Well, finally got off my butt and started working on my newest "Yard Ornament", YS2. This one did drive off the trailer at least, but it had a pretty cool self emptying coolant system.
So, I decided to tear into the cooling system. The water was leaking from around the water pump, so i figured I would start there. This Scrambler also came with a new/non-operative electric fan, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone.
How it was, note the PO installed electric fan, HEI distributor, and nice oil build up around #1 spark plug!!!!!!!!!
With radiator, electric fan, water pump, thermostat, hoses, etc removed, note all the oil/gunk. It took 3 cans of engine cleaner to get this engine clean enough to work on, it was pretty nasty. Looks like most of the oil is coming from the valve cover/gasket. Note the original "molded" heater hose. I cut the end of it off due to oil damage, the rest of it was still good/OK.
The inside of the water pump looked like this, not sure why, didn't look to good, so I replaced the water pump:
Besides the internal water pump flaw, the body itself was eroded pretty bad, I think this would cause a leak:
So, I installed a new water pump/gasket, new thermostat/gasket, radiator cap, and flushed the coolant system. I also installed a stock "HD" cooling fan. We had the fan left over from YS1. I did have to replace the clutch, it looked like the viscous fluid had been leaking. Lucky for us, this Scrambler had the "HD" 2 core radiator, so everything bolted up/fit fine.
With those repairs, the Scrambler no longer leaked coolant. I let the engine run for about 10 minutes, then changed the very nasty/old engine oil and filter. So, the engine runs, and surprisingly, runs pretty damn good considering that it is running off of some very old/nasty/stinky/black gasoline sludge. I would normally siphon the old gas out, but it is just too nasty/putrid. Now that this Scrambler runs, I think I am going to drive it till it sucks air, then drop the gas tank/clean it out. The old gas is vile!!!!!!!!!!!
Besides the now fixed coolant leak, still lots to do under the hood. For example:
I found the alternator plug on the front axle. It had some "issue". I repaired the wiring, and the alternator is charging, but now the engine wont shut off with the key. Pretty sure this has to do with the PO's HEI install. Should be easy enough to install a diode on the alternator excitor wire to prevent back feed, if that is the issue, pretty sure it is.
The PO started to get rid of all the stock emission stuff, which I will complete. Most of the stock components are long gone, and the feed back harness has been butchered. The Scrambler did have an exhaust leak under the hood caused by this:
That is one of the "one way check valves" for the pulse air system. It is broken, so exhaust leaks through it. Don't laugh, but I wrapped duct tape around the opening, stopped the exhaust leak!!!!!!!!!!!! This Scrambler has a new exhaust - down pipe, cat, muffler, pipes, AND all the pulse air system pipes. I think I am going to swap this exhaust on to my '83, that is missing the pulse air/cat, and install my '83's exhaust on this one. I would normally keep all the feedback/emissions stuff on a stock Jeep, but this one has been cleaned out under the hood.
Anyway, after some oil, coolant, and duct tape:
I was really surprised at how well this Scrambler runs/drives, especially considering the old gas. The engine runs smooth, accelerates great, transmission shifts fine through all the gears, suspension is smooth, no bad noises, no loose steering. Four wheel drive works fine in high and low range. The Scrambler feels "solid", if that make sense? No looseness, rattles, just feels good. About the only "bad", the brakes work OK/Good. It doesn't have a soft pedal, they just don't feel as good as they should. The brake fluid is black, so I will flush out the fluid/install new pads if necessary.
All in all, for a first drive, I was impressed. I think just some more basic maintenance will get this one back to running great.
That's it for now
