only one accident (ugh). When I sold it after an engine problem it has less than 12,000 miles on it. That would be 12k OFF ROAD MILES.
Miss that Jeep terribly! Reminder: Never buy AMC engines!

[Jalicunning (Jim Cunningham)]

Wow, 12k miles off-road! That’s a lot of bumps. It would take me ages to even do 100 miles on trails in my region. We used to run power line trails, but even those are mostly shut down now. The only trails left in my area are on private land now. My first was a '73 CJ5 with the 258 straight six.

[Rooster]

My old “Trail” /mountain vehicle was a 1987 3/4 ton 4wd Chevy Suburban that I totally tore down and rebuilt. It was like a school bus going through the woods. But it carried everything I needed including beer and extra friends. I’ll have to see if I can dig up some old pics. (lol)
I loved that thing and it was pretty much indestructible but it wasn’t bullet proof at least my rear quarter panel wasn’t.

[Jalicunning (Jim Cunningham)]

I spent a lot of time riding around in one of those old Suburbans. My neighbor had an 85(?) that was tan over brown on the exterior. Classic 80s.

Did someone shoot up your rear 1/4?

[Rooster]

@Jalicunning

Did someone shoot up your rear 1/4?

It was technically a ricochet and as always there was zero alcohol involved. Just a little stupidity that wasn’t considered at the time. It basically involved an old scrap washing machine and a .40cal. It blew right through it, hit the steel drum and spit it out into the side of my truck.
Scary if you think about it but I learned to NEVER shoot at a scrap wash machine built before 1980.

Found these from about 1997 and it was actually a GMC 2500. No barn doors on the back…couldn’t find one with barn doors!
I had it set up just the way I wanted it. Rebuilt to 355 injected 4 bolt, Turbo 400 with 3.73 rear. Had about 4" of lift with heavier springs, 33" on 16.5 wheels so I could also pull my boat with it at 75mph on the highway at about 3500rpm. However it made many trips 2.5hrs back and forth to camp in Tioga County,PA

[Jalicunning (Jim Cunningham)]

What a sweet ride! Love the two tone blue.

[rmccown-admin (Bob McCown (Admin))]

It’s likely that @Ray_Dunakin has the LSC off-road miles trophy. He’s explored far into the mountains and desert.

[Rooster]

What was the name of his Toyota 4 Runner?

[smcgill (Sean McGillicuddy)]

My vehicle was an1978 F250 full time 4wheel drive!
I had a blast in that thing and I learned to become a mechanic …

[John_Bouck]

I bought one of these new in 1975. Because it was such a gas hog, I sold it two years later. I regret it ever since.

[Rick_Marty]

John,
Those old Land Cruiser’s were a great rig, add a winch and you could climb a tree. A buddy had one, bought new and we about wore it out with all the hunting and fishing trips. Great rig but like you said a little fuel consumptive.

[Rick_Marty]

Well I was into dune/brush buggies for a few years back in the 60’s - 70’s

The first one I built was from and old Studebaker passenger car, like the dune runners all the guys were building when I was a kid over on the coast. Wish i could find a picture of it.

My next one was a cut down VW Beetle. Here is a picture of it still in the shop with my daughter test driving.

My next rig was a 71 Power wagon bought surplus from the Bureau of land Management. It had been used on the wild horse roundup programs in Nevada and had whiskey blisters on every corner. My ownership didn’t improve it’s condition much.

My last one in the late 70’s was another Buggy built from a VW bus. My daughter named it Mr. MaGoo for some reason.

Fun days.

[John_Bouck]

Rick, besides backcountry use, it was my daily driver for work at the time. A 60 mile (round trip) commute.
I think she got 8 MPG. Even with going wages back then, it was still expensive.