Building a Scrambler from left overs

[Kim Dawson]

I recently traded for a left over tub and frame (thank you Oregonscrambler). l Started patching the tub and the bad areas in the frame. I painted the frame, one side at a time, in the garage while the weather was cold. Just finished up getting the AMC 20 back together with new bearings and seals (thank you Jeff from Rock Hill, SC) and new brakes, cylinders and drums. I've been sand blasting and painting small parts and putting together what I can. Started on the Dana 30 today. Nothing real exciting going on just yet. Just the dirty work to turn a bunch of left overs into a Scrambler. I picked up a 5-speed on CL left over from a high school class project. I bought a pair of 304s and had one left over, so here's its new home. I have other projects going so this may take awhile.

 

[ebertf]

Looks like a great start

 

[Kim Dawson]

Put the front suspension together. Waiting for parts for the hubs. Checked out the T-5 I picked up. Not so nice. Had a T-4 that came with an engine I wanted, and it checked out good. This one will be a 4 speed. Made the 9-leaf springs into 5-leaf springs and used those clips I found on Ebay. Now I can switch them with the 2 1/2" lift one and keep this one stock height. Put new seals/gasket in the TC so that is ready now. A little bit at a time and it will get done.

 

[Kim Dawson]

Bearings, rotors, calipers and seals for the front done. Now I can put some wheels on it and change those rear springs. Did a compression check on the 304 . . . not as good as I'd like. Stripped it down and took it to a friend for rebuild. A little at a time.

 

[Kim Dawson]

Changed those rear springs. Still sits a little higher than stock . . . 1 to 1 1/2" higher. Stock shocks won't have the right travel. Installed the fuel tank . . . . centered it to accommodate duel exhaust. Installed all brake lines up to the proportioning valve. Wheels are on now so I can move it if need be. Probably a few weeks before I get the engine back and can install the drive train.

 

[Kim Dawson]

Been working on the body some. Primer, sand, primer, spot putty. Outside is looking pretty good. Inside and underside still needs help. I'll be using those left over captured nut plates I got from Certifiable Jeep. Nice to see it in primer anyway.

 

[certifiablejeep]

Been working on the body some. Primer, sand, primer, spot putty. Outside is looking pretty good. Inside and underside still needs help. I'll be using those left over captured nut plates I got from Certifiable Jeep. Nice to see it in primer anyway.

Looking good!

 

[oregonscrambler]

Way to keep that tub goin! I thought it was too far gone. Can’t wait to see how you tackle those bottom sections.

 

[Kim Dawson]

I noticed that one side has the raised Jeep and the other side has Joop. Maybe this was a transition year and they used what they had?

 

[Belizeit]

At least you know it is not Chinee. Wear that Joop like a badge of honor and slap a Jeep decal on it. Both of mine are Joop.

 

[Chamba]

Both of mine are Joop on a 1981.

 

[FLCJ8]

Both of mine are Joop on a 1981.

Mine is an unmolested '83.

 

[certifiablejeep]

I will add a little tidbit I saw a couple years back.
On the Tug tub (CJ-10a) that is on the truck project... both sides are Jeep... and it is a 1986.
Either they got restamped sides from new dies, or they found a lot of left over side.

I have torn down a few Jeeps that had differing levels of "crispness" of the stampings side to side where one would be very nice/crisp JEEP and the other would be very JOOP.

Who knows.

cb

 

[spankrjs]

I will add a little tidbit I saw a couple years back.
On the Tug tub (CJ-10a) that is on the truck project... both sides are Jeep... and it is a 1986.
Either they got restamped sides from new dies, or they found a lot of left over side.

I have torn down a few Jeeps that had differing levels of "crispness" of the stampings side to side where one would be very nice/crisp JEEP and the other would be very JOOP.

Who knows.

cb

I think the dies wore out and were replaced many multiple times over the course of production, hence the scatter shot incidence of "Joop"/crisp "Jeep" over the years. My late '86 model is definitely "Joop".

 

[Kim Dawson]

I have some leftover red/garnet paint that I've been saving for over 50 years now. The restoration shop where I worked (39 years) had so much leftover paint that one day they brought in a trash bin with a forklift and started pitching paint from cars that were restored in the past. I rescued some good colors and have painted various Jeeps with them. This darker red was used on a 1932 Packard Convertible Coupe. Almost a gallon of the R-M enamel with acrylic. I prepped some parts to try it out with some later hardener and it seem to work fine. The paint was mixed in the 1970s. Used some new metal and good caged nuts to fix 5 of the body mounting areas. I've got everything in place ready for welding. So much crap to fix on the underside. Bent up the fuel, return, and vent lines and secured them to the chassis. Removed a lot of broken bolts for seats and such. The dash was a nice one with seven added holes that I had welded up. At least they didn't cut out for the radio or speakers. The outside of the tub is almost all ready for color but I need to get the inside and underside done first. This red looks close to the sales literature and the garnet color Jeep used. The mechanic that has my engine took an employment opportunity which has delayed him rebuilding the 304. Once I finally get it, I'll get the drivetrain in and take it for exhaust. Engine parts are cleaned and painted. I do need an air cleaner to fit a 304 with 2-barrel carb. Anyone have one?

 

[certifiablejeep]

I have some leftover red/garnet paint that I've been saving for over 50 years now. The restoration shop where I worked (39 years) had so much leftover paint that one day they brought in a trash bin with a forklift and started pitching paint from cars that were restored in the past. I rescued some good colors and have painted various Jeeps with them. This darker red was used on a 1932 Packard Convertible Coupe. Almost a gallon of the R-M enamel with acrylic. I prepped some parts to try it out with some later hardener and it seem to work fine. The paint was mixed in the 1970s. Used some new metal and good caged nuts to fix 5 of the body mounting areas. I've got everything in place ready for welding. So much crap to fix on the underside. Bent up the fuel, return, and vent lines and secured them to the chassis. Removed a lot of broken bolts for seats and such. The dash was a nice one with seven added holes that I had welded up. At least they didn't cut out for the radio or speakers. The outside of the tub is almost all ready for color but I need to get the inside and underside done first. This red looks close to the sales literature and the garnet color Jeep used. The mechanic that has my engine took an employment opportunity which has delayed him rebuilding the 304. Once I finally get it, I'll get the drivetrain in and take it for exhaust. Engine parts are cleaned and painted. I do need an air cleaner to fit a 304 with 2-barrel carb. Anyone have one?

I think I have a 360 air cleaner on the shelf that might fit the bill... let me take a picture of it tonight when I am out there.
I got it in a trade a while back and just tossed it up there, not exactly sure what the underside looks like for the carb mounting... also if there is room for power brakes if you have them.

cb

 

[Kim Dawson]

I think I have a 360 air cleaner on the shelf that might fit the bill... let me take a picture of it tonight when I am out there.
I got it in a trade a while back and just tossed it up there, not exactly sure what the underside looks like for the carb mounting... also if there is room for power brakes if you have them.

cb

Please do. Thanks.

 

[certifiablejeep]

Please do. Thanks.

PM sent

 

[Kim Dawson]

I've been spending a lot of time under the tub. All body mounts are solid and adding metal and seam sealer where needed. Top side has been getting some cleaning up, too. Air cleaner from Craig showed up today. If I only had a rebuilt engine I could get the chassis done.

 

[Kim Dawson]

Yesterday evening it was 68 degrees, no wind to blow the fuzz from the neighbors cotton wood trees, and the body was ready for paint. Wet down the gravel, wiped down the body and started spraying paint. Not a well lit area, so I ended up with a light in one hand and the spray gun in the other. Painted the tail gate, cab divider and a bunch of small parts, too. The outside of the body looks really good for a Jeep . . . no dimples from spot rivets. Amazing what time and body filler can do. Waiting for my Raptor Liner to arrive to finish the inside and the underside. I had a pint of red made to match in urethane to tint the Raptor Liner . . . $124. Good thing the old almost-a-gallon of Red R-M Super Max Enamel with Acrylic was free. Red colors are crazy expensive. I picked up front fenders from Craigs List a few years ago that were bent, torn, had a couple pieces missing but weren't rusty. Hammered on them and cut the parts to fix the missing pieces and they are ready for my neighbor/welder to make them solid again. The old girl is looking better.