New Scrambler owner! YeeHaa!

[Pman]

Wanted to introduce myself. I've been a member of the Jeep Forum and IFSJA forum for years, but am now "fired up" to be a part of this site.

I've wanted a Scrambler for ages. Had the bugs for Jeeps since I was a child, bought my first one (88 Wrangler Laredo--still have it) brand new off the lot in Columbia SC. Bought a Wagoneer in 2001; loved it so much I bought 4 more, kept the original and then 2 years ago rescued a CJ5 with a 304 from certain rust death. The whole time I've been secretly pining for an 8. Wanted a pickup truck bed I could toss beer cans or deer carcasses in without worry.

In my search I saw the whole gamut--complete rust buckets for 4-5K or glamour rigs at 25-30k. I wanted something straight, with minimal rust that I could get into at a decent price and have fun "fiddling with" in the process. I finally ran across this 1982 up in Connecticut. The good news is, from what I understand, it spent most of it's life in the Southwest, then a couple of years in Virginia, then 20 mos in CT. Owner bought it for his daughter to drive but she is now in team sports (Lacrosse, etc) and has to carpool. The two seater wasnt cutting it.

It was delivered last week. It has some surface rust on the bottom that I will sandblast, a small rust spot in the rocker by the rear passenger door that I will completely cut out and stitch weld replacement steel in, and an ugly rear main seal leak that I just fixed tonight. I'm hitting the hay but thought I'd post a couple of shots and will follow up with what I plan to do to it next.

I'll have a few questions on this one, so I look forward to conversing with everyone on here. BTW, that long wheelbase makes a HUGE difference in the ride quality!! Wow.

 

[scramble1983]

Great looking Scrambler, don't know that I would throw a deer carcass in it though...pics of the Wagoneers please

 

[gazzo]

Hey pman. Got your pic posting sorted. This is a really nice CJ. Pop the roll bar and see what's lurking under the mount plates. At the very least you'll be able to get some paint under there and neverseize you're Torx screws. Same as your other CJs of course but this one really looks like preserving.
When I'm done fixing up my 10 I'll be bringing my Overlander home to give it the treatment. Top to bottom resto planned for that. May change the colour as I already have a DDRED CJ. Get yours looking like that one in this picture as you've already seen would be mazing. (This is for the guys here but it's prolly one of theirs anyway .

Sent from my iPhone

 

[Polarfire]

Welcome! Beautiful Scrambler! Looks like a great survivor and well worth preserving!

 

[John N]

Welcome! You finally made it.

 

[cdvcj8]

Welcome! This is a great site.

 

[Pman]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys! Wagoneer pics and other replies to come. Wild day at work!!

 

[Pman]

Figured I'd take a break here at the office and finish my reply. Yes, Gazzo, that red Scrambler in your pic looks amazing!! Short term, I definitely plan on sanding mine down, shooting the factory Oriental Red back on and going back with the factory graphics. My wife thinks they are tacky, but to me they really add a level of "grooviness" to the rig, and I can picture myself with my flybacks and hair parted down the middle listening to Led Zeppelin, Skynyrd, etc.

I just finished replacing the RMS (what a pain on the CJ 258's. I can change one out on the Wrangler in about 3 hours). Wheew. I did drop the bearing from the rear main cap on the floor of my garage, put a tiny ding in it and after questioning the viability of re-using it, I got some very strong opinions on JeepForum in both directions. I chose to reuse it (after talking to a mechanic friend who builds engines) by smoothing the ding with a razor blade. This motor is long in the tooth, so I plan to run it till it dies, then transplant a reman in it. Cleaned and repainted the oil pan, and put the FelPro one piece blue gasket on it. I despise the installation part of those, as I'm puckered up wondering if the rear part of the gasket lines up with the rear main bearing cap groove. Thankfully, it worked and the leak is GONE. BTW, I used aircraft sealant from a suggestion I read online, and it gave the gasket enough tackiness to stay in place while I got the initial bolts in. I can't imagine how nice it would be to have a lift in my garage to perform that job.

So, my next plan is to pull the tires/wheels this weekend and haul them to a powdercoater and have that horrid red removed and return them to white. Then, I'm having the underside sandblasted (was going to do that myself but after reading about the amount of material you need to go through to do it, I just can't justify that job). Right now these are the only items I plan to farm out. The rest will be done by me. I will then recoat the underside with POR-15 as well as the frame, then shoot raptor liner in the bed and cab. Don't know if you guys have used that stuff (Raptor) but it is simply awesome. I'd line my wife in it if she'd let me.
And Gazzo, I'm definitely pulling that rollbar. I learned a lot when I tore down my CJ5 of where rust loves to lurk on these things.

I want to repaint the top (and no, I'm not rattle-canning it- HPLV only for me). Is there any paint you recommend? I've used tractor paint in the past with good success on metal, just not sure . The other thing I'd "like" to do, but not sure if it makes sense until I repaint the whole rig, is to put new applique's on the door. Found them online for 59.00/set. Another question: I noticed on the hard doors that there is a metal "ring" around the paddle handle. It's hosed on the drivers side where a PO tride to remove the old applique (and did a crummy black paint job in it's place) and bent that metal ring to pieces. I found the part # but don't see them available anywhere. Is the purpose of this ring to cover up the area protruding door handle metal where the applique won't reach?

Pic of the Wagoneer last Christmas- 1982 w/ 360 and 4" lift. Had 58k miles on the clock when I bought it. A whopping $3,200.00 it cost me. Bought it from a farmer up in Waynesville, NC. The only real "deal" I've ever scored!

Here's one of my 88 Wrangler Laredo. Took this a few years ago not long after I repainted it in my garage. Gotta love throwing on a thick clear coat so you can wet sand to your hearts content!

And here's the CJ5 I fixed up and painted. I welded myself to death on this one (PO left it topless outdoors for 8 years). Told my wife if she wouldn't harass me while I worked on it, I'd give it to her. Now I can't get her out of it!!! She loves that Jeep.

 

[Polarfire]

Just my opinion, but if that Scrambler has original paint on it I would strongly suggest not stripping it down. Obviously it is your Jeep to do with as you please but original paint/decal Scramblers in as good as shape as that one looks to be, are very hard to find and highly sought after. They are much more desirable/valuable then CJ-5's and 7's. If on the other hand, it has been repainted before then you can disregard the previous comments. Also, you'll find some strong opinions for and against the bedliners such as Raptorliner and Line-x. I personally would not use it but then again, it is yous to do with as you wish.

BTW, I love your Waggy!

 

[Pman]

Just my opinion, but if that Scrambler has original paint on it I would strongly suggest not stripping it down. Obviously it is your Jeep to do with as you please but original paint/decal Scramblers in as good as shape as that one looks to be, are very hard to find and highly sought after. They are much more desirable/valuable then CJ-5's and 7's. If on the other hand, it has been repainted before then you can disregard the previous comments. Also, you'll find some strong opinions for and against the bedliners such as Raptorliner and Line-x. I personally would not use it but then again, it is yous to do with as you wish.

BTW, I love your Waggy!

Polarfire- the hood paint is so far gone that the primer is showing on the driver side (oddly enough in the exact same spot as my Wrangler before I repainted it). The stickers on the hood are not in near the shape as the pics portray. If they were I'd be walking in lockstep with you and not even considering repainting. The rust on the rocker is right below the lower stripe, and I'm absolutely going to nip that rust in the bud, which will mean sacrificing that stripe. Whether it is original paint or not has been a tough one for me to call. While there are no runs/drips, there is some slight orange peel. It also appears a small amount of a second layer of paint has peeled from the rollbar. These really make me think it has been resprayed at some point in its life. The cowl duct piece, hood latches and hood hinges sport ugly chrome, so those are coming off and will need red painted replacements.

I totally get the bedliner opinions. I've wavered back and forth on whether to paint or line. Things that have me wanting to spray the liner:
The bed has the normal dings/dents of a 32 yr old truck. The red paint will just accentuate those dents, and I plan on sliding coolers, guns, British Campaign Bars (ha) etc in the back. It's going to get scratched up and look bad again.
The liner will give it a clean look as well as hide the imperfections and, my experience with raptor has been good. Easy to touch up too! I'm particular about the prep work so it should last a while.

The doors have the well-known stress cracks. Reinforcing them, rewelding, then girding them smooth. That will need paint too!!

Btw- RMS repair was a success. No more rear main or oil pan leaks. Wheew!!

 

[Craner8]

Pman, great purchase. Clean 8. Based on your YJ and your 5 that you did bodywork and paint to, and the Grand Wagoneer, it will be beautiful. We need more pics to tell if its a repaint too. If its not, have at it. If it is, leave it. Except the rust spot.
Like to see original set of chrome wheels to make it pop.
I did Line-X but mine was not original. I like the idea of original paint with a thick mat on top. Welcome to the addiction....

 

[Pman]

Hmmmm....paint with the mat (like the OEM mats). Good idea!

The rims on this were white, and someone along the line painted them red. Going back to powdercoated "gloss white" next week!

I'll take a few shots of the paint this weekend.

 

[LetchcoreCJ7]

Doing the liner hurts the resale and makes it just like every other Jeep. I would do the paint and bed mat. You can always liner the bed at any point. Great looking Scrambler!

 

[gazzo]

With these guys on the no liner deal. I would go that rubber matt with all the holes in it.
Regarding the re painting, my eight is just like this with original paint but as soon as I'm done with I'm getting into it, full tear down. Not re painting just to keep originality and keep the value up only matters if you plan to sell it, which by the look of things you don't. All due respect polarfire that's how I see it. Keeping the value in the jeep to me means getting good thick new protection on every surface.
Pman your waggie is precisely my favorite jeep ever (probably because I don't have one .....right now). There's one in North Queensland for 18k. I got my eye iron it.
Talk me thru the steps on your Wrangler paint job? Two pack?


Sent from my iPhone

 

[opelgtboy]

Pman, do what you want to the Scrambler.....its yours. I have seen people take a beautiful Scrambler that I would never change and weld roll cages and weld all kind of stuff to it. Its theirs they can do it. Its good to get advice, but if you really want to do something to make it your own.....do it.
Nice Scrambler.

Karl

 

[Flatie46]

Welcome to the site and hope you enjoy your Scrambler as much as I enjoy mine. I also hope you get questioned as much as I do when I stop to get gas or whatever. Love to see more pics of your 5. I've got one that I saved from the crusher, it's really rusty but fun. It's like a V8 powered T bucket with locking hubs. Welcome aboard!

 

[scrambled eggs]

good looking scram... not far from me......

 

[Dave K.]

Great looking scrambler and I'm with the folks saying no liner. Yes, you can do with it as you wish but unless you are going to make it into a trail rig and butcher the hell out of it (essentially negating any benefits to the originality and making return to original an expensive proposition) I would stay away--especially if it's going to be garaged. If you use a rubber mat it will essentially do nearly everything liner will do and more. Folks these days pay the money for originality--even if it's scuffed up. I always look at mods to my Jeeps from the standpoint of returning to original--you just never know what life's going to hand you and might need to re-sell.

 

[wm69]

Glad to see you made it! Can't wait to see the work as it progresses. We like pics here!

 

[Pman]

Thanks guys. I promise to post more pics later this week (sitting in an airplane right now). "Edgar" is currently sitting on jackstands with no wheels/tires. Those are at the Powdercoater to get painted back to the original white color. And guys, have no fear about me hacking this thing up! I plan to put it back to spec! May go up one tire size (32's) and a locker in the front.

My only concern about the rubber mat is trapping water. Short term, it will not be stored in the garage. The CJ5 and Wagoneer have claimed that space for now. BUT, I do plan to build another garage against the wife units wishes.

Drove it to Tractor Supply to pick up a few things on Sunday, got caught in a torrential downpour and that top leaks like nobody's bidness!! Actually it's not so much the top but the windshield seals, etc. I'll get that all sorted out in due time.