Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes

[rubclt]

Reunited with our 1982 Cj8 that has had many changes, twist and turns that reminds us nothing remains quite the same. Follow along as we “LOOK BACK” at the various modifications and make “UPDATE” changes in the attitude from show to trail ready.

 

[rubclt]

LOOK BACK
The 1982 came to us in 2016 after buying from Cj8 member @AdamH who called it “Girl Scout”, details for a future post. We remember the excitement as this was our first Cj8 joining our family of Jeeps.


We decided to call it Rusty, for obvious reasons, with plans to preserve the original paint.

 

[rubclt]

UPDATE
Making this a trail ready jeep began with flex and ride height. We started with flexing the axle without coil springs to see clearance issues of the TDK Hybrid Frame with TJ Short Arm lift and made plans for new updates and parts ordering.

 

[rubclt]

LOOK BACK
In 2017 we met the founders of Universal Motors Corporation at the SEMA Show. This new low volume car manufacturer planned to build new CJs and displayed this non-running CJ5 Prototype.


Over the next year and a series of discussions we agreed on building a running Cj8 prototype with a modern coil suspension and 5.7 Hemi to be featured in the Universal Motors Corporation booth at the SEMA Show. This became known as “Project Blue” https://www.cj-8.com/threads/project-blue.48957/




As Project Blue was being completed Universal Motors Corporation was unsuccessful in securing a license agreement to use the Jeep brand and ended operations.

 

[rubclt]

UPDATE
The Cj8 bed is light with much of the weight of the vehicle is in the front. This required 2” coil springs in the rear and 3” coils in the front, but still sat low. The solution was the ACOS front adjustable coil spacers for another inch along with four inches of bump stop to keep 33” tires out of stock fender flares.

 

[rubclt]

LOOK BACK
Rusty needed the engine rebuilt and after researching options and cost we decided to install a used 5.7 Hemi from a wrecked Grand Cherokee. The project became the “Rustic Hemi” https://www.cj-8.com/threads/1982-begin-again-build.47576/

This was the precursor to Project Blue

 

[rubclt]

UPDATE
Our dog enjoys riding but bed is slippery and needs protection. We used an original bed mat as a template and cut one from a DeeZee full size mat. Interesting how mat ribs lined up with rib on wheel well. I had extra mat so I used an original tailgate mat as template and cut a tailgate mat. I am not planning to attach right now and will set in place when the dog enters or exit.

 

[rubclt]

LOOK BACK
The inspiration for the look of Project Blue came from an old jeep cj7 advertisement. All the sheet metal was sandblasted to make the brown jeep blue. We used Deep Water Pearl Blue from 2010 Jeep Wrangler color chart.

 

[rubclt]

LOOK BACK
The purpose built show jeep sat in my garage collecting dust. My kids, in their 20’s, have JLUR’s and so we worked out a trade with Cross Jeep.



A high bid on Bring a Trailer was below the reserve and several deals never materialized. A few updates by Cross Jeep including new tires/wheels, painted top black, and PSC steering box, among other things, to go back on Bring a Trailer.



At this point faith stepped in and we worked a deal with Cross Jeep to buy it back with changes in attitudes shifting from sitting pretty to trail ready.

 

[designerRob]

That's interesting that they thought removing the white would help it sell. At least it's back in good hands again. 👍

 

[rubclt]

That's interesting that they thought removing the white would help it sell. At least it's back in good hands again. 👍

Thanks @designerRob I am considering new changes to top, stripes, seats and tires/wheels. Stay tune for progress updates. I sold this project Cj8 that might be the new inspiration.

 

[Randyzzz]

Excited to see what direction you go with stripes/stickers.

 

[rubclt]

UPDATE
Trail Ready parts starting to arrive for mock-up. Here is the Motobilt rear bumper

 

[rubclt]

LOOK BACK
This Jeep was originally listed for sale on cj-8.com in 2014 when member @AdamH bought in NJ from Jimmy. Here is how it looked when he arrived



Adam referred to her as The Girl Scout. It was a name that he and his father-n-law came up with on the 13hr ride home.

After getting it home Adam put it away in the garage while finishing off the punch list on the ’81 Scrambler. Before Long, he realized the ’82 had just sat for months. The odds of getting to work on the ’82 anytime soon was a dream and Adam knew we wanted our first Scrambler and it changed again to our garage with a half top and roller wheels/tires.

 

[rubclt]

UPDATE
Front trail ready mock-up underway too and testing winch, light types for style, shape, etc. The TDK frame is CJ width but TJ front so the bumper will need to holes changed and weld others before powder coat


The Warn 8274 will require cutting and grinding to fit tight.




The M8000 low profile option

 

[tower210]

Kinda like the short winch with the Marchals...

 

[ManyFacesofSchwinn]

Low profile looks much better. It doesn't cover up the grill and turn signal like the other one.

 

[Chamba]

I like the look of the 8274 but I've never been a fan of how it sits on top of the frame rails on the CJ. On land cruisers it fits between the frame rails and sits much lower, not blocking the radiator.

I really wanted to keep my 8274 and fabricate a bracket which moved the bumper forward about 8" so that I could drop the winch into the space that would then be in front of and between the frame rails. On the CJ that would put it quite a ways in front of the Spring shackles.

With your hybrid frame however it would seem that you could make that look very nice and proportionate.

 

[rubclt]

UPDATE
The PSC Steering Box is stronger than stock pitman arm. This is second bent one, it was straight like the new beefier one I installed today.

 

[rubclt]

UPDATE
I really enjoyed the classic look of the white top, letters and wheels. Changes seem to follow this jeep, so change is underway. I have one side down, one to go plus center hood…