Another Scrambler Purchase/Road Trip - UPDATE- BODY ON FRAME AGAIN

[spankrjs]

Sooner or later this Jeep IS going to be DONE! I do believe this one is the closest to being finnished in 40+ years of playing with them. Once againg nise work my friend.

Appreciate it Toby
I still need to put back on the windshield squirt-er nozzles, hook up the washer pump....................................

 

[spankrjs]

Looks great! Did you polish out the rocker trim? If so how did you do it? Mine were painted and when I removed the paint they are partially black. I'm not sure how to get them shiny again other than paint.

I did not do anything to the rockers, that's how I received them. They looked pretty good right out of the box, so I did not spend any time polishing them

These particular rockers still have most of the original black paint still in place on the back sides.

I was very fortunate in that these rocker mouldings, besides new T-bolts, did not require any work/polishing before installing them

 

[pits]

I love your Srambler, I just bought mine. I'm looking at roll cages and am considering the Rock Hard. I found this thread and have been drooling over what you've done.

Can you take a couple pics and post them of how the floor brace sits under the dash? How does it connect to the front bars? Compared to the Genright, it doesn't look as sturdy. Also, do you have the frame tie-ins?

I'm either going with the Rock Hard, or get the GenRight floor braces and have a 1/2 cage welded in. Thanks

 

[MrBeep]

Welcome

I love your Srambler, I just bought mine. I'm looking at roll cages and am considering the Rock Hard. I found this thread and have been drooling over what you've done.

Can you take a couple pics and post them of how the floor brace sits under the dash? How does it connect to the front bars? Compared to the Genright, it doesn't look as sturdy. Also, do you have the frame tie-ins?

I'm either going with the Rock Hard, or get the GenRight floor braces and have a 1/2 cage welded in. Thanks

Welcome To The Site

 

[spankrjs]

I love your Srambler, I just bought mine. I'm looking at roll cages and am considering the Rock Hard. I found this thread and have been drooling over what you've done.

Can you take a couple pics and post them of how the floor brace sits under the dash? How does it connect to the front bars? Compared to the Genright, it doesn't look as sturdy. Also, do you have the frame tie-ins?

I'm either going with the Rock Hard, or get the GenRight floor braces and have a 1/2 cage welded in. Thanks

Appreciate it

As for the pictures of the floor braces, well, it will be pretty difficult now that the dash/cage is installed. The floor braces are basically solid steel stock bars that fit inside the body seam that is behind the dash plate. The steel bars are welded to tubes that run to the floor boards. Where the tubes meet the floor boards, a steel plate is welded to the bottom of the tube as a "foot".The front bars tie into these steel bars through the dash board and the body sides/cowl. I have not put in the frame tie in pieces, not sure if I am, or if I can, due to my rock rails

As for the strength, this cage seems very sturdy. I have rolled/lfell over into two trees so far, and have had no issue. I think this cage will work perfect for anything under super hard core extreme off roading

 

[spankrjs]

One more update before Moab. Finally installed two items that I have been needing to, which weren't that difficult to install/make operational, but sometimes you need a dead line to get stuff done.

I finally installed my windshield squirter nozzles. When I rebuilt the jeep. I installed a new washer pump and new rubber lines. I finally cleaned the bed liner out of the squirter nozzles, plugged in the squirter motor, and my squirters work. This might not seem like an important item, but after my last road trip, where we were smacking into bugs the size of golf balls, squirters are very important. I don't want to have to tailgate the guy in front of me again, depending on his squirter over spray to clean my windshield.

And I finally hooked up my parking brake. This is an important item that I should have made functional a long time ago. This task took a little bit of garage engineering, due to my rear disk brakes.

First, I finally painted/installed the under bed cable support. This support holds up the passenger side cable, keeping it from falling into the rear drive shaft. Make sure you don't use two long of screws to install it, or they will poke through the bed floor.

Next, a few pictures of how the cables are routed/installed on to the rear calipers. The SSBC rear disc brake kit calipers came with these built in parking brake things. The factory cables easily hooked onto the caliper pieces.

Now, the only bit of engineering I had to do: I had to lengthen the threaded rod on the "pedal to equalizer" cable. Due to the rear disc brake parking brake attachment points being behind the axle center line, and the factory drum brake parking brake attachment points being closer to the center of the axle center line, the factory threaded rod was not long enough to pass through the equalizer, it was about 1" too short. I simply cut off a portion of the threaded rod, screwed on a coupler, then installed a slightly longer piece of 5/16 fine thread threaded rod. If I remember correctly, the factory threaded portion was 4 1/4" long, my "engineered" one is 6 1/4" long, and I can probably cut an inch off of it.

And now, my parking brake works perfectly.

That's it for now.

 

[pits]

Welcome To The Site

Thanks Beep. I need to get an introduction set up soon.

Appreciate it

As for the pictures of the floor braces, well, it will be pretty difficult now that the dash/cage is installed. The floor braces are basically solid steel stock bars that fit inside the body seam that is behind the dash plate. The steel bars are welded to tubes that run to the floor boards. Where the tubes meet the floor boards, a steel plate is welded to the bottom of the tube as a "foot".The front bars tie into these steel bars through the dash board and the body sides/cowl. I have not put in the frame tie in pieces, not sure if I am, or if I can, due to my rock rails

As for the strength, this cage seems very sturdy. I have rolled/lfell over into two trees so far, and have had no issue. I think this cage will work perfect for anything under super hard core extreme off roading

Thanks for the info spank. How's the leg room with the tube tucked up next to the side of the cab? Seems like it should be pretty good.

Is the top of the brace connected in any way to the front bar?

Thanks for the info. Sounds like it should work well. A friend of mine says he knows a guy who can weld me up a gage and his rates are good. I'm gonna check out his work and see what he would charge me. If I don't like what he has to offer, I think I'll go the Rock Hard route.

When are you headed to Moab? Friends of mine have a trip planned for the end of May and my wife and I decided to go. The new Scrambler is our trail rig. The thrash has already begun to get it ready. Fortunately, its a great starting point. It has a bunch of upgrades already, Chevy v8/turbo350 trans/Np205 transfer case/Danna 44 full width front axles/14 bolt rear/37 tires. I need front axle upgrade/lockers/shave the massive 14 bolt/cage/seats/harness and a bunch of small stuff to get it ready.

 

[spankrjs]

Thanks Beep. I need to get an introduction set up soon.



Thanks for the info spank. How's the leg room with the tube tucked up next to the side of the cab? Seems like it should be pretty good.

Is the top of the brace connected in any way to the front bar?

Thanks for the info. Sounds like it should work well. A friend of mine says he knows a guy who can weld me up a gage and his rates are good. I'm gonna check out his work and see what he would charge me. If I don't like what he has to offer, I think I'll go the Rock Hard route.

When are you headed to Moab? Friends of mine have a trip planned for the end of May and my wife and I decided to go. The new Scrambler is our trail rig. The thrash has already begun to get it ready. Fortunately, its a great starting point. It has a bunch of upgrades already, Chevy v8/turbo350 trans/Np205 transfer case/Danna 44 full width front axles/14 bolt rear/37 tires. I need front axle upgrade/lockers/shave the massive 14 bolt/cage/seats/harness and a bunch of small stuff to get it ready.

The leg room is excellent, it does not interfere with the driver or passenger at all

The top of the floor brace is tied to the front hoop with 4 bolts each, if that is the brace you are talking about

I am leaving for Moab next Thursday morning, April 19

Your rig sound pretty tough After riding/driving my buddies 60/14 bolt YJ on 39" Maxxis Crawlers, shaving the 14 bolt is an excellent idea

 

[pits]

The leg room is excellent, it does not interfere with the driver or passenger at all

The top of the floor brace is tied to the front hoop with 4 bolts each, if that is the brace you are talking about

I am leaving for Moab next Thursday morning, April 19

Your rig sound pretty tough After riding/driving my buddies 60/14 bolt YJ on 39" Maxxis Crawlers, shaving the 14 bolt is an excellent idea

Glad you confirmed the legroom. Yes, that's the brace I was asking about. 4 bolts, sounds like a good solid connection.

Thanks, I am a bit concerned about clearance under the 14 bolt. Might even go with the 2 inch shave I've been reading about. A lot of work, but might be the way to go.

Enjoy the trip. Hope to hear some reports after your adventure!

 

[spankrjs]

Finished servicing the Scrambler. Changed the oil, greased everything up, checked all the fluids, etc. It is about 80% packed up, 100% ready to go

I will be leaving first thing Thursday (April 19) morning, headed to Moab, UT

I sure hope the Scrambler makes it there and back in 1 piece, this will be it's longest trip yet I brought a few critical spare parts with me (spare fuel pumps, cps sensors, ignition coils, relays, u-joints, front axle shafts, spare front and rear lock in hubs, fuel line and clamps, etc) plus my basic tools, and a borrowed scanner for my diagnostic port.

It is about a 25 hour, 1,600 mile trip from Biloxi, MS to Moab, UT

I should get back home around April 30, so we will be in Moab for almost a week of wheeling

I will take bunches of pictures and post them up when I get back

 

[SCJeeper]

Man I hope you have a great time! You have put a ton of work in your ride to make the trip and what a trip it will be. Take it easy on her.........she is to purdy to bruise up too bad! Good luck on the trip!

 

[spankrjs]

Man I hope you have a great time! You have put a ton of work in your ride to make the trip and what a trip it will be. Take it easy on her.........she is to purdy to bruise up too bad! Good luck on the trip!

Appreciate it

I will try to keep it "shiny side up"

 

[Jeep Addict]

Remember to stay away from rear ending boner bars while on your camping trip. ...

 

[Polarfire]

Good luck! I can't wait to read the trip report!!

 

[pits]

Finished servicing the Scrambler. Changed the oil, greased everything up, checked all the fluids, etc. It is about 80% packed up, 100% ready to go

I will be leaving first thing Thursday (April 19) morning, headed to Moab, UT

I sure hope the Scrambler makes it there and back in 1 piece, this will be it's longest trip yet I brought a few critical spare parts with me (spare fuel pumps, cps sensors, ignition coils, relays, u-joints, front axle shafts, spare front and rear lock in hubs, fuel line and clamps, etc) plus my basic tools, and a borrowed scanner for my diagnostic port.

It is about a 25 hour, 1,600 mile trip from Biloxi, MS to Moab, UT

I should get back home around April 30, so we will be in Moab for almost a week of wheeling

I will take bunches of pictures and post them up when I get back

If you are going through Dallas/Fort Worth, try and get there before 3:30. Otherwise it may take you a couple hours to get through during rush hour, just depends.

If you are taking 114, which I think you will, you will hit a couple of large road construction areas. The second one is just north of the airport. Once past the Airport entrance, stay in your right two lanes towards Bridgeport. The split comes up quick due to the construction and is easy to miss. If you go left, it will take you 1/2 hour to get back on track.

If you encounter any prolems while going through Dallas/Fort Worth, give me a call, I can help you out. I'll PM you my number. Have a great time and am looking forward to a trip report!

Come to think about it, I might have to sit out on 114 and watch for a red Scrambler to go by...

 

[MrBeep]

Have Fun

Have fun and be safe my friend.

Looking forward to your photos.

 

[spankrjs]

If you are going through Dallas/Fort Worth, try and get there before 3:30. Otherwise it may take you a couple hours to get through during rush hour, just depends.

If you are taking 114, which I think you will, you will hit a couple of large road construction areas. The second one is just north of the airport. Once past the Airport entrance, stay in your right two lanes towards Bridgeport. The split comes up quick due to the construction and is easy to miss. If you go left, it will take you 1/2 hour to get back on track.

If you encounter any prolems while going through Dallas/Fort Worth, give me a call, I can help you out. I'll PM you my number. Have a great time and am looking forward to a trip report!

Come to think about it, I might have to sit out on 114 and watch for a red Scrambler to go by...

Appreciate the info, PM sent

 

[spankrjs]

Have fun and be safe my friend.

Looking forward to your photos.

Appreciate it Toby

So far, this Scrambler has taken me from Indiana back to south MS, all over MS and AL, almost to TN, and all over south/mid Louisiana. So far, it had been an excellent travel companion, I just hope the trend continues

 

[Bad Karma]

very jealous!!! have fun!!

 

[spankrjs]

Made it to Moab safe and sound Friday afternoon. Slept Thursday night at a hotel just west of Amarillo, TX, drove the rest of the way here on Friday. The Scrambler has performed flawlessly ok the long road trip, no problems at all.

I took HWY 160 through the mointains of southern CO, very beautiful, but also some long, 6-7% grades at high altitude. The fuel injected 258/T5 combo handled it in stride. I was able to hold most hills in 4th gear, but some of the super steep, long grades, I would have to shift into 3rd gear, 3,500 RPM to maintain 45mph. This is the famous San Juan pass that truckers avoid like the plague.

Scenery here in Utah is absolutely beautiful, can't wait to hit the trails.