Randyzzz Scrambler Restification Thread!
- Thread starter Randyzzz
- Start date
- City
- Gonzales
- State
- La
Sounds good, zr. I'm looking forward to seeing those.
This weeks progress...more plumbing. Got the heater hoses and valve ran, ordered a ton of A/C fittings and parts to make the A/C operational, and mocked up/designed/ordered parts for an air intake, similar to the TJ CAI. Can't say I'm a fan of the CAI airbox systems as a whole, but it was the best solution I could come up with. I'll post pics when I get the box bent up and the tubes installed.
(My other idea on the airbox was to use an enclosed ducted system and have the intake grille using the cowl vent- run the 4" hose around the engine, through the firewall, and into a box under the dash. It really cluttered up the engine compartment, and I was concerned about water intrusion and noise. I may still go that way...)
Also got the PCM bracket built, fuse panel finalized/mounted. Nothing picture-worthy...
Ordered radiator hose adapters too....
Now I'm just waiting on the big brown truck...
Oh...And I'm working on the wiring. It would have been simple to just start running wires, 50 or soand I'd be done. But...what about 2 years down the road when I need to diagnose something? I figured I'd better do a real wiring diagram...I think that's harder than doing the actual wires!!!
As you know I've been following your thread pretty close and when it comes to the AC unit I'm sure glad I decided to go with the Vintage Air unit. Every part I needed for the install was in the kit from the compressor mount and belts right down to every wire ,switch and screw. I would highly recomend this to everyone. Since I'm in Louisiana I need every bit of cold air I can get so I left my air box open and recycle alll the air. I only wish I would have order the larger unit. Installation of the VA unit was a snap. Keep up the good work Randy.
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
Snapped a couple of progress pics....
Air box mock up-
PCM mount-
Heater hose routing- had to move the trans dipstick tube (carefully bend and reweld bracket) but I think it looks better at this angle-
Under dash. Once all the ducts are in it's going to look like an octopus!
Waiting for parts to continue...
Air box mock up-
PCM mount-
Heater hose routing- had to move the trans dipstick tube (carefully bend and reweld bracket) but I think it looks better at this angle-
Under dash. Once all the ducts are in it's going to look like an octopus!
Waiting for parts to continue...
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- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
More plumbing! The adapters came in from Jags That Run/Stealth Conversions. Nice products, fairly priced. They were the only source for hose splicers/adapters that were compact.
Lower hose- 2 90* spliced together-
Makings of an upper hose- Cut pieces out of each and spliced together
Here's the adapter from JTR/Stealth. Has a bleeder and a fitting for the steam tube too!
So...after a lot of trimming, here's what I ended up with. The CAI is installed here too, I have to replace the orange elbow with a black one. The way I have it set up now allows me to have a much smaller air box...better IMHO.
And just when I thought I was finished with plumbing for a while, my order for A/C fittings shows up...
Lower hose- 2 90* spliced together-
Makings of an upper hose- Cut pieces out of each and spliced together
Here's the adapter from JTR/Stealth. Has a bleeder and a fitting for the steam tube too!
So...after a lot of trimming, here's what I ended up with. The CAI is installed here too, I have to replace the orange elbow with a black one. The way I have it set up now allows me to have a much smaller air box...better IMHO.
And just when I thought I was finished with plumbing for a while, my order for A/C fittings shows up...
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
That is one seriously sexy engine bay!!!
Thanks, Eric! The intake tubing will look even better once it's all black, and the worm drive clamps are replaced with T-clamps.
Here's a link to JTR, in case anyone reading this is looking for the hose splicers. http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_Cooling_TransHoseSplicers.html
After the A/C lines are run, I'm down to wiring, temp sender(Have to have one custom threaded), and driveshafts and it will be driveable!
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BigPumaRebel
Legacy Registered User
- City
- Brookshire
- State
- TX
That is one seriously sexy engine bay!!!
agreed. i am now seriously trying to find a 5.3 to fit in mine like that too
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
Been a while since I updated, but that doesn't mean I've been slacking. I've been working on the wiring. I took a look at the AC hoses and realized I needed a break from plumbing...
I wouldn't mind a break from the weather, either. This is last Sunday...
So, I dug into the wiring. My goal is to have a main harness right behind the bottom of the dash, and have everything branch off of it. I was going to use convolute or braid sheathing, but I'm sorta liking the zip ties every 2 inches. Been on it for about 4 days, I'd say a little over half way there. Using mostly weatherpack connectors, everything that comes off the harness has it's own connector- so it's easy to work on later. Here's some not too exciting pictures...
Had to trim the hard to find wire guard to allow the harness to sneak by the shock reservoir.
Yep, still looks like spaghetti. But with a purpose.
Wow...looking at these pictures it looks like a mess. But it's really quite organized. I'll post up completed pictures when I'm finished. The two solenoids and all the vacuum tube are for the A/C system...
I wouldn't mind a break from the weather, either. This is last Sunday...
So, I dug into the wiring. My goal is to have a main harness right behind the bottom of the dash, and have everything branch off of it. I was going to use convolute or braid sheathing, but I'm sorta liking the zip ties every 2 inches. Been on it for about 4 days, I'd say a little over half way there. Using mostly weatherpack connectors, everything that comes off the harness has it's own connector- so it's easy to work on later. Here's some not too exciting pictures...
Had to trim the hard to find wire guard to allow the harness to sneak by the shock reservoir.
Yep, still looks like spaghetti. But with a purpose.
Wow...looking at these pictures it looks like a mess. But it's really quite organized. I'll post up completed pictures when I'm finished. The two solenoids and all the vacuum tube are for the A/C system...
W.R.Buchanan
Legacy Registered User
- City
- Ojai
- State
- CA
Randy: I've been down this road before. Make damn sure you leave enough slack in your harness/harnesses so you can pull the dash panel away from the rollbars so you can work on it.
I didn't do this on my yellow Jeep and the contortions you have to go thru to even see anything underneath or change a fuse are rediculous. I built it when I was way younger.
I'm mounting my Fuse block directly behind the seats in the middle. I will have a raised floor in the cargo area of my vehicle, the battery/batterys go on the right side, and the air compressor goes on the left behind the drivers seat.
I am going to great lengths to avoid having to ever lay down under a dash again. I'm 61 so this is the way I think.
I hope your thing is about ready to hit the roads?
Randy
I didn't do this on my yellow Jeep and the contortions you have to go thru to even see anything underneath or change a fuse are rediculous.
I built it when I was way younger.I'm mounting my Fuse block directly behind the seats in the middle. I will have a raised floor in the cargo area of my vehicle, the battery/batterys go on the right side, and the air compressor goes on the left behind the drivers seat.
I am going to great lengths to avoid having to ever lay down under a dash again. I'm 61 so this is the way I think.
I hope your thing is about ready to hit the roads?
Randy
W.R.Buchanan
Legacy Registered User
- City
- Ojai
- State
- CA
Also it's good to see someone as manicial as me building something. You are going the extra mile on this build and doing everythign right .
You're gonna be loving this vehicle for a long time.
At least you better love it.
Randy
You're gonna be loving this vehicle for a long time.
At least you better love it.
Randy
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- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
Thanks for the kind words. Randy, I'm planning on this being my "Forever" vehicle, so I'm committed to "Do it once, Do it right."
Heck, I'm only 50 but I fully understand the underdash contortions...that's how I caused one of my neck/disc injuries. Did you know it's possible to get your head stuck behind the brake pedal on a Grand Cherokee? Did that installing a brake controller on a 2005...
My fuse/relay center will still be under the dash, but it will be a straight shot back about 4" above the floor seam- easy to see when you're on one knee. Original intention was under the hood, but that didn't work out space wise. I am leaving some slack, and each of the dash panels come off without much effort. All the connections to each panel are harnessed separately, and the panels will remove with the release of several connectors. The harness will attach to the backside of the tube nuts I welded in for the dash panels to mount to. The hardest is the panel with all the indicator lights, I'm using a 15pin sub-d connector (Computer monitor) and wiring the dash lights through there. The complete harness itself will be removable as a unit, should need be. The fuse/relay center is removable as a unit through about 6 weatherpack connectors.
I finished the back half over the weekend, and started building the overhead switch console. It's getting close now...a couple weeks maybe? Probably wishful thinking...
And...I will love it. After this much effort and commitment, if there's something that I don't like, I'll change it. Besides, my daughter made me promise that she gets it when I can't drive anymore.
Heck, I'm only 50 but I fully understand the underdash contortions...that's how I caused one of my neck/disc injuries. Did you know it's possible to get your head stuck behind the brake pedal on a Grand Cherokee? Did that installing a brake controller on a 2005...
My fuse/relay center will still be under the dash, but it will be a straight shot back about 4" above the floor seam- easy to see when you're on one knee. Original intention was under the hood, but that didn't work out space wise. I am leaving some slack, and each of the dash panels come off without much effort. All the connections to each panel are harnessed separately, and the panels will remove with the release of several connectors. The harness will attach to the backside of the tube nuts I welded in for the dash panels to mount to. The hardest is the panel with all the indicator lights, I'm using a 15pin sub-d connector (Computer monitor) and wiring the dash lights through there. The complete harness itself will be removable as a unit, should need be. The fuse/relay center is removable as a unit through about 6 weatherpack connectors.
I finished the back half over the weekend, and started building the overhead switch console. It's getting close now...a couple weeks maybe? Probably wishful thinking...
And...I will love it. After this much effort and commitment, if there's something that I don't like, I'll change it. Besides, my daughter made me promise that she gets it when I can't drive anymore.
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W.R.Buchanan
Legacy Registered User
- City
- Ojai
- State
- CA
Hopefully she'll be fifty when she gets the Jeep. Then you'll know you got your moneys worth out of it.
Do make sure you have complete documentation on all of it (wiring diagram) source for all aftermarket parts.
I did this on the yellow Jeep and it has paid dividends many times when I couldn't remember what I did 20 years ago.
I have drawings of everything I have fabbed for the new one, and it all goes in a binder that you keep with the Jeep.
Luckily I have this thread and the one on 4BTSWAPS for reference too.
You however will require a larger binder.
Randy
Do make sure you have complete documentation on all of it (wiring diagram) source for all aftermarket parts.
I did this on the yellow Jeep and it has paid dividends many times when I couldn't remember what I did 20 years ago.
I have drawings of everything I have fabbed for the new one, and it all goes in a binder that you keep with the Jeep.
Luckily I have this thread and the one on 4BTSWAPS for reference too.
You however will require a larger binder.
Randy
- City
- Dexter
- State
- MI
Randy, that doesn't look like a mess at all to me, maybe it takes someone having gone through something like a major swap/rewire to appreciate it. I see nice connectors and labels everywhere, looks great!! 
I have a dream of rewiring mine completely too, hence the rolled up mass of wires from the XJ PDC in my engine bay. Looks like poo now, but to me I just see the possibilities
Loving it and getting really excited for you...
I see nice connectors and labels everywhere, looks great!! I have a dream of rewiring mine completely too, hence the rolled up mass of wires from the XJ PDC in my engine bay. Looks like poo now, but to me I just see the possibilities
Loving it and getting really excited for you...
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
Let there be light!
So...next on the list was the overhead switch panel for lighting control. I had made a pathway for the wires when building the cage, and there was just enough room for the bundle. There is a double layer of heat shrink where the harness passes through the tubes. The overhead panel is made out of a couple of "Project Boxes" from Radio Shack. I chose plastic on purpose, I realized that in a rollover or collision a metal structure would do a number on your noggin...plastic would crumple. So, after much trial and error, cardboard templates, ABS glue and bedliner spray, and a whole bunch of spade connectors, here's the result.
The box assembly is mounted on a stainless hinge for easy access. That's velcro fuzz along the edges for a finished look, and also there's some velcro on the harness to keep it up once the box is closed. The wires on the right are for the dome lamp, more on that later.
Finished product.
Just had to hook up a battery and test the wiring. It works! So does the dome, and the rear lighting harness.
Here's the dome lamp- it's a cargo light from a mid 90's TrooperII.
I still have to get some legend stickers for the green portion of the switches. The functions controlled by the switches are:
UPPER ROW:
Dash Lamps
Running Lamps
Head Lamps
LOWER ROW
Fog Lamps
Off Road HID's
Rock Lamps
I chose to switch all the Upper Row functions separately. Might be a legality issue in some areas, but I know there are times when I wish I could have just the headlamps on, or just the dash lamps, ect. Now I can. And when you turn on the dash lamp switch, all the other switch legends illuminate. I guess I am sort of a control freak!
So...next on the list was the overhead switch panel for lighting control. I had made a pathway for the wires when building the cage, and there was just enough room for the bundle. There is a double layer of heat shrink where the harness passes through the tubes. The overhead panel is made out of a couple of "Project Boxes" from Radio Shack. I chose plastic on purpose, I realized that in a rollover or collision a metal structure would do a number on your noggin...plastic would crumple. So, after much trial and error, cardboard templates, ABS glue and bedliner spray, and a whole bunch of spade connectors, here's the result.
The box assembly is mounted on a stainless hinge for easy access. That's velcro fuzz along the edges for a finished look, and also there's some velcro on the harness to keep it up once the box is closed. The wires on the right are for the dome lamp, more on that later.
Finished product.
Just had to hook up a battery and test the wiring. It works! So does the dome, and the rear lighting harness.
Here's the dome lamp- it's a cargo light from a mid 90's TrooperII.
I still have to get some legend stickers for the green portion of the switches. The functions controlled by the switches are:
UPPER ROW:
Dash Lamps
Running Lamps
Head Lamps
LOWER ROW
Fog Lamps
Off Road HID's
Rock Lamps
I chose to switch all the Upper Row functions separately. Might be a legality issue in some areas, but I know there are times when I wish I could have just the headlamps on, or just the dash lamps, ect. Now I can.
And when you turn on the dash lamp switch, all the other switch legends illuminate. I guess I am sort of a control freak!
