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firefighter736's Build Thread

firefighter736

Basic User
Member
City
Floyd
State
VA
It's not easy being green

Hey guys. I've been lurking for the most part for the better part of a year. Here is what I posted in my intro thread about me purchasing my dad's 81 Scram back in the fall

My dad purchased the Scrambler for his wife (my step-mom) in the Spring. He's a handyman by trade and some guy offered it to him for $500 and some traded work. The truck does not have a top (besides a bikini top) and does not have doors so they were in the process of trying to find those things so that she could drive it in the Fall. Soon after the truck was purchased my step-mom passed away unexpectedly. The Jeep has sat in Dad's garage untouched for months now. Last week he came over to the house and asked me if I wanted to purchase the truck for $1000 as he can't bring himself to drive/work on it. Naturally, I accepted under the condition that if I wanted to get rid of it in the future that he gets first shot at it. I'm was not really ready for a new project but I don't think I can turn this one down.

The Scram sat under a cover at dad's since November since I didn't have a place for it and it didn't have a top or doors. It took a lot of effort but with the help of this site the user rispony came through and we traded on some hard doors and a half cab. If you haven't checked out his build thread you definitely should. Can't say enough for the dude, he jumped through hoops to help me out and I'm forever grateful.

I've got a kid on the way (due Sept) so I've got to stick to a budget build. The first focus is going to be on making the thing drive and ride as good as possible. I'll be trying to handle the body stuff here and there with the hope that I can get it in a nice, shiny coat of paint in the next year or so.

Enough talking, let's get to work!

-Barry
 
Last edited:

firefighter736

Basic User
Member
City
Floyd
State
VA
Here's the Jeep as she sat when I bought it. No doors, no top and very unmolested. Older 31x10.5s with stock wheels and some nice saggy springs

1383327_739759718868_1974307172_n.jpg


Turns out the truck has two brand new Bestop seats in it, as well as a Bestop Bikini Top.


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Looks like we've got an SR-4 transmission. Might explain why it kicks out of gear when trying to go in reverse. This will need to be 1a or 1b on the list of things to get fixed/replaced.

625581_739759828648_2141575567_n.jpg
 

firefighter736

Basic User
Member
City
Floyd
State
VA
I finally brought her home this weekend since I've got doors and a top to put on it.

10382269_792242602748_6228648421053730019_o.jpg


258 is all there and doesn't look like it has been cut on too much. The Smog pump has been removed from the belt system so I guess I'll be removing that. Don't have to worry about emissions checks in VA for the most part. Engine runs pretty well for a truck that has sat for the better part of 2 years.

10428207_792242587778_893440862108646889_o.jpg
 

firefighter736

Basic User
Member
City
Floyd
State
VA
The first thing I did when I got it home was take off the bikini top and test fit the top and doors. It looks like my bulkhead has bent inwards into the cab some (as it doesn't line up very well) but everything fits on there for the most part. I have to figure out how to make some type of hinges work for the windshield-to-top connection, too.

10379867_792242582788_4576017521178854838_o.jpg


It's not really your Jeep until you bleed for it, right?


10382626_792242682588_4027080937720113800_n.jpg
 

LetchcoreCJ7

Legacy Registered User
City
Nashville
State
TN
Looks like original paint. You would yourself a favor and clean up the original paint. Will be worth more down the road. You can paint the doors to match.
 

bigwalton

Alaskan Postal nutjob
FORUM MANAGER
SOA Member
City
Dexter
State
MI
Looks like original paint. You would yourself a favor and clean up the original paint. Will be worth more down the road. You can paint the doors to match.

My first thought as well.

Looks awesome!!
 

firefighter736

Basic User
Member
City
Floyd
State
VA
I definitely get where you guys come from on the "leave it original front" but I worry that there is way too much body work that needs to be done to salvage the paint.

You've seen the good, here is the bad:


1622517_792242702548_5748977011618966698_o.jpg


Pin Holes in the bed

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Rust under the "Jeep" on both sides. I'd imagine this is from moisture trapped behind the braces in these locations

10271282_792242697558_3283286625933001292_o.jpg

10428261_792242857238_3825395042771602616_o.jpg


From what I can see this is the only mount that is rusted out. Any thoughts on how difficult this will be to fix? I don't have the greatest fab skills but we will see.


10277420_792242862228_6008127154595569072_n.jpg


(Sorry for the long post) Somebody obviously used this as a truck and sagged the inside of the bed.

10443141_792242692568_3922711395386768929_o.jpg
 

firefighter736

Basic User
Member
City
Floyd
State
VA
Got to tool around a little bit on the Scram this weekend. I picked up a set of door strikers on ebay for $15. I also picked up my first (of probably many).

Strikers went on without much of a fuss (holy smokes it's tight behind the drivers seat)

10505492_794366271898_7694753888881007581_n.jpg


My passenger door lined up great with the hard top and window. I should be able to put a seal right in there and keep some of the breeze out in the winter time.

10497520_794366281878_7162043055797568223_o.jpg


The drivers side doesn't line up near as well. I've adjusted my door as much as I can (took the torx bolts out of the door-side hinge, closed the door, and then tightened bolts) and it doesn't really come close. I'm guessing that it's a windshield adjustment problem - anybody have any insight?

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Finally... after much research I purchased a Ridgid driver/impact set back in the fall to remodel my bathroom with. It has been a great investment. Even at 18v they pack a punch and everything is lifetime guaranteed. When I got the scram I decided to purchase Ridgid's 1/2" impact wrench rated at 300lbs/torque. I went ahead and got a 4 amp hour battery with it. I've used it a couple of times but holy smokes does it make life so much easier.

10373115_794366291858_3965599268464073055_o.jpg
 

Jeeperdd

CJ-8 Member
Silver Member
SOA Member
City
Gordonsville
State
VA
Try pushing the windshield forward little bit. Great deal on the door strikers!
 

Randyzzz

Blown Budget
BENEFACTOR
Gold Member
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Redmond
State
OR
The drivers side on Red had the same hardtop clearance issue/gap. Keep us posted on how you fix it!
 

firefighter736

Basic User
Member
City
Floyd
State
VA
Here's a link for setting the windshield angle. Should be a good reference point. Look at page 3.
http://www.jeep4x4center.com//pdf/54608-15.pdf

Here is a write-up for adjusting the door hinges.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/aftermarket-hinges-door-alignment-issues-1010147/#post9267286

Thanks for this, I'll try it this weekend unless it pours the rain.

Made a trip up to NOVA to pick up a T4 transmission from Dustin (JeeperDD). Got to see his collection which made me super antsy to really get digging into this project. Made for a long day (About ~6 hours of driving after working all day) but definitely worth it. Dustin joked that it would be the first of many Jeep Part runs... I believe he's on to something.

Got under the scram today after work to spray bolts on the transfer case/tranny/bellhousing with PB blaster. I wanted to check out the condition of the metal under the bed when this caught my eye:

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10459928_795534605548_7227388048515627098_n.jpg


Quite frankly, it's a little deflating as I was thinking that the frame was in pretty good shape. I went ahead and checked out the rest of the frame (taking a hammer to it) and all seems well except in this one area.

The under body seems like it's mostly surface rust with a few thin spots in the bed. I guess I need to decide whether it's worth it to just replace the entire bed floor or try and repair what I have. That'll be down the road.

10428027_795534610538_8988642058033560511_n.jpg



The plan was to try and get it running and on the road by the Winter and then take it off the frame next year but I'm thinking that may not happen now... I'm a little worried about driving it with a weak frame.
 
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