Trail Scrambler Build/Rebuild-Chiefwaho

Starting another build/rebuild.

I have had this put off due to 4+ months of Jury Duty Service. It is now time to get after it.

I bought Lee Smiths (felntpsy) 1983 CJ-8 Laredo with the following:
Factory seats (black/grey) factory belts.
Brand-new Centech tilt steering column...(not installed)
Chevy 350 (Holly Truck Avenger Off-road carb) (MORE Motor mounts)
TH350 4wd Trans
Tera60R Dana 60 front (hi-pinion) 4.56 gears ARB Locker (35spline) disc brake (Hi-steer set-up)
Tera60R Dana 60 Rear (hi-pinion) 4.56 gears ARB locker (35 spline) disc brake
ARB compressor
Dana 300 (with Novak adapter), clocked and tucked almost inside frame and twin-sticked
In-cab roll cage (needs to be tied back into frame)
Skyjacker Platinum shocks
Tuffy console & rear sliding drawer tool box
Custom aluminum fan shroud with mechanical and aux. electric fans.
5 15x10 Champion beadlocks with (5) 38.5" Super Swamper TSLs
Optima yellow top in dual tray
Warn 9500HSi on Stubby bumper (BigDaddy Offroad)
Rocker protection from (4x4 Land, Topeka)
Spring over with 7 leaf stock wrangler springs (anti-wrap bar installed)
SS brake lines
Full steel doors
Half hard top and bulkhead


My plans:
Swap the 350ci for a 2004 5.3 Vortec (1400 miles)
it has been rewired and computer flashed
(Adkins 4x4, Siloam Springs, AR)


Use a frame I have and beef it up
Tranfer everything over.


Got frame cleaned up over the weekend
Stood them on end to drain.


sent the frame to work with a buddy to get it sand blasted.


it will also need:
rear cross member
centers replaced on some ofthe body mounts
lots of plating

now waiting on him to bring some weldable primer

one small spot of rust thru,


Will get to put my new (to me) Miller 251 to the test.


Forgot to mention PappyWaho will take over my old slate blue trail Scrambler.

Also considering:
Atlas or STak
Hydro assist steering
In-cab roll cage tied thru dash

Already purchased full body armor sides from 4x4 Land.

Cool

So will this be ready for Nats in Clayton this june?

Awesome

Wow, and i figured you wouldn't be doing too much to that Scrambler, i guessed wrong.

Sounds like you are getting serious!

Glad the jury duty is over, any comments on that wonderful experience?

Scott Mine said:

So will this be ready for Nats in Clayton this june?

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I am going to really have to bust some tail.
but the plan is to have it done for the National in Clayton.
I'll probably have to recruit some help along the way to get it done in time.
If not I'll just bring another from the stable and hit the easy trails.
Still hoping to get 4 of our Scramblers to the National.
My uncle just bought a 30' lowboy gooseneck, so I am in hopes to borrow his setup to haul the 2 extra to Clayton.

dadscj8 said:

Glad the jury duty is over, any comments on that wonderful experience?

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It SUCKED every damn day!

WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!

I'm SO glad to see that Scrambler again!!! I hated that Lee put it up for sale, but I'm thrilled that it went into such a great Scrambler family!!!

I've spent many days in/around that thing, I'll miss it something awful. I remember the day that he chopped those fenders... it was a big deal for him to do that. I was disassembling my parts XJ at his shop. Ah, the memories.

I can't wait to watch this build... very exciting stuff. Git er done!!!

get it done

Jason, I won't comment on 4 months of jury duty, but let's mention that jury duty happens M-F between 9-5 so no excuses in a young man like you not finding time. If you can't get this project completed by June, you're getting old and will have to admit it. Let me know if there is some help an old man could be; I'll stop by. By the way, Ice Storms aren't fun either!

Hey Jason, Sounds like you got a lot of fun in front of you on this build! Just thought I would let you know I have a fine CJ-8 front and rear that I would be glad to give you to go under this new build! At the same time I would be glad (out of the kindness of my heart, of course) to pick up and dispose of those ole Terra 60's that I'm sure will just be in your way and taking up space!

KSCJ-8 said:

Let me know if there is some help an old man could be; I'll stop by.

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I just may have to take you up on that offer sometime.

mopedal said:

At the same time I would be glad (out of the kindness of my heart, of course) to pick up and dispose of those ole Terra 60's that I'm sure will just be in your way and taking up space!

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I think the Terra 60's will bolt up to the rebuilt frame just fine. LOL

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Did get started plating the frame.
My buddy Clay got 3 of the 4 outer plates fitted and welded yesterday he also welded the body mounts and stitch welded the factory seam the whole length. It amazes us how poor the factory welds are on these frames.

Very nice...

Looking at those pics, it makes me think that someone should get one of those frames modeled into a finite element program and find some low-stress areas on the lower face where you could put some holes to aid in drainage and cleaning. I bet it would be a big help IF you went in and hosed it out fairly regularly.

Well, well, well.....there she is! I hated to see this thing go, but I'm also glad that it is where it is.

Make it yours man! Enjoy it and keep this post updated b/c I'll be looking!

Good luck with everything.

FELNTPSY said:

Well, well, well.....there she is! I hated to see this thing go, but I'm also glad that it is where it is.

Make it yours man! Enjoy it and keep this post updated b/c I'll be looking!

Good luck with everything.

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Well looky at the slacker who decided to show up.... hope things are well Lee. I'm sure Jason will take care of your old rig.

Truck

Well I'll be.... whoda thunk it. He climbed out of his hole!

Yeah, nice to see it went to someone who'll make sure to USE IT!

Good to see you on here Lee. Post an update and we need pics of the wee one and anything fun to any of the vehicles that you still own?

Made more progress on the frame this weekend.
All plates inner and outer are all welded.

inner plate (overlaps the outside plates)








new 1/4" rear crossmember










replaced centers on 3 bodymounts with 3/16" bar

Do you have a forklift to move that frame around with now, Jason? That thing must be H-E-A-V-Y. Lookin' good. It's no surprise that this is one of the cleanest frame plating jobs I have seen.

Keep the pics coming...

Craig

forgot this pic - set frame up on saw horses and strapped it to the garage door track to make the welds easier. I actually done some of the welding but most of it was done by my buddy Clay.
I am very impressed with my new (to me) Miller 251.

Wow, that looks great.

One thing that caught my eye was the welds at the end of plates that end at/intersect the holes in the stock frame. I'd watch those areas because you now have a heat-affected zone at a hole... I can't tell how much and where the plates overlap though relative to those locations, so it may be nothing to worry about.

I love the sheer BEEF though, this is awesome

I love that rear cross member. Nice looking work.

Atlas has been ordered from 4x4Land and should be here in a couple weeks.

Been awhile but things are progressing.
Was sick for 2 weekends and a full week plus work has been crazy
and I do need to work to pay for this build.

Fabbed up new rear spring hangers.
Moving the axle back 6 inches.










Cut-out one rear wheel well so I could do some measuring and figure the size for the new ones.
Have a buddy that is having metal cut and bent for me at this work.
And yes I am no longer a sazall Scrambler virgin.
(JC would be proud of me)




Started stripping it all down.

I think everything is unhooked and Tub is ready to come off
as soon as I round up some help, hopefully tonite.