Searching for a Jeep

We decided to look for a late 70's Jeep CJ7. We wanted a CJ7 that had little or no rust so it had the frame strength to withstand what we wanted to do. We also did not want to spend time working on the body and could mostly focus on the drive-train and suspension system. We wanted a factory V8 and a factory manual transmission. We also wanted everything to largely be original so we could build from the ground up what we wanted VS taking over or having to re-do someone else's work.

We started looking on Craig's list in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania & Kentucky. Something within 4 hours of either Christopher or I. We found many, called about many but only looked at 2. The first one was in West Virginia but it did not take Lorrie and I long to realize it was not what we were looking for. The second one was close to the Ohio/ Indiana border. Having talked to the owners on the phone several times, them having shared dozens of additional pictures, I decided to take the trailer and if it was as described, I planned to buy it.

Long story short, I bought it!
1978 Jeep CJ7, factory 304 V8, factory 3 speed manual transmission, 73,000 miles. Here she is, all loaded up, title in hand!

(click  on picture to enlarge)