New member with 80 Chief S, rebuild or not?

[westexhunt]

While building an 86 CJ and needing a replacement for the 304, I found a 80 Chief S with a built 360 and a T176. The engine ran good but no driveshafts hooked up because of the hillrat lift, I bought it for the engine. I then realized that the body was rust free and in very good condition, but I dont want to run it with the 4 speed and right now it would not be safe to drive, someone cut the spring hangers off and welded them to 6" long pieces of 3x3 tubing sticking off the bottom of the frame, creating a dangerous p.o.s. with a really nice body on it, along with rebuilt, cammed 360 and an aftermarket thick steel fuel tank mounted between the rear frame rails.

I have found that I want too many vehicles and cannot find the compromise so I come up with these options.

1. Clean up the frame build new spring hangers (I can build spring hangers better than the stock ones if I choose), and put it back to stock height using stock drive train, restore it and look at it and be scared to drive it and eventually sell it.

2. Pull the engine and put it in my CJ, put in a tbi 350/4r100/203-205 combo (that I have) build the axles and fix the suspension add lift and wheel it.

3. Fix the problems, put in a 727, and make it a nice driver, that I can trail ride.

4. Pull the engine/trans and sell it.

I dont mind spending money but I hate to waste it. Will this thing ever be worth more than it is now, provided I take option 1?

This rig is factory graphite grey with black decals(needs repainted and new decals) interior is gutted but I have most interior pieces from a waggy, glass, and body is really, really clean.

Thanks for looking.

[Fiodh. Argus]

there is a rumor that the turning radius on these is as good as a CJ, and the 4 speed is lots of fun. I say drive it!

[etjeep]

I would change out the lift/spring hanger config and wheel it. Finding one with a great body is a good discovery but not a rare one. I would venture to say the margins may be awefully low on these rigs for a "resale for-profit" gig, especially to this astute group, but depending on what you paid for it, you may be able to part it for a few more beans than you have into it. Good luck.

[JeepinPete]

The way good bodied Waggys have been going on ebay as of late, the value of these trucks is going up. If you are a CJ guy, pull the engine and put it in the CJ. Sell the body to someone on this board that is looking to build a clean resto.

[jeeping1974]

build it, drive it, wheel it, break it, curse at it, hug it, fix it, repeat.