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1981 RHD Scrambler build (UK spec)

Been busy working instead of playing so haven't had much time,but in-between working i haven't been happy with the half cab/doors/windshield relationship. Its been at a point where i thought i could make it work but wasn't quite there if you know what i mean so i set about to find out why and looking at the aftermarket windshield i found the reason.

The blue original one is a different shape to the aftermarket Crown one.

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So i dug out the M.D Juan windshield that came with the bodytub which i havent used as it didnt appear as polished as the Crown one, but credit where credit is due the M.D Juan windshield fits so much better and is a far similar shape to the original one. Not sure if this is down to mine being an 81 or if the Crown one is indeed a bad fit.



The doors seem to fit that little bit better too!
Its not 100% but its getting there



 
Finally guess what the press studs were for as i have no idea?

My bought in bulkhead first. They look a bit low down to be a tonneau!







And then the original rear floor has two down the centre ?????





Any ideas or is this a common crazy Scrambler thing :D
 
Crown windshields have never had a good reputation.

Those doors fit like a gem, tho. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, man. Do they shut? Yes. As good as factory :)

Those bulkhead bits are a wild *** guess. They're nowhere near either tonneau or soft top snap locations.

Great work so far!
 
This may show it a little clearer
The whole top of the wheel arch wants seperating from the sides and the inner wheel well piece and flipping round 180 degrees so the ribs line up and the wider part goes to the outside.
Its a shame really as its spoiling what is a very good effort indeed by M.D Juan.



And the correct way to do it :)

 
Wow great photos.. guess ill wait till all these problems are fixed before I buy a new tub. Its funny if they are copying a good tub thats in front of them why are there problems like this..but its way better then the aluminum body choice I have for a new build...

Sent from my SPH-L900
 
More photos for you of a couple of things on the M.D Juan tub.
First up the rear seat mount fixings which are there for the rear of the seat but not the front:confused:.
Now personally i would prefer no holes there at all, as with the half cab installed its just going to end up as a drain hole and cause rust issues later, so i think i will weld them up on mine.

Rear seat mount.jpg
 
The sides are shaped beautifully but the door openings are not quite the correct shape. I think the door seals will take up the difference as the doors do shut into the pressing but another small thing thats not quite correct, Rommel T Juan has been informed :)

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door pressing.jpg
 
Tonights mystery is the seat belt mounts which i must assume to be factory to satisfy the seatbelt laws in the U.K back in 1981.
There is a sleeve in the roll bar and these posts were mounted to it. Bolts are UNF so its very unlikely to have been a modification here.
I now have the dilemma of whether to keep the seat belts mounted here and drill the top to suit or move the seat belts down a little and drill the halfcab where it should be drilled and drill the rollbar to suit and weldup the holes.:confused:

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Those are about 2 inches too high on the rollbar
I will try to post pics of the factory location for you later


 
Its a strange one as the Scrambler is an 81 so should of had lap belts but instead came with these posts to allow the 3 point belts.
Its most likely a Jeep afterthought and as i don't have the original half cab i don't know if the factory drilled the tops to suit these or not.
Compulsory wearing of seat belts didn't come into effect until 1983 in the U.K either but the Scrambler may of not complied with the vehicle construction regulations at the time without the 3 pointers:confused:
 
Dave - did you have any issues with the fitment of your half cab and bulkhead? Another member here seems think the body is a little wider than OEM and that the bedsides are a little shorter than OEM.

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No i have had no problems like that one, the top seems to fit fine to where it hits the tub on mine, if anything my halfcab doesnt seem to sit quite correctly on the bulkhead and they are both OEM:confused:

Like i mentioned earlier in the thread i have had problems due to aftermarket stainless windshield hinges which are either not bent properly or the holes or out (or Both!) and the major problem i have had was due to the Crown aftermarket windshield, which isnt shaped correctly so the half cab wouldn't sit right on it.:(
The M.D Juan windshield is a far better shape but is missing the holes for the air demister vents but i can soon slot those in.

Tub is hopefully off for all its right hand drive conversion holes welding up tomorrow and then i can cut the door strikers out, make the transmission tunnel cutout the correct size, drill a hole for the handbrake cable and then finally flip it on to its back and get some pictures of the underside of this tub before sealing it, sticking some primer and paint on it and then setting to with the Dinitrol spray in all the pressed sections to hopefully preserve it for another 30 plus years.

Oh and theres that wheel arch box to sort out first as well...:(
 
Thanks for that, i think i will move the seat belt mounts into the proper place so they match the halfcab.




The coolest thing ever to be on a trailer, this thing needs finishing and fast, must be the best looking truck in the whole of the U.K and its not even finished:headbang:

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BRKLYNZ28 said:
Wow great photos.. guess ill wait till all these problems are fixed before I buy a new tub. Its funny if they are copying a good tub thats in front of them why are there problems like this..but its way better then the aluminum body choice I have for a new build...

Sent from my SPH-L900
Click to expand...

there are many factors. Mostly because we use dies for the CJ7 which is a shorter version. The CJ8 has much less demand than the CJ7 that is why it is only now that we have started working on this, mostly because of this forum.

The holes are easy to repostion. It is the modifications that will require tooling that will take some time to improve.

But we promise that we will improve them. hat's why we are talking to you guys right now :)

Cheers,
Rommel
 
Been a while i know!. a couple of shots of the underneath of this tub for all you tub enthusiasts, i am hoping to get some time on this thing at Christmas seeing as life keeps getting in the way at the moment...
Its probably going to take me all christmas to seam seal this thing there is so many crevices and joints...........

If you look closely the hole for the gearbox cover plate has been enlarged to suit the auto but the recess on the tub isnt correct for this? I dont know if the tubs are all like this or if its an MD Juan thing:confused:

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