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