Jeep8499
Legacy Registered User
- City
- Grand Rapids
- State
- MI
After being on this site for a while now but not really posting much I recently acquired my first Scrambler. I bought my first jeep in August 2006 at age 14 with plans of doing a frame off restoration. It was a running and driving bright green 1978 CJ-7 with a fiberglass body, AMC 304, 3 speed transmission, Dana 20 transfercase with a Dana 44 in the rear. After a long roadtrip to Indiana to pick it up I arrived back and immediately began the tear-down process. I quickly gained knowledge of what I had and also met a couple local jeep guys who got me going with parts and info. Since then I have bought and sold 30+ jeeps and tons of parts. Although I still have it, my '78 CJ-7 never made it all the way back together. Being the "picky" person that I am, over time the the build direction of my jeep has changed considerably resulting in a different frame, bigger axles, bigger engine, different transmission/transfercase, and so on. After finally putting my engine back on the frame earlier this summer, I was up to the point of getting the tub restored and ready. After some thought I decided I just wasn't going to be satisfied with the original fiberglass tub that was on the jeep. Whoever had installed the tub didn't really do a great job resulting in it needing some fiberglass work. So, instead I picked up a brand new 4wd fiberglass CJ-7 tub. As time went on however, my plans again changed and I decided that I wanted to stay away from fiberglass and go with a steel body....so the search for a rust-free original '7 tub began. Needless to say here in Michigan its near impossible to find a rust free original CJ tub that hasn't been patched or hacked up at all. Because of the cost of getting a tub from elsewhere in the country and my desire to have something unique, the search for a scrambler began. Just 2 weeks ago I finally found what I was looking for. Because I already have my axles and engine all set and ready to go in my CJ-7, I'm planning on swapping them over onto the Scrambler frame. Anyways, here's where I'm at.
CJ-7 build started in 2006: Currently a rolling chassis with engine, axles installed and original fiberglass tub just sitting on top.
- Different frame because the old one was rusted/patched. Near perfect frame that I picked up locally from a jeep guy. Just replaced the body mounts and rear crossmember.
- All black painted parts have been sandblasted, covered with 2 coats of POR15, 1 coat of self-etching primer, and 2 coats of Rust-Oleum Semi-gloss top coat. Inside frame rails where also under-coated.
- Dana 44 rear out of an Isuzu Rodeo with 4.10 gears, 6 lug bolt pattern, and new disk brakes, etc.
- Dana 44 front axle out of a 3/4 ton Chevy. Outers have been replaced with 6 lug stuff to match the rear. Axle has also been shortened ~5" on the long side and the shaft was replaced with a stock wagoneer shaft. Spring mounts have also been flipped under the axle. This was to retain the stock spring hanger locations and avoid out-boarding the spring hangers. Stock 4.09 gears. New brakes etc.
- AMC 401 Engine. Pulled this out of a 1974 Wagoneer that I picked up in Chicago. I tore the engine down and did a complete rebuild. Engine is bored 0.030 over. Has Keith Black Hypereutectic flat-top Pistons with 11:1 compression. Custom grind Engle Racing Cam. Heads were cleaned and valve springs replaced. New bearings, lifters, pushrods, etc. Edelbrock Performer Aluminum Intake. Holley 750 carb. Engine was painted original AMC metallic blue.
- T-176 4-Speed Transmission and Dana 300 Transfercase. Both were cleaned up and repainted.
- 2.5 Skyjacker Softride suspension lift. Rancho RS5000 shocks. Purchased from a local jeep guy. New bushings, new paint, etc.
- New Daystar greasable shackles front and rear.
- 15x10 Alcoa Aluminum Wheels on 33” rollers.
Like I said, the plan is to use the driveline currently in the ‘7 and transfer it all over to the CJ-8. 2 weeks ago I purchased this Scrambler in Milwaukee, WI. It’s all in pieces but here’s some more info.
- Titled as a 1984. 63k original miles. Frame is a 1984. Previous owner blasted and repainted. Since I’m picky it just wasn’t up to the condition I wanted it to be. Unfortunately it had been used as a plow truck. So the tear-down began since it was a rolling chassis. Had original Dana 30 front axle and AMC 20 rear axle. Had the frame blasted last weekend. I’ve been working all this week on patching it.
- Tub is a 1981 rust-free original from California. Just a couple minor dents that should be fixed but other than that, no rot and it should be ready to go to the sandblaster shortly. Rust-free fenders, windshield frame, grill, tailgate, etc. from California as well.
- This is pretty much the extent of the parts from the ‘8 that I will be using. Engine, axles, and such will be sold.
- I also have a set of 4” lift springs that I will be using instead of the 2.5” springs.
- Planning to run 35x12.5x15 Mickey Thompson MTX tires.
Well, that’s about it for now. Have tons of pictures and I’ll try to get some up soon. Hoping to give the ‘8 frame the first coat of paint this afternoon. I’ll try to update as I keep going. However, I’m headed to college this fall so progress might be slow. I’m open to hearing any comments/suggestions as I keep going to so feel free to make them. Thanks for looking.
-Nate
CJ-7 build started in 2006: Currently a rolling chassis with engine, axles installed and original fiberglass tub just sitting on top.
- Different frame because the old one was rusted/patched. Near perfect frame that I picked up locally from a jeep guy. Just replaced the body mounts and rear crossmember.
- All black painted parts have been sandblasted, covered with 2 coats of POR15, 1 coat of self-etching primer, and 2 coats of Rust-Oleum Semi-gloss top coat. Inside frame rails where also under-coated.
- Dana 44 rear out of an Isuzu Rodeo with 4.10 gears, 6 lug bolt pattern, and new disk brakes, etc.
- Dana 44 front axle out of a 3/4 ton Chevy. Outers have been replaced with 6 lug stuff to match the rear. Axle has also been shortened ~5" on the long side and the shaft was replaced with a stock wagoneer shaft. Spring mounts have also been flipped under the axle. This was to retain the stock spring hanger locations and avoid out-boarding the spring hangers. Stock 4.09 gears. New brakes etc.
- AMC 401 Engine. Pulled this out of a 1974 Wagoneer that I picked up in Chicago. I tore the engine down and did a complete rebuild. Engine is bored 0.030 over. Has Keith Black Hypereutectic flat-top Pistons with 11:1 compression. Custom grind Engle Racing Cam. Heads were cleaned and valve springs replaced. New bearings, lifters, pushrods, etc. Edelbrock Performer Aluminum Intake. Holley 750 carb. Engine was painted original AMC metallic blue.
- T-176 4-Speed Transmission and Dana 300 Transfercase. Both were cleaned up and repainted.
- 2.5 Skyjacker Softride suspension lift. Rancho RS5000 shocks. Purchased from a local jeep guy. New bushings, new paint, etc.
- New Daystar greasable shackles front and rear.
- 15x10 Alcoa Aluminum Wheels on 33” rollers.
Like I said, the plan is to use the driveline currently in the ‘7 and transfer it all over to the CJ-8. 2 weeks ago I purchased this Scrambler in Milwaukee, WI. It’s all in pieces but here’s some more info.
- Titled as a 1984. 63k original miles. Frame is a 1984. Previous owner blasted and repainted. Since I’m picky it just wasn’t up to the condition I wanted it to be. Unfortunately it had been used as a plow truck. So the tear-down began since it was a rolling chassis. Had original Dana 30 front axle and AMC 20 rear axle. Had the frame blasted last weekend. I’ve been working all this week on patching it.
- Tub is a 1981 rust-free original from California. Just a couple minor dents that should be fixed but other than that, no rot and it should be ready to go to the sandblaster shortly. Rust-free fenders, windshield frame, grill, tailgate, etc. from California as well.
- This is pretty much the extent of the parts from the ‘8 that I will be using. Engine, axles, and such will be sold.
- I also have a set of 4” lift springs that I will be using instead of the 2.5” springs.
- Planning to run 35x12.5x15 Mickey Thompson MTX tires.
Well, that’s about it for now. Have tons of pictures and I’ll try to get some up soon. Hoping to give the ‘8 frame the first coat of paint this afternoon. I’ll try to update as I keep going. However, I’m headed to college this fall so progress might be slow. I’m open to hearing any comments/suggestions as I keep going to so feel free to make them. Thanks for looking.
-Nate
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