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Mikes 81 mongrel scrambler

So, I had a crusty, rusty, busted LJ rubicon fall into my lap. Cheap. $8g Canadian. Needs work, so far, I’ve swapped my metalcloak fenders, my CJ grille and hood, and have a set of Currie 60’s lined up for it. Honestly, I’m seriously contemplating pulling the LJ tub and installing my scrambler tub, and switching VIN’s over. Just to actually get my scrambler on the road. What’s not to like? Better frame, low range cases (2), set up for 38”. Man. 7 years. Stayed tuned! I may have a scrambler on the road in less than a decade!!
 
So, I had a crusty, rusty, busted LJ rubicon fall into my lap. Cheap. $8g Canadian. Needs work, so far, I’ve swapped my metalcloak fenders, my CJ grille and hood, and have a set of Currie 60’s lined up for it. Honestly, I’m seriously contemplating pulling the LJ tub and installing my scrambler tub, and switching VIN’s over. Just to actually get my scrambler on the road. What’s not to like? Better frame, low range cases (2), set up for 38”. Man. 7 years. Stayed tuned! I may have a scrambler on the road in less than a decade!!
That's exactly what @donaghy is in the middle of doing. You can order a set of the TDK body mounts that will essentially go perfectly from the LJ frame to the CJ body and IIRC nets 1" of body lift using normal mounts.
 
That's exactly what @donaghy is in the middle of doing. You can order a set of the TDK body mounts that will essentially go perfectly from the LJ frame to the CJ body and IIRC nets 1" of body lift using normal mounts.
Ok, that’s awesome to know! Big thing is to get the doubler in this year, swap the nose, get the 60’s in, and wheel. Kinda figuring to source what I need for the tub swap and LS swap thru spring and summer ‘22, and come this time next year, make it a scrambler. I’m so flipping stoked!!
 
I want to see pictures with the metalcloak fenders and CJ grille and hood. Looking at a LJ tomorrow again with poison spyder High fenders and was wondering about swapping a CJ grille and hood to it.
 
Things to note. I have to re-work the mount for the grille. It floats. A TJ/LJ grille has two frame mounts and a centre grille mount.

The curve of the hood is a touch different the. The curve of the LJ cowl. Not too bad. Width is the same. I’ll get some pics today.

I have to cut both sets of hood hinges. The CJ hinge locations are about an 1” to an 1-1/2” outside the LJ hinges.
 
@jscherb did a CJ front end on his LJ and detailed it all, IIRC.
Didn't see this post until I visited the forum just now, didn't get a notification of the mention.

Yes, I made a custom hood, fenders and cowl panel in fiberglass so all the body lines and curves line up. I used a factory CJ grille; all other parts (hood, inner and outer fenders, cowl panel) are custom fiberglass. I designed it as a bolt-on kit, no mods required to the Jeep.

LJ-8Final2_zpsfbe98979.jpg
 
I have to cut both sets of hood hinges. The CJ hinge locations are about an 1” to an 1-1/2” outside the LJ hinges.

Here's how I dealt with the location of the hinges differing between the TJ tub and the CJ hood...

I made these relocation blocks:

HingeReloBlock1-3.jpg


HingeReloBlock2.jpg


HingeReloBlock3.jpg


The TJ hinges mount below the cowl panel:

Hinges1.jpg


But with the relocation blocks the hinges can mount on top of the cowl panel just like they do on the CJ cowl:

HingeReloBlock4.jpg


The next problem to solve is the shape of the cowl. The TJ cowl has a raised section in the center, but the CJ hood is basically flat.

Top photo is a TJ cowl and hood, you can see the raised section in the center. Bottom photo is a CJ cowl and hood, it's flat across the center:

CowlTop.jpg


So I made a mold for a new cowl panel that's a direct replacement for the TJ cowl but has a flatter shape to match the CJ hood.

TwoCowlPanelsCompare1.jpg


TwoCowlPanelsCompare2.jpg


Then there's the problem of the curve on the side of the cowl, the CJ hood has a larger radius than the TJ cowl:

CornerRadius.jpg


BodyLineSide.jpg


So I made a new hood using parts of a TJ hood and parts of a CJ hood so that all the curves matched, made a mold of that and molded the new hood in fiberglass. All the curves and body lines of the TJ tub and the new hood now match:

HoodFitted1.jpg


I designed the CJ Grille Kit to go on a TJ/LJ, so I also had to make the hood a few inches longer because the TJ hood is longer than the CJ hood. And I had to make new fenders/inner fenders to match that new length and the inner fenders I made to accept all of the TJ engine compartment stuff that mounts on the fenders, but since you're doing all of this on a CJ frame all you need to deal with is the stuff above.
 
Here's how I dealt with the location of the hinges differing between the TJ tub and the CJ hood...

I made these relocation blocks:

HingeReloBlock1-3.jpg


HingeReloBlock2.jpg


HingeReloBlock3.jpg


The TJ hinges mount below the cowl panel:

Hinges1.jpg


But with the relocation blocks the hinges can mount on top of the cowl panel just like they do on the CJ cowl:

HingeReloBlock4.jpg


The next problem to solve is the shape of the cowl. The TJ cowl has a raised section in the center, but the CJ hood is basically flat.

Top photo is a TJ cowl and hood, you can see the raised section in the center. Bottom photo is a CJ cowl and hood, it's flat across the center:

CowlTop.jpg


So I made a mold for a new cowl panel that's a direct replacement for the TJ cowl but has a flatter shape to match the CJ hood.

TwoCowlPanelsCompare1.jpg


TwoCowlPanelsCompare2.jpg


Then there's the problem of the curve on the side of the cowl, the CJ hood has a larger radius than the TJ cowl:

CornerRadius.jpg


BodyLineSide.jpg


So I made a new hood using parts of a TJ hood and parts of a CJ hood so that all the curves matched, made a mold of that and molded the new hood in fiberglass. All the curves and body lines of the TJ tub and the new hood now match:

HoodFitted1.jpg


I designed the CJ Grille Kit to go on a TJ/LJ, so I also had to make the hood a few inches longer because the TJ hood is longer than the CJ hood. And I had to make new fenders/inner fenders to match that new length and the inner fenders I made to accept all of the TJ engine compartment stuff that mounts on the fenders, but since you're doing all of this on a CJ frame all you need to deal with is the stuff above.
Man, you do nice work!! I’m actually fitting the scrambler front end, and eventually the tub, to my LJ frame. I’ll definitely be working on a set of relocate brackets for the hinges. Thank you!
 
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