If you look at an old Jeep like this LT Swap CJ7, next to a new Jeep, it’s amazing how small they are. New cars and trucks are just huge. I was at a show earlier in the year, standing next to a CJ5 and it felt tiny. But back in the mid 1970s and well into the 1980s and 1990s, a CJ7 Renegade was on the list of Jeeps you wanted. This one came factory with the AMC 304 ci V8, upgraded drivetrain, and an automatic, and other than the slightly modern front bumper, this thing looks period perfect. But you know what makes it extra cool?
The fact that a Holley employee drives it. That’s what. This is one of the Employee Rides at Holley. Mike Wittkopf built this sucker, complete with a 5.3 LT swap from a 2018 Chevy Silverado, and all the attitude you expect. I love the lift, the wheel fitment, the fact that it sits on 33/12.50/15s in a day when everyone is running a bigger tire, a bigger wheel, and something black which would look horrible on this thing. I think the vintage Turbines are the bees knees, and the fact that this thing is still leaf sprung front and rear, without a shackle reversal or anything, is a testament to just how cool these things are in relatively tame trim.
This CJ7 would certainly make it through the entire Rubicon Trail as long as it has limited slips, and it would be fun to watch.
Boy sure knows how to ruin a good vehicle by stuffing a GM motor into it.
He does mention that he also has an ’88 Mustang with a 351 he’s also working on, so I don’t think he’s partisan. I’d use the modern LT too, it’s even aluminum as weight is always your enemy.
https://gmpowertrain.com/products/l83-engine/