Latest Scrambler projects

[Chamba]

Man, that’s gonna be REALLY nice in your Scrambler. Can’t wait to see it installed.
On another note, I have a really nice C6 transmission that I would gladly donate to your project, if you promise to use it.
It would bolt up nicely behind that 351.

Seriously, though. Thanks for sharing. I really like the direction you’re going with it. Keep up the good work

I could use the C6 if my parking brake gives out: great boat anchor. I could tie it right behind my 351 to keep me from rolling.

 

[HighSierra CJ]

I could use the C6 if my parking brake gives out: great boat anchor. I could tie it right behind my 351 to keep me from rolling.

I just knew you would appreciate the offer
Wheel chock

 

[spankrjs]

Baby steps: corrected the water pump..... now it's the way I actually ordered it. The serpentine system was a pain to figure out, but now that I've figured it out isn't too bad. I'm a bit nervous that the power steering pump will hit the steering shaft and I'll have to change it to the Saginaw serpentine.... but I'll have to install the engine to figure that out as it is just too close to call. I put the motor mounts on the new engine and have gotten all the sensors, brackets and senders installed.
I painted behind the flywheel so that there's no bare metal. The flywheel is on and the pilot bushing is installed. I've lubed it with white lithium grease: any thoughts on that @spankyrjs ? That's what i used on the last clutch I put in 6000 miles ago and it's looking decent.
Lastly, I cut off the 81 short shock towers, so tomorrow I'll weld on the F150 towers.
Tomorrow, I'll also get the clutch plate and pressure plate installed and hopefully get the engine in.
The big unknowns for me now are the power steering and associated hoses, the new brake proportioning valve for the rear discs and the plumbing for the air con. Time will tell. The power steering is what's causing me the most sleeplessness.

If the grease has been working for you then rock on!!

I am an oil on pilot bushing guy, IF it is a real oilite bushing. The oilite holds the oil inside all those pores and then it weeps out when hot, lubing the input shaft to bushing ID fit up. The grease might pack up all the pores and lead to issues down the road?????

I have been adding an oil wick behind the bushing now, too. Only maybe 1,000 miles on my green Scrambler with T5, but so far so good!

 

[Chamba]

Well, I had the engine in and mounted. But I could not quite get it to mate with the transmission. Funnily enough, I used a clutch plate alignment tool this time to line up the clutch plate. Last time I did it by sight.
After messing around with it for about 2 hours, I finally pulled the engine back out. And when I looked very closely. I could tell that the clutch plate was not quite lined up. So tomorrow I will pull the pressure plate off and align the clutch by sight.
Of course I'm doing this all by myself which doesn't make it any easier. I don't have any car/ gear head friends in florida. Florida folks seem to be into beer, golf and fishing.
But on the positive side I did get the shock towers welded in and it looks like the power steering pump will clear the steering shaft.....
At any rate tomorrow is another day so I will try it again and hopefully have better luck.
Maybe I'll clean out the lithium and go back to motor oil.

 

[HighSierra CJ]

Well, I had the engine in and mounted. But I could not quite get it to mate with the transmission. Funnily enough, I used a clutch plate alignment tool this time to line up the clutch plate. Last time I did it by sight.
After messing around with it for about 2 hours, I finally pulled the engine back out. And when I looked very closely. I could tell that the clutch plate was not quite lined up. So tomorrow I will pull the pressure plate off and align the clutch by sight.
Of course I'm doing this all by myself which doesn't make it any easier. I don't have any car/ gear head friends in florida. Florida folks seem to be into beer, golf and fishing.
But on the positive side I did get the shock towers welded in and it looks like the power steering pump will clear the steering shaft.....
At any rate tomorrow is another day so I will try it again and hopefully have better luck.
Maybe I'll clean out the lithium and go back to motor oil.

That’s just the motor telling you that it wants the C-6

Seriously though,
Wish I lived closer, I’d come over and help ya out.

 

[Chamba]

I would love that! Although I wouldn't wish the weather here on anyone: 90° and humid everyday sure takes the fun out of wrenching.

 

[RockTractor]

Well, I had the engine in and mounted. But I could not quite get it to mate with the transmission. Funnily enough, I used a clutch plate alignment tool this time to line up the clutch plate. Last time I did it by sight.
After messing around with it for about 2 hours, I finally pulled the engine back out. And when I looked very closely. I could tell that the clutch plate was not quite lined up. So tomorrow I will pull the pressure plate off and align the clutch by sight.
Of course I'm doing this all by myself which doesn't make it any easier. I don't have any car/ gear head friends in florida. Florida folks seem to be into beer, golf and fishing.
But on the positive side I did get the shock towers welded in and it looks like the power steering pump will clear the steering shaft.....
At any rate tomorrow is another day so I will try it again and hopefully have better luck.
Maybe I'll clean out the lithium and go back to motor oil.

That motor is sexy!

 

[sdsupilot]

@Chamba that sure looks nice! You really need a build thread for that thing. I understand the apprehension of working outside in 90 plus degree heat. Here in OK I avoid working on Jeep stuff July and August.

 

[FLCJ8]

Of course I'm doing this all by myself which doesn't make it any easier. I don't have any car/ gear head friends in florida. Florida folks seem to be into beer, golf and fishing.

I would definitely give you a hand if I were closer (in North GA), completely understand the benefits of an extra hand.
BTW... not into beer, golf, or fishing

 

[Chamba]

Well the engine is now in!
I wound up removing my old pilot bushing using grease and a drift. It came out really well and I wound up using that.
Like an idiot, When the new pilot bushing came I installed it in the new engine. And despite my repeated advice to my son.... Always measure three times and only cut once. I never actually tested fitment of the pilot bushing on my input shaft.
Once I had the pressure plate off, I looked at the pilot bushing and saw that it was pretty evenly bashed up. I pulled it using the same grease and drift method. I then tested it on input shaft and it did not fit.
At any rate it's all together now and it fit together fairly effortlessly. I did spend several hours trying to force it. So I’m just hoping I didn't damage the transmission. I didn't use a great amount of force or anything like that but I did spend hours shoving, wiggling and pushing. I tried a ratchet strap on the motor mounts to pull it in to the engine (I know, I know... stupid.... but I was hot and frustrated), but I don't think I damaged it.
The input shaft spun freely. And I was able to turn the input shaft without any issues. And I was able to turn it in first gear with the transfer case in low using the drive shaft to line it up with the pressure plate. So I'm hoping it's OK.
At any rate, it is now in and secured.
Please take a look at the low pressure input to the pump. And give me any ideas you guys might have about a ninety degree elbow or something to help keep it clear of the steering shaft.
Any thoughts you all have on the power steering pump and whether or not I damaged the input shaft or transmission will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for the kind words on the engine: I am pretty chufft.

 

[RockTractor]

Well the engine is now in!

Good catch on the bushing ID. That looks great!

Any thoughts you all have on the power steering pump and whether or not I damaged the input shaft or transmission will be greatly appreciated.

Seems like you could just remove the existing fitting and then screw in a new 90 deg fitting.

 

[HighSierra CJ]

Good catch on the bushing ID. That looks great!


Seems like you could just remove the existing fitting and then screw in a new 90 deg fitting.

I was thinking the same thing about the fitting. There might even be some type of banjo fitting option available that would save space.

Seems like this is right up @Randyzzz alley. He always has great solutions to challenging problems.

 

[Chamba]

I searched for about two hours today for a 7/8-14 banjo fitting to a 3/8 hose barb or even an AN6, but no joy. I finally found a 7/8-14 90° bend to a 1/2" pipe thread from Summit. So I bought that and then I'll see about stepping that down to 3/8" barb for the low pressure line.
Tomorrow I'll pull out the old heater box and start installing the Jeep Air Air con/ heat unit. The front is basically all buttoned up now. Can I remove the heater without pulling the dash?
Any thoughts on a fair price for a non- leaking heater unit with no cracks? Shipping could be silly as it'll be bulky.

 

[barrys]

You don't need to pull the dash to pull the heater box.

 

[HighSierra CJ]

Hey Chamba,
I would hang onto that heater box for just a little while. Make sure that you’re completely happy with the Jeep Air heat/air combo. I install the Jeep air/heat, in my green Scrambler, and was very disappointed in the heat and defrost function. Living in California, I do not experience extreme cold at all, and don’t need much of a heater. But the heat that the JA unit put out, wasn’t enough to warm my jeep cab up at all. I ended up putting my factory heater back in “with the blazer blower upgrade “, and purchased the AC only system from Jeep Air. I couldn’t be happier now.
Just thought I’d let you know about my experience.

 

[Chamba]

Thanks Mike,
Bugger. Wish I'd known that earlier. Hmmmm. Well, heat is irrelevant right now as I live in a sauna. But once my son finishes high school we're going back to New Mexico, so I'll need heat then.
I was trying to avoid doing the blazer upgrade but buying the combo unit.
How did the air con work on your combo unit?

 

[HighSierra CJ]

Thanks Mike,
Bugger. Wish I'd known that earlier. Hmmmm. Well, heat is irrelevant right now as I live in a sauna. But once my son finishes high school we're going back to New Mexico, so I'll need heat then.
I was trying to avoid doing the blazer upgrade but buying the combo unit.
How did the air con work on your combo unit?

The A/C worked great. I ran it for about a year with no problems. I kept telling myself that I could live with luke warm heater. I noticed that I kinda quit driving it during the winter, so I made the change.

It is possible that I had a defective heater. I hope that yours is better than mine was.

 

[HighSierra CJ]

Another thing I might mention. The heater AC combo was a shorter head unit. The “AC only unit” is wider and it has a vent that blows right into the drivers crotch. My son and I call it the Ball cooler.

 

[Chamba]

Nothing says 'cheap and nasty' quite as well as Chinese galvanized brackets. It stuck out like a dog's bollocks in my black engine compartment...... so I 'improved' it.

And then got creative to make the bottom brackets keep the condenser vertical.

 

[HighSierra CJ]

That’s funny, I painted the brackets black as well. Looking good.