Wanted: Canadian CJ-7 Soft Top and Doors

[Robin Craig]

Do you own the vehicle already or is it the hinge point that will decide if you buy it? Please let us know if you find the items and where you found them.

[spinnerhawken]

Hey Robin,

I own the vehicle and am just looking to restore it as close to original as possible. It is CFR 85-76610 from 26 Svc Bn in North Bay.
I figured the green soft top and doors would be an issue but I am hoping that someone, somewhere has one. If not, it will be the thing I continue to chase.
Is there any interest in me starting a CJ-7 restoration thread?

Steve

[Robin Craig]

Steve,

The beauty of the forum format against the vacuous void of other mediums is the way this remains as an archive and a resource for others who come looking for information long after we have posted material and in a way that is readily searchable.

Yes, please, start a thread using the make and model of the vehicle properly and many will likely chime in and help. I actually have to admit, have been tempted to venture into the CJ7 path but was stopped by sanity wondering how easy it would be to find the doors and tops.

These vehicle occupy a genuine place in CF history and you should be proud for saving one.

[Robin Craig]

I am thinking you have not stumbled upon this thread yet

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=21568

[spinnerhawken]

Seen it, it has been my salvation when worried if I should have bought it or not!
Love those pics. Honestly, I think they may have played a role in convincing my wife to bring home yet another mil veh. To bad we never took more pics early on in our careers/travels when we saw all of the great vehicle we now chase. Steve

[Robin Craig]

Where did it come from and where did you find it advertised?

[maple_leaf_eh]

Hit up the R de Hull old boys for their pictures, circa 1992. I transferred to them around that time, but was trying to become a civilian too. The job I had was more demanding of my time, so I left the reserves.

A few stories come to mind, and excuse me if you've heard them already.

The steering linkages were more fragile than expected. On one road move across the biggest bridge in Quebec City, something broke and a "CJ", as I recall they were nicknamed, veered to the side and aimed itself at the guardrail. It smacked hard but didn't go over the edge. That would have been a serious incident, "Jeep with three Reservists falls 200' into St Lawrence River". I wasn't in the R de Hull at the time, but the story was fresh gossip.

Secondly, I remember they weren't much use as recce vehicles the way the troops were used to the M38A1 and even the M151A2. The roof and doors were much less field-friendly.

To power the RT524, there was an inverter under the back seat or across one side in the rear. It hummed, had bright lights and got warm. The radio didn't work without it on. The starts and stops routines were more complicated.

I do remember they were pretty sprightly off a starting start. A good driver could chirp the tires in all forward gears. Those weren't mud NDCC tires, and the vehicles didn't do as well off road. (Which might explain the steering linkage breaking.)

The front seats were comfortable but not nearly as practical as the M38A1. I sort of remember they were taller and had space underneath to more easily lose things.