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Spankrjs 1985 Spring Special CJ-7

spankrjs

Scrambler Junkie
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Biloxi
State
MS
I needed another Jeep like I needed another hole in my head, but I went out and obtained another one :crazy:

I sold/waved goodbye to my Tan Scrambler on Friday, February 8, picked this one up on Saturday, February 9:

1.jpg


2.jpg

It is a 1985 "Spring Special" CJ-7. It has around 128,000 miles on it, regular 258, T5, PS, manual brakes, and I would presume 3.31 gears. Not sure yet if it has a Trak-Loc? The exterior and the underside of the hood have been repainted, "Bronze Micatallic"; the original wheels, with the orange pin stripe, have also been repainted. The inside/underhood are original paint. This Jeep still has the original Whitco soft top hardware, and Whitco doors, but the top itself is an older/in poor shape Bestop replacement. This one also still has the original "Spring Special" seats installed.

Besides the "Spring Special" options (paint, wheels, seats), this one also has a clock, tach, and a 20 gallon fuel tank. We also threw in an OEM black plastic console. It also has black, aftermarket carpet. And an uncut dash!!!!!!!


I obtained this one from JeepAddict, who we think purchased it back in 2011/2012, can't remember for sure. It is an original CA Jeep (serpentine belt/CA Emissions sticker underhood), and he purchased it out of Nevada. I like the Spring Special package, pretty unique, not as common, or fancy, as say a Laredo or Renegade, but still pretty cool. The paint is also very "80's Jeepy". Besides the "SS" package, the other reason I liked this Jeep so much - it is super dry/rust free, probably one of the cleanest I have seen. The repaint does not bother me, seeing how the original paint was in bad shape, and I also went and saw this one before it was painted way back in 2011/2012, it is straight. This one came to JeepAddict with the "SS" passenger and rear seat, driver seat was missing, all five original "SS" wheels, and remnants of the OEM "SS" decals still underneath the flares.

Some old pictures, how it was when JeepAddict first obtained it:

1.jpg

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It had some type of bracket on the spare wheel to hold gas cans, a bike??

2.jpg

When it was being disassembled for paint:

4.jpg

Really clean/dry floors:

5.jpg

Remnants of the OEM "SS" decals:

6.jpg

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And back in 2012, when it was put back together:

8.jpg

I'll post some more pictures/information when I get some spare time. My main plans for this one - keep it stock, enjoy having a "stock/non-modified" CJ.
 

SKT

Legacy Registered User
City
APO
State
AE
Woot woot - another Raymond thread!

Always enjoy following your thorough and detailed threads. While this isn’t a ‘build’ thread, hopefully it has some tech as you go through some stuff on it.
 

spankrjs

Scrambler Junkie
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Biloxi
State
MS
Woot woot - another Raymond thread!

Always enjoy following your thorough and detailed threads. While this isn’t a ‘build’ thread, hopefully it has some tech as you go through some stuff on it.

Yes, hopefully not a "build" thread, but this one does need maintenance, some more reassembly, and some under hood emissions/carb work :thumbsup:
 
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spankrjs

Scrambler Junkie
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Biloxi
State
MS
So, JeepAddict had to be in Slidell, LA, on Saturday, which is only about 45 minutes from my house. Baton Rouge is 2 hours, so I took this opportunity to get this one back home.

Over the years, JeepAddict has drove this one off an on, a little bit. So, its not like it hasn't been touched in 7-8 years completely. Once off the trailer, I drove it to a 5 minute oil change place, figured old oil would not be good. New oil, and aired up the tires to 30 pounds, they were all around 15 pounds. Steering, brakes, engine, clutch, transmission all seemed good. Gas gauge on "E", so a fill up:

4.jpg

Gas gauge works!!!!!!!!

The only "problem":

5.jpg

While filling up the tank, the large fuel fill hose was dripping gas. It is pretty dried/cracked up. No fuel leaks while it was running, and the underhood hoses are OK, so I wasn't too concerned.

Gas station pose:

3.jpg

The Jeep has not been washed in 7 years, so a good clean up, new top, it will be looking pretty sweet:twocents:

I took the Highway 90, instead of the interstate, back home. Scenic, less stressful then the interstate, and plenty pf places to stop at and fix stuff, if needed.

6.jpg

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Drove it back home around 55-60 MPH. Steering a hair loose, play in the lower steering shaft coupler. Slight vibration over 60, the tires were never balanced when they were remounted. A few other minor issues: no heat (heater core not hooked up, know what that means), no blinkers (missing flasher), no oil or volt gauge (not hooked up). Minor stuff, glad to have a good trip home :thumbsup:

The worst problem - it stinks like raw fuel really bad. So, first project:

IMG_20190210_150844133.jpg

Drained all the fuel out, kicking myself for filling up a 20 gallon tank for an hour long drive, LOL. Going to drop the tank, change out the large fuel vent and fill hoses, all the rubber supply/return/vent hoses, and the grommets/valves on top of the gas tank. It never stunk like fuel with just a couple of gallons in it, but judging by the condition of the fuel fill/vent hoses, time to change all that stuff out. I am very happy that the fuel gauge is working!!!!

I need to address the stinky fuel issue before it moves into its new home:

9.jpg

One of the owner's of the company I work for is going to let me store it inside one of the companies warehouses, next to an old Model T and Model A. The "SS" is too clean to just leave out in the yard, and I'm not kicking one of the Scramblers out of the garage. Pretty convenient, I can drive it home after work, piddle with it, put it back up the next morning.

So, fuel system fun this weekend. I will probably also be doing the following work to it relatively soon:

Drain/replace all of the fluids
Change rubber brake lines
Drain coolant system, replace hoses
Figure out the heater core
Change the serpentine belt

The owner before JeepAddict was doing some engine work to it. It has some newer pulse air parts installed, all new exhaust/cat/muffler/pulse air pipes, EGR valve. But, some things are missing, Sol-Vac and air cleaner inner trap door vacuum motor, some things dangling, etc.

I plan on keeping all the stock emission stuff on this one, so this site will come in handy again:

http://dale02.home.sprynet.com/home.htm

Pretty neat that the guy that created that site had the same exact Jeep!!!

That's it for now :wave:
 

Jeep Addict

Scrambler Junkie
Lifetime Member
City
Baton Rouge
State
La
This is a great Jeep. It will spin the tires in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear, aka the spankrjs yay or nay test... I hated to see it go but gained just enough room to move one from my house. So back to no room in my warehouse again. Truly a rust free CJ in great hands. Just don’t shake the right one.
 
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spankrjs

Scrambler Junkie
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Biloxi
State
MS
I was able to get the gas tank dropped out, everything cleaned up/replaced, and put back together this weekend. I took a bunch of pictures, kind of boring, but maybe interesting.

Pretty sure this gas tank has never been dropped. The fuel supply, return, and vent lines still had the factory crimps on them where they meet the hard lines:

IMG_20190215_175759592.jpg

And the gas tank on the ground, factory style crimps on the fuel supply and return line on the fuel sending unit:

IMG_20190215_183709363.jpg

Nice little nest of crap:

IMG_20190215_184442665.jpg

Took a picture to show how long the original lines were, I went back the same length:

IMG_20190215_184510220.jpg

The moment of truth - pulled the gas tank out of the skid:

IMG_20190215_190202449.jpg


IMG_20190215_190212886.jpg

IMG_20190215_190215496.jpg

This was before I cleaned it. No mud or rust, just dusty/dirty.

I pulled out the OEM sending unit from the tank so I could hose out the tank. I reinstalled it, with the OEM sock and plastic float. I figured if this float lasted this long, it will keep on trucking!!!!!! Probably just cursed myself LOL.

IMG_20190216_105801922.jpg

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The metal piece that bolts to the passenger side of gas tank skid plate, no rust. I reused the original lock ring:

IMG_20190216_105816381.jpg
 
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spankrjs

Scrambler Junkie
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Biloxi
State
MS
The gas tank strap after I cleaned it. No rust, just bare metal:

IMG_20190216_105822431.jpg

IMG_20190216_105829088.jpg

The skid plate, after thoroughly cleaning it out:

IMG_20190216_105835458.jpg

Close up of the seams. This was before I sanded it down. Bare metal, and really stubborn dirt, which was dried on like concrete:

IMG_20190216_105839485.jpg


IMG_20190216_105842885.jpg

The brown stuff sanded off, revealing bare metal. Very happy about the lack of rust.

Picture of all the new hoses, clamps, fuel cap, vent valves and grommets:

IMG_20190216_105920636.jpg

Some pictures of the cleaned gas tank:

IMG_20190216_105948529.jpg


IMG_20190216_105953354.jpg


IMG_20190216_110009251.jpg

I found this very interesting:

IMG_20190216_110013691.jpg

The month/year of production being March of 1985. If this is the OEM fuel tank, this would have been a "later" year '85 model, not an early year '85. I find this interesting because this often quoted "story/information" is quoted as fact sometimes:

http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/1506-1985-jeep-cj-7-spring-special-encyclopedia/

This would make it one of the last "Spring Specials", maybe. Anyway, thought it was interesting. The story above does have the paint code wrong, though, so take it with a grain of salt LOL.
 
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spankrjs

Scrambler Junkie
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Biloxi
State
MS
Some carnage pictures. Pretty sure this is why it stunk like fuel so bad. Every fuel line, and rubber part associated with the fuel system was old/dried out.

Fuel fill and vent hoses:

IMG_20190216_110101331.jpg

IMG_20190216_110106603.jpg

IMG_20190216_110120688.jpg

Fuel return line under the hood, ran from fuel filter return metal line to chassis mounted fuel return line on driver side, near exhaust.

IMG_20190216_110145695.jpg

IMG_20190216_110154612.jpg

Vent valve grommets shot. I changed the valves, too, but these seem to be OK:


IMG_20190216_110214526.jpg

IMG_20190216_110216857.jpg

Even the rubber on the gas cap was not sealing tight.

IMG_20190216_110238584.jpg

This is just the fuel system. I imagine the brake lines, PS lines, coolant hoses, and vacuum lines are just as bad.

BUT - a couple hundred bucks in new rubber components is WAY better then dealing with rust or previous owner hacks. This Jeep is very enjoyable to work on.

Future work will involve replacing all of the above listed items.
 

spankrjs

Scrambler Junkie
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Biloxi
State
MS
Gas tanks skid plate prepped for paint.

IMG_20190216_111443891.jpg

IMG_20190216_111446615.jpg

IMG_20190216_111449793_HDR.jpg

Again, no rust, just bare metal. Since it was 75 and sunny on Saturday, I was able to paint the inside of the skid tank. I just put down a few light coats of VHT chassis paint to cover the bare metal.

The skid plate and associate metal parts painted:

IMG_20190216_123007816.jpg

IMG_20190216_123014095_HDR.jpg

IMG_20190216_123018402_HDR.jpg

IMG_20190216_123023128.jpg

I will post the exciting conclusion later on.
 

bigwalton

Alaskan Postal nutjob
FORUM MANAGER
SOA Member
City
Dexter
State
MI
So boring :rolleyes:

Love it. The idea of that little rust on a CJ is just nuts :crazy:

:cheers:
 

spankrjs

Scrambler Junkie
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Biloxi
State
MS
And the exciting conclusion.

I bought a new sending unit o-ring from MTS, but I don't think it would work:

IMG_20190216_133304261.jpg

The original is on the left, the one supplied by MTS is on the right. It is too big OD and flat, not sure it would work. So, I used a spare o-ring I had in my stash.

And the tank ready to be reinstalled:

IMG_20190216_145752818.jpg

I used fuel injection rated hose and clamps on the supply and return lines. I typically only buy FI hose, I can use it on anything, keeps the spare parts simplified. Also, it is fuel injection ready, just in case!!!!!!!! I used regular fuel vapor line/clamps on the vent lines.

From the factory, I think the OEM supply line is a molded hose, it makes a pretty sharp bend coming out of the sending unit. I carefully routed/secured my supply line to keep it from kinking. I had that problem a long time ago on the tan Scrambler's 20 gallon tank.

IMG_20190216_145759340.jpg

A few more carnage pictures LOL:

IMG_20190217_121119022.jpg

IMG_20190217_121128210_HDR.jpg

IMG_20190217_121139931.jpg

A little trick to make the MTS hoses slide over the factory plastic tank nipples - I use liquid soap to lube up a socket that has a larger OD then the hose ID, jam it in there, let it sit a couple of hours, then easy slide on fit:

IMG_20190217_101636305_HDR.jpg

And finished. No leaks, no stinky gas smell, hopefully no potential fireball!!!!!!!!!!!!

IMG_20190217_121940984.jpg

Now that it is not stinky, it is safely tucked away in its temporary home:

IMG_20190217_141009348.jpg

More maintenance work ahead, stay tuned if it is interesting.
 

spankrjs

Scrambler Junkie
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Biloxi
State
MS
These detailed posts and rapid progress are the reason you have have the best Jeep threads on the World Wide Web!

:cheers:

Appreciate it :thumbsup: I post all this stuff so I can remember what I do, too :thumbsup: There are others on this board who have/can blow my threads away :twocents:
 

onesourcemike

CJ-8 Member
Gold Member
City
Wilmington
State
NC
This might be his sister??
https://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/d/germantown-1985-jeep-cj7-spring-special/6819423434.html
1985 Jeep CJ7 Spring Special **RARE**

"This version of CJ7 was only made available for a few months in 1985 and 1986.
Very rare and desirable CJ.
Super clean! No rust.

6 cylinder
4x4
Superwinch

Great running, great looking!
Definite head turner

Brown soft top and brown soft doors

Nice mud grips and nice chrome wheels

Call or text 901-five six 9 - 9 five 1 0"

00z0z_iGO4dZhTsyc_1200x900.jpg
 
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