Another Scrambler Purchase/Road Trip - UPDATE- BODY ON FRAME AGAIN

[MN-Paul]

When your done with your list please post a few pictures. Looking to find a scrambler. Hard to find a decent one.

 

[spankrjs]

I installed the Rocky Road Outfitter's Rock Rails this weekend. They installed very easily, look great IMO, and seem to function fine. Overall, I am very happy with them.

For now, I only installed them per the manufacturers recommendation. Each rail has 12 self tapping bolts holding it on to the outside face of the frame. I had my qualms about this, but it seems to be holding excellently. If you were so inclined, I am sure you could also weld the mounting plates to the face of the frame, too. Or, you could also weld in sleeves, drill straight through the frame rails, and through bolt them. I am going to try them with the stock mounting hardware first, then modify IF I have problems. For my slow speed driving, I think they will be fine. King of Hammer's style driving might be a different story....

Pictures of where the rails bolt to the frame, from the front to the back.

And some pictures of them bolted on. They are hardly noticeable when looking at the overall Jeep. They only stick out about as far as the factory fender flares. They stretch from behind the front tires to the front of the back tires, protecting the entire rocker panel and the bottom edge of the front fenders.

And some out door shots.

I also installed my replacement fuel and temperature gauges, and they work. They are a little twitchy, so I am going to run a dedicated ground wire to one of the speedometer housing mounting bolts.

That's it for now.

 

[spankrjs]

Quick list of some changes I want to make before heading to Moab:

1) Finish 4:1 Dana 300 rebuild - INSTALLED
2) Rebuild T5 transmission(s) - One is INSTALLED, the spare is on the shelf
3) Take 1" body lift off, rework clutch linkage - LEAVING FOR CLEARANCE
4) Switch 35" BFG's for 33" BFG's - ORDERED TIRES, INSTALL THIS WEEK
5) Install Tuffy Stereo Console - INSTALLED
6) Install larger gas tank - INSTALLED
7) Rocker Protection - INSTALLED

GETTING CLOSER, I am making the end of February my deadline to get this thing ready for Moab in April

 

[Polarfire]

Those rock rails look great! Have you decided which way you are going with tires/wheels?

 

[spankrjs]

Those rock rails look great! Have you decided which way you are going with tires/wheels?

Appreciate it. I am very happy with how the rails look, I hope they function as well as they look. I will try them out at Moab in report back

As for tires/wheels, I ordered 33x12.50x15 BFG Mud Terrain KM2's. I am happy with these tires traction, on rock/mud/sand, and the on road performance of these tires has been great, so I am sticking with them, just going down one size. I am going to mount them on my current factory 8" wheels, and hope they don't rub

I thought about going to 33x10.50, but for the soft conditions down here where I spend most of my wheeling time, the slightly better floatation of the 12.50 just makes more sense. If I lived somewhere with lots of rock and lots of on road ice, the 10.50's would be a better choice. The slightly wider foot print of the 12.50 vs the 10.50 should be better for side hilling, too

After temporarily switching down from my current 35's to my buddies borrowed 33's, I can honestly say that I am way happier with the Scrambler's over all performance with 33's The 4.10 gears push the 35's with no problem. I drove it from south MS to almost TN with the 35's and the T176, and it drove perfectly. It could hold any hill no problem. But, with overdrive, the 4.10's can not push the 35's satisfactorily The RPM decrease coupled to the 258 is just too much. 4.56 gears with 35's and overdrive might be better, but I am very happy with 1-4 gears performance with 4.10's. For me, 4.56 would be too deep, too much of a negative trade off, just to gain some RPM in overdrive. Even with 4.56, the 258 might not have "enough" to push 35's on interstate grades/head winds.

It might sound like I am complaining about my MPI equipped 258's power out put, but I am not. I am very happy with my in line 6. A V8 could probably cope better with 35's/4.10's/overdrive, but I am happy with my 258's gas mileage and power output. And with current gas prices coupled to the fact that I like to drive my Scrambler on road as well as off road, the anticipated fuel mileage increase I hope to gain by switching down to 33's and adding over drive, should be a welcome plus. My 35" tire/T176 best highway MPG was 16, I am hoping I increase to maybe 18-19 MPG

35" tires + T176 +75 MPH = 3,000 RPM
33" tires + T5+ 75 MPH = 2,400 RPM

Besides the highway gains with the 33's, the around town driving is much better with 33's, too. The Scrambler feels more "spunky", stops easier, steers easier, is easier to get in and out of, and I can actually clean the roof without a step ladder

The only down side I see by switching from 35's to 33's is the slight loss of ground clearance. I will "drag" more now, but I am mitigating against this fact with a thick gas tank skid plate and rock rails. My last vulnerable spot I am worried about is the sheet metal between the back of the rear tires and the back bumper. I need to get something custom built locally to protect this area. The Dana 300's low hang down is also an issue, so in the future I might re drill the T5's rear housing to "clock" it up, and then build a new, flatter skid plate. That is only if it becomes that big of a deal.

After driving with 35's for a year, I feel like my "down grade" to 33's will be for the better. The 35's just seemed like a "bridge too far", if you know what I mean I also think that a close to stock Jeep CJ's powertrain is much happier with 33's, and after real world driving with 33's for close to 20 years, both on and off road, I will stand by that statement For the trails that I like to run, 33's are adequate. 35" tires would be nice, but they also bring about a mind set of more capability then what the close to stock vehicle actually has.......

I know it's a long answer, but I just wanted to try and explain some of my thoughts

 

[MrBeep]

Overhang

Once again my friend Nice Work!

It looks fantastic AND is functional.

You mentioned something about being concerned with the area between the rear bumper and tires being exposed to rocks. If I remember correctly it had a Runk rear bumper on the rear when you picked it up. The rock slider extensions seemed to protect this area very well. I even went a little closer to the rear wheels with the last one I ordered.

I'll add a big THANKS from all of us that have followed this thread for the time and effort you have put in to the details.

 

[Cincyjeeprs]

x eleventybillion what MrBeep said.

The last time I saw that in person, it was covered in gray herculiner in and out and the carb was balky. Are you sure that is the same Jeep?

 

[spankrjs]

Once again my friend Nice Work!

It looks fantastic AND is functional.

You mentioned something about being concerned with the area between the rear bumper and tires being exposed to rocks. If I remember correctly it had a Runk rear bumper on the rear when you picked it up. The rock slider extensions seemed to protect this area very well. I even went a little closer to the rear wheels with the last one I ordered.

I'll add a big THANKS from all of us that have followed this thread for the time and effort you have put in to the details.

Appreciate it Mr Beep

Yep, the rear bumper that the Scrambler came with protected the "over hang" perfect. I should have just added a tire carrier to it

I am just glad y'all enjoy reading all this stuff

 

[spankrjs]

x eleventybillion what MrBeep said.

The last time I saw that in person, it was covered in gray herculiner in and out and the carb was balky. Are you sure that is the same Jeep?

Appreciate it

You know, sometimes I do miss the "old" project Scrambler. It was a pretty good Scrambler to begin with, minus the herculiner. After I replaced the gas tank and rebuilt the carb when I first got it home, it ran flawlessly

 

[Randyzzz]

Looks great.

I know what you're getting at with the last comment. My Scrambler is pretty "decked out", and I love it, (although I keep wishing I'd done 37" tires looks wise), but...it sure was good simple fun when it was stock.

 

[spankrjs]

Looks great.

I know what you're getting at with the last comment. My Scrambler is pretty "decked out", and I love it, (although I keep wishing I'd done 37" tires looks wise), but...it sure was good simple fun when it was stock.

Appreciate it Randy Your rig looks great, and I believe it is more then just a little "decked out"

And you are correct, they are a bunch of fun when they are stock/simple. That's why I keep my green Scrambler stock, and in all honesty, it is just as much fun to drive as my red one

 

[trust]

Plans for your discarded 35s? More importantly, when will you be in Moab and what are your plans while there? I can suggest some god stuff in varying degrees of insanity, trailering? hotels?

If you need anything along the way I'm about 40 miles from Santa Fe so you will likely be semi close which ever route you take.

 

[spankrjs]

Plans for your discarded 35s? More importantly, when will you be in Moab and what are your plans while there? I can suggest some god stuff in varying degrees of insanity, trailering? hotels?

If you need anything along the way I'm about 40 miles from Santa Fe so you will likely be semi close which ever route you take.

I "pre-sold" the 35's already to a local guy.

I plan on leaving Biloxi, MS, either April 19 or 20, getting to Moab on the 21st. We plan on riding from the 21st-28th.

I need to get with my buddy that lives in Utah to get the specifics. I do know that they already reserved spots in a camp ground in Moab for everyone to stay at. I am not sure on the trails we are going to run, nothing "super duper" hard core, though. I think there will be some close to stock JK's with us, with newbie drivers. I do know that we plan on running "Pritchitt" (spelling??).

I will get the details and post them up.

Everyone is welcome to join us

 

[trust]

ok, thanks, I thought maybe you were going for Jeep Safari or before

so nothing 'super doper' huh and you're doing Pritchett Canyon huh? I guess there are harder trails out there...... Are you driving the jeep or towing?

I dont know if I an do it twice in the same month but I'll have to see, who knows, I may be unemployed by then....

Have fun and do post up the details

 

[spankrjs]

ok, thanks, I thought maybe you were going for Jeep Safari or before

so nothing 'super doper' huh and you're doing Pritchett Canyon huh? I guess there are harder trails out there...... Are you driving the jeep or towing?

I dont know if I an do it twice in the same month but I'll have to see, who knows, I may be unemployed by then....

Have fun and do post up the details

We decided to go after the 'Safari, we wanted to do more wheeling vs sitting in trail traffic

I have heard Pritchett has some tough spots, I think my buddy said there were at least two spots where some rigs built similar to mine had to winch. I don't mind using the cable, that's what its there for

I am going to drive my Scrambler there. That is one of the reasons I switched in the T5 and why I am going down to 33's. Should be better on the highway vs the T176/35" tire combo I had before. I built my Scrambler to be a driver, and I do enjoy driving it on road as well as off road. I figure the 33" tires will better "balance" my Scrambler back toward the dual purpose rig category. I always wanted to do some cross country traveling, so I figure now is as good as a time as any

I hope you are not unemployed by then, but if you can get off work and can make it, you are more then welcome, the more Scramblers vs all these "wheelbase challenged" rigs the merrier

 

[Polarfire]

I will be very interested in a trip report! Not only all the cool wheeling in Moab (I was there for EJS with my TJ) but for a report on how well your set-up worked on and offroad.

 

[spankrjs]

I will be very interested in a trip report! Not only all the cool wheeling in Moab (I was there for EJS with my TJ) but for a report on how well your set-up worked on and offroad.

I will take lots of pics and update this thread with how it performs

The end of April can't get here soon enough

 

[trust]

FWIW, I go to safari every year and the only days I have any trail traffic are big Saturday (If I hang around for it) and the day I work a trail. If you dont want trail traffic you just have to look beyond the safari newspaper

Pritchett is challenging and I'm sure you'll enjoy it, lots of excellent trails there depending on what you are most interested in. I would urge you to do Top of the World or Porcupine Ridge if you want some scenic vistas, Cliffhanger as well but I'm sure your friends have a good selection already in mind

Hooray for you! I drive mine everywhere as well, people will look at you funny when you stop for gas but invariably someone at every stop will come make a nice comment on your jeep. I got held up for half an hour on the Jicarilla Apache Rez when I stopped for gas while a couple locals wanted to check out the cage. They warned me about bears on the highway on the far end of town as I loaded up so it was time well spent.

Enjoy the drive, should be a real hoot and not terrible hot that time of year.

 

[spankrjs]

Quick list of some changes I want to make before heading to Moab:

1) Finish 4:1 Dana 300 rebuild - INSTALLED
2) Rebuild T5 transmission(s) - One is INSTALLED, the spare is on the shelf
3) Take 1" body lift off, rework clutch linkage - LEAVING FOR CLEARANCE
4) Switch 35" BFG's for 33" BFG's - INSTALLED
5) Install Tuffy Stereo Console - INSTALLED
6) Install larger gas tank - INSTALLED
7) Rocker Protection - INSTALLED

FINSIHED WITH THE BIG STUFF, for now

 

[bigwalton]

did I miss the pics of the 33s on it??