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Fully Custom Cj8 Build

C

codyaku

Basic User
City
laguna niguel
State
ca
Hi, im new to the forums and im planning to build a Brand new completely custom jeep cj8 scrambler. Ive been researching for the part and how to build it fo some time now and finally came to a solution of what I want. I wanted something that can tow, offroad and to be a Daily driver. Total cost is estimated to be around $25,000 for the complete build. My only problems is finding a hardtop and full doors, but i bet i can find them online somewhere. does anyone know if there are any universals that will fit one??? Jscherb has the perfect top design but i have no idea if they are available... Its gonna be a aluminum body with a one inch body lift, the frame is gonna be a hybrid frame from Throttle down customs, rustys long arm suspension, then ive been debating on the engine i was gonna put into it and figured since i have to think about towing a 22 ft jet boat i gonna need something stronger than a strait 6. I figured "why not a diesel?" I looked around and decided on a ford v8 turbocharged diesel would have more than enough power to tow and get great mileage for the daily driver. i should be abole to go about 400 miles on a 25 gallon tank and this will basically have the drive-train from a ford f-250 super-duty truck. do any of you guys think that this engine wont fit.. i need suggestions on the size. transmission will be the same, but the transfer case will be a Atlas 4 spd with a 10.3:1 crawl ratio. For the axles i decided to go with a dynatrac pro rock 60 axle front and rear for the strength and reliability. Im not gonna get into a finer detail on what im gonna build for my multipurpose rig. I havent decided on the amount of lift and the size tires so ill save that for last. I know its a tj with a scrambler body, but i found that the scrambler is a rare jeep and hard to come by. its a beautiful machine and im proud of building one from scratch. This project may take up to 2 years to completely finish to how i would like it to turn out. ill keep you updated

Thanks for your support,
Cody
 
Welcome!

No real experience to share on most of those questions but :popcorn::popcorn:

I don't know about towing any real load on a long arm suspension with coils and lift, maybe if you add some airbags?
 
Ford diesels are huge. 7.3's are the best reliability wise, but dang...that's a lot of weight and real estate. I wouldn't even recommend a 6.0, or a 6.4. All the junk those things need barely fits under the hood of a Super Duty. Heck, we have a special hoist and engine stand just to hold those monsters. You would have to be a magician to shoehorn any of those diesels in there, along with an intercooler and a adequate radiator.

How about a 4BT, if you're set on a diesel. W.R.Buchanan has a thread linked to his build here, it's awesome.
Thread here-
https://www.cj-8.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25531
Build- (You have to sign up to see it, takes a minute and it's well worth it.)
http://www.4btswaps.com/forum/showthread.php?5310-Here-s-the-Descrambler
Another great 4bt transplant thread, with performance results on the third page-
https://www.cj-8.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23585

Then again, at the possible expense of a little mileage towing, may I suggest a GM Gen 3 or 4 LS engine? I'm installing a 5.3 after hearing mid 20's for highway mileage with 35"s and 4.56 gears...and power to smoke the tires at will. My marathon build thread is here-
https://www.cj-8.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19032
 
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ya well i know there huge but.... they are reliable. i need to find something that will work. i love the fact of a ford motor but i can see that it might not fit. ill take a look at that forum thanks. umm idk on the controll arms for towing these are tj long arm suspension. um what should i do for that?? thanks
 
Also i dont know about the 150 hp for that small 4 cyclinder diesil. i would like a 6 cyclinder. those LS motors are expensive also. umm should i go for a 4, 5 or 6 speed trans. i woud like those extra gears. btw im 18 just to let you all know. im kind of confuse of what i want now... what would you recommend for a drive train that can pull a boat that should weigh at most at 3 tons or less. Engine, tranns?
 
Good luck with the build... it is an ambitious one... the time table is what I think is in the right range... it is the cash valuie that might go higher depending on the motor you put in there and what it will take to get it in there and going.

It is always 2x the money and 3x the time for some reason!

cb
 
Buddy

your in pipe dream land.

A ford diesel engine in a CJ is gonna be a MAJOR pain in the rear.
you would have to rebuild the entire front end an relocate the radiator to the rear.

If you really have 25 grand sitting around then go to a local 4x4 shop and ask them what they would do. Ask if they can do it, then ask to see some of their rides.

otherwise my advice would be to buy the frame, suspension, axles and tires as money allows
then buy a body (aqualu i think thats what you wanted to buy). Once everything is together go ahead and shop around for engines. Then spend the time putting it in and getting the fit right, then wire it up and crank it.
 
codyaku said:
Also i dont know about the 150 hp for that small 4 cyclinder diesil. i would like a 6 cyclinder. those LS motors are expensive also. umm should i go for a 4, 5 or 6 speed trans. i woud like those extra gears. btw im 18 just to let you all know. im kind of confuse of what i want now... what would you recommend for a drive train that can pull a boat that should weigh at most at 3 tons or less. Engine, tranns?
Click to expand...

Have you priced a Powerstroke engine? Just the engine alone will run you probably in teh $3000 range. That does not include the tranny and adapters to go with it.
And then you get into the size problem, there is a reason they only come in 3/4 ton and up trucks.

Like Randy said, check out the Vortec engines, great power and mileage. There not as expensive as you think, check out this guy www.efienginesupply.com he is a fellow scrambler owner in Tennessee and they have great prices on vortecs with low miles.

As for trannys, look at the engine you are going to get and then decide on what tranny will be the best, just because the tranny has more gears does not mean that its the best tranny for the engine. If I had it to do over agian, I would have gone with the NV4500, just my opinion.
 
I don't think 25G's will get this project done with that grocery list.
 
I'd venture to say that 25K would get you about 1/2 way not including paying for any labor.....
 
well i plan to put most of it together and have a 4x4 shop do the things i cant do like a roll cage and etc. i know my way around car cause ive helped restore a 68 camaro completly and know alot about taking cars apart and puting them together. ill check out the ls motor and see. what should should i get for engine size 4.3? The tranny i decided to go with a turbo 400 since they are the most used tranns out there. What should i do for the towing problem. the boat is around 3000lbs i think. Long arm wouldnt be a good choice? what should i do for that? i belive 25 grand will be around the price to do the build and i priced all of the major things and added like another 5 grand for practically completing it. ill see once i get to it this summer.

can the cummings 4bt tow a 2800lb boat no problem? i think the horse power on those things are like 150 right and torque is like 350 ftlb torque.
 
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If you're going to be running Pro Rock 60's, then you'll at least be running 37" tires at a minimum. I personally would not be doing any towing with tires that size or larger. For the long arm geometry to be close for offroad, it'll end up handling like crap on the street especially towing a 22ft boat. The drop hitch you'll need will be at least 18" to even hook up the boat. Just go find a 6.0L and a 4l80E out of a Chevrolet truck and be done with it. Then you'll have EFI along with a 4 spd trans with a lock up converter. Why even attempt to screw with a T400 for a driver?
 
You live in CA; registering, smogging and street driving what you're dreaming of may not be possible. I'd suggest some research on that before you buy or decide anything.
 
Are you going to have to pass emissions in CA? Did you say you were 18 years old? If I were you I'd hurry up and build it now before you turn 19. When you're 18 you can do anything, 19 is a different story.

Your best bet might be buying a really nice already fixed up Scrambler for about 15K and then spending the 10K to modify it to whatever you need. When you are all done, you should be able to sell it for around 7-10K.
 
its really hard to find one close other than texas. theres a few in there and there is nothing in the local listings. whats the difference between the lj and the cj in length? is the cj longer? i love the cjs look and length. i just need to know the difference
 
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mysunnshine said:
Just go find a 6.0L and a 4l80E out of a Chevrolet truck and be done with it. Then you'll have EFI along with a 4 spd trans with a lock up converter. Why even attempt to screw with a T400 for a driver?
Click to expand...

That be the gospel truth. You'll get good power and mileage in a reliable package.

I ended up with about $1500-$2000 in a 5.3/4l60e combo, $500 for the T/C adapter, and $150 for a 241 T/C from a Rubicon. (Yeah, I stole the 241)
 
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