Difference in 79 and 80 body

mattk85c

I have been looking at getting 2 piece soft doors for my 79 CJ and I want the spice color. Obviously there is some difference in the 79 and 80 CJ's because there is a cut off there when it comes to doors and tops. Does anybody know what this could be? I have heard that the windshield is angled more straight up in the 80, but it can't be signigicant. Do yall think the 80-86 doors would work on a 79. I want the spice but they dont make it for the 76-79 CJ-7. Any help would be great. Thanks.

jeepsr4ever

All door fit but they are model specific (cj7 to cj7 or cj5 to cj5) The latch for the handle changed over the years.

tufcj

Up to 79 they used a striker like a screen door. 80 up used a pin-type striker more like a car. You can retrofit the earlier bodies, but you need to weld in a small gusset plate. Bob tufcj

mattk85c

what about changing out the latches in the door? is that possible?

mattk85c

Can you answer my question regarding the difference in the angle of the windshield? Are they the same? Thanks again.

tufcj

Nope, you can't change the latch on the door, the inner works are completely different. You can add the 80-up striker to the 76-79 body. Look at part #6A to see what the 80 up striker looks like.

http://www.jeep4x4center.com/cj7/door-parts-seals.htm

The windshield is the same on all CJs from 76-86. Hardtops and soft tops should interchange as long as you get a top with all the hardware. There may be a slight difference in the factory hardware, as some of the soft tops were designed to be used with factory full hard doors.

Bob
tufcj

mattk85c

Thanks for the help guys. I appreciate it