1983 Scrambler "STUMP JUMPER". Frame off, 5.3 Conversion.

[jjonesee]

I will add, nice build. I like your method of right parts the first time. A cowl replacement is rare and that takes talent.

I typically try to match the motor mount material with the transmission/transfer case material. Rubber/Rubber, Poly/Poly etc.. The reason is for rock crawling or high load situations, I want the drive train to move as one. If you had 40+ tires it would be different. If its mainly street / light off road it will be more than adequate. The drive line vibration is minimal with these power plants. I would focus on the big stuff. I think you have found that the 5.3L swap may not be as common as you think, and there are ten different ways to skin the cat. If you put those of us on this board alone with 5.3s I think you would see vastly different approaches to the same problem. Its like Gumbo. It cant be wrong, its still Gumbo.

 

[zr10054]

Thanks Jonesee... There are a lot of wrong ways to do things but there are also more than one right way to do them too. If I was going to be rock crawling I wouldn't have install the cross member that way. Anyone who has every been to Louisiana knows you won't see a rock more than 2 inches in diameter anywhere.
Yes there are 1000's of people doing 5.3 conversions but they all seem to be doing it their own way. I've tried to include details which I could not find on others builds.
There is almost no wrong way to make bad Gumbo if you have enough beer.
Keep the comments coming, negative or positive because they keep me thinking.

 

[zr10054]

P.S. Cowl replacement is definitely no walk in the park.

 

[jbeemer]

Keep the details coming. There are 100's of ways, good, bad, right, and wrong. The more we get out on the forumn the better for all of us.

The build is coming together great, keep up the good work.

and thanks for taking the time to share

 

[gazzo]

P.S. Cowl replacement is definitely no walk in the park.

That's just great. Thanks for the advanced warning

 

[zr10054]

That's just great. Thanks for the advanced warning

I've seen your work. You can do it. I'm here for any moral support or any questions you may have.

 

[zr10054]

I'm getting closer to paint.

 

[gazzo]

Excellent work on the cowl. Where did you get it?

 

[zr10054]

Excellent work on the cowl. Where did you get it?

It came from Omix-Ada. It wasn't exactly a good fit or good quality but I made it work. Actually it was pretty poor quality. Just like what we have come to expect from imported after market parts.

 

[Jeep Addict]

Looking great Dennis. I'll get over there one of these days

 

[gr8dain]

Wow. That looks awesome. I wish I had those skills. I cannot even fathom body work.

 

[zr10054]

Wow. That looks awesome. I wish I had those skills. I cannot even fathom body work.

I want it to be a lot better than my own skill level so it's going to a professional body shop this week. I don't expect to get it back to around Christmas. Cha ching. I may wish I would have never said I wasn't going to set a budget on this one. lol

 

[zr10054]

Wow. That looks awesome. I wish I had those skills. I cannot even fathom body work.

If you don't have the skills yet watch You-tube video's like the rest of us.

 

[mysunnshine]

The best way to get skills is to learn from your failures while trying and retrying and retrying........You can't learn if you don't take the risk in the first place-

Sent from my SM-G920V

 

[zr10054]

The best way to get skills is to learn from your failures while trying and retrying and retrying........You can't learn if you don't take the risk in the first place-

Sent from my SM-G920V

So true and I have painted 3 or 4 cars but I also believe I should know my limitations. I'm no Chip Foose and that's the type of finish I want.

 

[gr8dain]

If you don't have the skills yet watch You-tube video's like the rest of us.

Yep. I have watched my share of you-tube videos. I did not want to "learn" body work on my old GTO since I wanted it to look perfect. So it sat in the garage for 10 years waiting.

The best way to get skills is to learn from your failures while trying and retrying and retrying........You can't learn if you don't take the risk in the first place-

Sent from my SM-G920V

I have no issue trying on my Jeep. Which is why I do as much as I can with it and learn from other local Jeepers who are Willing to teach me. And if I had a steel tub, I would not have an issue with practicing/learning to do body work on it. In fact, after the frame is swapped, I may start looking for steel body parts. But first things first.

 

[zr10054]

Off to paint.

 

[zr10054]

This is what I'm shooting for.

 

[certifiablejeep]

What size chromes are you gonna run... 15x7 or 15x8?

cb

 

[zr10054]

What size chromes are you gonna run... 15x7 or 15x8?

cb

I have 5 Black Teflon coated wheels now but if they don't look right I'll find something that will. I might need something with some width to it for the 350 HP engine.