1986 Jeep CJ7 Laredo in original Sebring Red. This is the last year the CJ7 was built and this particular jeep is a 27k original miles example.I bought this jeep a few years back. The transmission and transfer case had been pulled for a clutch replacement, but the shop performing the work closed and the original transmission and transfer case were lost. The jeep therefore sat for a few years outside in a parking lot (with its hardtop on) which really took a toll on the body, as it accumulated quite a few dents as well as rust in the body tub. It was purchased from the original owner by someone with similar aspirations to me but he had too many other jeep projects (including a CJ6) and ended up selling to me, I am the 3rd owner. I sourced the correct transmission and transfer case from another CJ7 and bolted them in with new mounts and clutch linkage, performed a basic tune up (cap and rotor, spark plugs, wires, all filters) and replaced all fluids, and the jeep started right up. After patching the original body tub floor, I used the jeep for a while for errands and short distances.
In early 2016, I decided to do a full restoration. The reason is that this is the last year of any Jeep CJ and a particularly well-optioned model which had the following original features:
- Laredo trim (with tachometer, clock, leather seats, leather trimmed dash bar, chrome exterior trim and bumpers, 20 gallon fuel tank, etc.)
- Tilt steering wheel
- Hardtop
- Side steps
- 5 speed manual T5 transmission
- Under dash courtesy lights
- Marchal 850 driving lights
- Mud flaps
- Air conditioning
- Power steering
- Rare 1-year only factory rear Dana 44 axle
(Note: hardtop, side steps, and mud flaps were discarded, they were not worth saving)
I sourced a ton of parts to complete the restoration, including original Laredo wheels, correct center console, original NOS radio, original NOS dash speakers, etc. I also installed new 30x9.50R15 BF Goodrich all terrain tires. The frame was in excellent condition and was very solid throughout, it did not have anything beyond surface rust and required no repairs, but a new body tub was needed. Instead of using a cheap imitation body tub, I sourced a rust free original tub from an Arizona jeep. It was sandblasted and epoxy primed, and all body parts were treated to single stage paint just like at the factory. To improve on what the factory would have done, we also applied a coat of undercoating under the body (similar to a period-correct Ziebart application). We did not paint the grille and the inside of the hard doors intentionally to leave things original. The frame was also sealed and coated.