AWESOME CJ7 W/ A CHEVY 350 V8 (& SIDE EXHAUST!), 4 SPD MANUAL, COLD A/C, COOL!!

1981 Jeep CJ Description

Some guys take their fun very seriously. Take the guy who built this 1981 Jeep CJ7 Laredo, which carries a lot of off-road gear, a potent 350 cubic inch V8, and a long list of options including A/C. It's one of the nicer ones we've featured and it looks fantastic. If you've been watching our inventory lately, you already know that these vintage Jeeps, especially built to this level, just don't stick around very long.The handsome black metallic paint job was finished not too long ago and it still looks remarkably good for an off-road vehicle. We worry about Jeeps when they're this nice, because the new owner might be afraid to play in the dirt with it, and that would be a shame. So while it's clean and shiny, take a look at the straight bodywork, including all the reproduction Laredo decals that still seem appropriate after all these years. Then there's the solid body tub, rubber flares over the giant tires, and the usual fold-down windshield and asymmetrical mirrors. Lots of chrome details, ranging from the grille surround to the front and rear bumpers, give it a lot of sparkle that will still show up when the Jeep's out in the brush playing. The paint itself is two-stage urethane, which is durable enough for the rough stuff, and shines up beautifully just by hosing it off. Clearly someone did it right when they put this one together.Jeep interiors have always been about function over form, and for utilitarian good looks, they've perfected the formula. Clearly this one was intended for serious fun off-road, which explains the form-fitting front buckets. It's still got that hardcore Jeep look that's 100% functional, but basic doesn't mean stripped, as there's spray-on bedliner material on the floor instead of the usual carpets and a powerful Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo with speakers in the dash and big enclosures in back that actually sound pretty darned good. The instrument panel and control layout is pretty close to what you got back in the early days of the Jeep brand, but if it works, why change it? There's also under-dash A/C that remains fully functional, and the roll bars are neatly padded in gray vinyl that matches the upholstery. Jeep floor mats provide a modicum of protection for the floors and a bikini top does the same for the Jeep's occupants.In 1981, nobody was making big horsepower, so the original engine in this Jeep was jettisoned and replaced by a sweet-running 350 cubic inch Chevrolet V8. With the usual upgrades including a 4-barrel carb and intake and a set of custom long-tube headers dumping into a side exhaust system, it has plenty of power to get this Jeep just about anywhere. It also has a neat OEM look and shows tidy workmanship throughout, although the A/C compressor and power steering pump seem to dominate the engine bay perched up high like they are. It's backed by a 4-speed manual gearbox and the original transfer case and axles, which hardly need an upgrade, although it does have a Rough Country suspension upgrade to help in the rough. And like many of its siblings, this CJ wears 15-inch aluminum wheels with positively massive 33x12.5-15 BFGoodrich off-road radials.These classic CJs will not be getting cheaper, and if you like to play in the dirt, this one is an option-laden solution that's ready to rock today. Call now!