I rescued a 77 CJ7 When it was only 4 years old. The sheet metal was already rusted through around the fenders. The body was soon replaced with fiberglass.
Drive train is still all original and running. Factory six, GM TH400 automatic transmission (the same used in GM motorhomes at the time!) and full time four wheel drive. Not a lot of miles on it, I use it for running the back roads. Highway running is a challenge because of the short wheelbase and narrow track axles. I never upgraded the six, it has plenty of power for off road use but not enough to destroy the rest of the drive train.
I'd say It was worth the money just for the fun!
Yea, that’s the thing about the V-8 and 4 sp tranny. Especially if you, and who didn’t, have large tires. You’d gas the engine, hit second gear and destroy the axle. Or the tranny. Or both. And the damn seals, weren’t seals. You’d drop off in a mudhole, cross a creek, whatever and next morning the driveway would be full of oil cause every dad-gum seal would be leaking.