The shackle reverse does help quite a bit and it was an option when we ordered the frame. It is much easier to have them build it that way rather than trying to change it later. If this thing was going to be in the mud or snow or something I would agree with a little larger tire, but my brother just uses it to run around on the beach, so the 33s work well. We live just a few miles from Assateague National Seashore which is an island that runs from here in Ocean City all the way down into Virginia. It is great for fishing, surfing, camping or just to get away.

http://www.nps.gov/archive/asis/home.htm

If you are using stock axles, 33in tires are as big as I would go. In sand I would try for a 33/15.50 as opposed to a 33/12.50. I think the wider tire will float better on the sand, and they look better. I think the nitto mud grappler is a good looking m/t tire.

I just sold my 79 cj7, had a 304 with a automatic transmision

It was fun!

Enjoy yours!

Dd

any new pics on this build.

Why was the Cummins 4BT not chosen?

Oops. I guess I forgot to post updates on this one. We finished the Jeep early this past spring. I will try to bring this thread up to date this week. If not, I'll do it as soon as we get home from Key West.

I am sorry that we did not document this build with as many pictures as the Camaro, but here are a bunch of pics of the finished product. Since these pics were taken, we did drop down one tire size because the set pictured were too big to be functional. I'll try to get her out and shoot some current pics before we leave for KW. The pictures below were taken early this past spring.

More.

Even more.

These are the last pics I have on the computer. I'll try to shoot some current ones and get them posted. Along with different tires, it also has different valve covers and a few other minor things. This Jeep was my brother's and he wanted to keep it's appearance as close to stock as possible. This thing is basically a brand new 1979 Jeep CJ-7 and it came out exactly how he wanted it.