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Arizona

1973 Jeep CJ Renegade

Restoration

dscription

1973 Jeep CJ Renegade

David sent us, this way awesome 73 CJ Renegade to build for him. He was the original owner of this CJ, lost it for a while and was able to buy it back. This complete nut and bolt, high performance Hot Rod CJ build was a blast! Starting with a clean 73 with a small block chevy conversion, we tore it down to the frame. Knowing he wanted a healthy motor in it, we Boxed the frame with dimple died panels and plated the outside of the frame with panels. We then converted the front axle to disk brakes using a 83 cj axle as a donor, used a SSBC disk brake kit for the rear Dana 44. Pulled the bearings and gears and freshened the original 4:10’s with new parts. David and I had talked about motors here and there. But when it came time to pull the trigger, boy he did! We purchased a Blue Print Racing Engines built, alum headed 383 small block. 400 HP and 420 FT LB monster goes into a Super T-10 4 spd (that was in the jeep) and the original dana 20 transfer case. Controlling this monster is a FiTech fuel injection with a “tanks, Inc” in tank pump. Edelbrock valve covers and air cleaner, with a “near chrome” powder coated intake and fan give it that show car gleam. The Hooker fender well headers were reused and powder coated in black with custom Magnaflow side pipes. The light weight Enkei wheels he had purchased in his youth were still on the Jeep, so we polished them and mounted a set of 33×12.50×15 BFG All Terrains. Around back we custom made a tire carrier/rear bumper combo with another BFG and not having a 5th Enkie, we used an American racing wheel to finish it off. The body was for the most part clean and nice. We had to re-do the front body mounts on the tub as they had collapsed like most CJ’s from that era. The tub was sent off to have it sprayed in 2005 Dodge Patriot Blue. We did a color matched bed-liner on the bottom of the tub and on the floors. The old dash had been cut up for radios and speakers, so we filled all the holes with metal and had it sprayed at the same time. A custom polished tilt column with a LeCarra wheel is hooked to custom linkage and a rebuilt variable ratio steering box. Power disk brake booster controls the 4 wheels disk brakes with all custom bent lines and a Wilwood proportioning valve. The interior had older Steel Horse seats and the original rear seat that we recovered in modern JK materials. We also covered the rollcage and the original Renegade dash pad in the same material. Rounding out this build is a complete new wire harness, custom center console with a round marine radio and Autometer gauges. This was a FUN build, and this Jeep is a hand full. It is Sooooo Fast and sounds rowdy!… and a BEAUTIFUL CJ.

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