Vehicle Description
Look through our inventory and you will see a lot of vintage Jeeps,
but this stunning 1986 CJ-7 LS1 Restomod might just be the coolest
(not to mention the fastest and most powerful) one that we've ever
featured, and that's not faint praise. With a slick Red paint job,
Renegade decals, and an imposing lift, it looks amazing from any
angle and thanks to a stout, 5.7L LS1 Corvette V8 under the hood
and a 5-speed gearbox, it has huge performance that'll definitely
deliver the shock and awe we all crave.
The bottom line is that someone took a really nice original Jeep
(arguably the most desirable year for a CJ) and treated it a
show-stopping restoration. Not many AMC products ever fit together
this well or had paint that was this clean and glossy, and any part
that didn't measure up to the owner's admittedly high standards,
well, it got tossed and a brand new item was installed in its
place. The bodywork was done right too, and it's obvious the tub
underneath that shiny red finish is extremely solid, one look at
the laser-straight lines all-around prove that to be true. The
shiny, deep red paint was laid down by professionals that didn't
treat the job as 'just some old Jeep', but with the same quality
and care seen on higher-end classic vehicles. It's been driven and
enjoyed since the restoration was completed so it's no longer
perfect, although an easy buff-and-wax would likely restore some of
that former glory, or drive it like the top driver-quality rig it
is today, knowing that any minor imperfections are absolutely
dwarfed by the sheer curb appeal of this beauty. Proper Renegade
decals were reinstalled, along with black fender flares, a chrome
grille surround, polished rocker panel molding, LED lighting, and,
of course, those cool asymmetrical side mirrors that only look
right on a Jeep. There's also a custom set of heavy-duty bumpers
fore and aft that add to the Jeep's sporty look, and a set of side
KC foglights were added on either side of the push bar. It's hard
to convey with just words and photos how nice this Jeep is, but
when you see it in person, you'll understand.
The interior also received a major makeover, complete with fresh
high-back bucket seats, a locking center console, a stock rear
bench, and a full YJ-style roll cage that stiffens the body and
provides safety for all inside. The tub floor is covered in black
spray-in bedliner material that's durable as well as attractive and
highlights the functional appeal of the CJ-7. Jeep's all-in-one
center-mounted gauge is still place, as is the factory tachometer
to the right of the steering column, although a trio of auxiliary
units were added to help keep a closer eye on the upgraded
drivetrain. That's likely this Jeep's original steering wheel,
which is quite a rare find in such nice condition, and it's mounted
atop a tilt column that provides a lot more room at the head of the
cockpit. A tall, chrome Hurst shifter with an 8-ball knob was
installed to manage the upgraded 5-speed gearbox, and those
twin-sticks next to it manage the upgraded Dana axles below, but if
that's not entertainment enough for you an upgraded Kenwood
AM/FM/CD/AUX head unit was stashed inside the center console and it
powers a BOOMING stereo system with speakers and amplifiers stashed
throughout. And yes, don't worry, a full tan canvas top and
matching doors are included, so you don't need to worry about the
weather spoiling your fun.
Most CJ-7s had inline-sixes, but the builders of this Jeep wanted a
whole heck of a lot more power, so a 5.7L LS1 V8 was installed
under the hood that takes this Jeep into the virtual stratosphere.
Borrowed from a 2001 Corvette, the all-aluminum small block was
dropped between the inner fenders like it always belonged, and
because the work was done right, it fits just right. With 241
heads, modern fuel-injection, upgraded wiring, an upgraded PCM unit
and pedal-to-module harness, and block-hugging long-tube headers at
the flanks, it's an incredibly strong runner that's also very
dependable and can be serviced at any competent shop that's worked
on LS engines. It sparks to life with the flick of a key, is
insanely responsive up-and-down the throttle, and is just flat-out
FAST - unlike any CJ we've ever driven. A big aluminum radiator
with an electric fan keeps the whole show nice and cool, and the
soundtrack is downright sexy thanks to a dual exhaust system that
features glasspack-style mufflers and side pipes that exit just
before the rear wheels. Everywhere you look there's evidence of
quality workmanship and thoughtful upgrades, including a tube skid
plate that protects the transmission and stiffens the frame, and
although the undercarriage hasn't been detailed for show, it's
obvious that it's solid as can be. With all that Corvette power
under the hood, you better have a transmission that can handle it,
and the swapped-in Aisin-Warner AX15 5-speed manual is up to the
task with an added synchro/bearing kit, a G-Force main case, and
upgraded gears. That's a Dana 30 differential up front and a
heavy-duty Moser 20 one-piece rear end with 4.10 gear ratio out
back, and a 4.5-inch Extreme Terrain lift kit was installed by the
pros at 4-Wheel Parts meaning this CJ is ready to traverse pretty
much anything you can throw at it off-road. It performs quite
nicely on the road as well, with help of an upgraded AGR power
steering box, front disc brakes, and a front steering stabilizer. A
flashy set of 15-inch Pro Comp wheels wrapped with beefy
33x12.50-15 off-road radials finish off the killer look.
This Jeep is top-notch in just about every way, with beautiful
cosmetics and an amazing upgraded LS1/5-speed powertrain. They just
don't come much better than this. Call today!