1985 Jeep CJ7 review from North America

Heater core was out when I bought it.

Tires wore out (go figure)

Front Brakes wore out (go figure again)

Tune-ups.

Oil changes.

Anti-freeze changes.

New exhaust (nothing lasts forever)

Swapped the '85 engine for fresh engine from an '83...no smog, no vacuum mess, added headers and carb. The best part is the new engine was given to me by a neighbor (talk about friendly Jeep owners). Tons more power and 30% better gas mileage.

New clutch (when engine swapped out.)

Master cylinder started bypassing (replaced and good as new)

I have broken two (six months apart) intake valve rocker arms. The darn canoes just broke right through the saddles. On the first one the lifter jumped out of the hole it rides in (down in the oil valley) and the oil pressure went to zero. I thought my oil pump had gone out. Turned out to take about two hours total (and $8.75 in parts) to fix, but that was after I left it in the garage for six months in disgust at the (supposed) oil pump failure.

Replaced the valve cover gasket. I still don't understand how car manufacturers designed those things like that. Not just Jeep, but what a terrible design. Like they are made to misalign.

What can I say. I drive it every day. I live in Hawaii, and you can't have a better vehicle. The rides a little rough, but I can go diving or surfing and none of the local boys mess with it (no self-respecting, well-to-do person would be caught riding in it, much less driving it!)