Randyzzz Scrambler Restification Thread!
- Thread starter Randyzzz
- Start date
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
Has it really been 2 months since I last updated this thread? No wonder it isn't getting done. 
Just a quick update, since I'm pretty stoked about "impending progress"...
I got my completed front axle back today! Finally!!! Now I just need a stock left shaft for an 85 J10, and get one of my spare long shafts cut down to the custom axle length.
I got a Rubicon 4-1 transfer case cheap...and then spent a bundle on a nv3550, a Novak adapter to a Chev bellhousing, and all the extra stuff...12" clutch, flywheel, ect, ect.
The rear HD20 goes out for gear/locker install next week, should have it back in a few days. (getting free gear setup!!!)
And yes, I'll post pictures this weekend.
Just a quick update, since I'm pretty stoked about "impending progress"...I got my completed front axle back today! Finally!!! Now I just need a stock left shaft for an 85 J10, and get one of my spare long shafts cut down to the custom axle length.
I got a Rubicon 4-1 transfer case cheap...and then spent a bundle on a nv3550, a Novak adapter to a Chev bellhousing, and all the extra stuff...12" clutch, flywheel, ect, ect.
The rear HD20 goes out for gear/locker install next week, should have it back in a few days. (getting free gear setup!!!)
And yes, I'll post pictures this weekend.
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
An update on the "Slowest Scrambler Rebuild Thread". Yeah, I know, get busy. It's just that Life keeps happening... But, I do have some progress to show.
Here's a look at the Ected front locker...
Front housing installed. I'm planning on either flipping the u-bolts, or getting u-bolt skids. But for now this will do.
Pressed new ball joints in the knuckles. The pass knuckle was machined for high steer, because I didn't want to have to relocate the steering gearbox. Used a shorty arm- going to get a corresponding flat shorty arm for the gearbox.
Driver's side. (Yeah, I'm missing a stud.) It's the brother of the right knuckle- Chevy stuff. Had the flat top studs already installed. Do you think I should install a cut-off arm over the studs? Might help with rigidity- or at least keep the studs from getting buggered up.
Here's the reason for the hi-steer on a SUA setup. The D44 moves everything forward. Under compression, a standard drag link would end up interfering with the tie-rod. Not to mention bump steer. This way, the drag link and tie rod should stay mostly parallel. I need to replace the drop arm for a flat arm. PartsMike has them.
Well, now that I've shown yesterday's progress, it's back out to the shop. Going to play with the engine/clutch/trans adapter today. Supposed to be close to 100* today- phew! I was going to go to the Groundhog Rock Crawl yesterday, but 3 hours of driving to bake in the sun didn't seem to be a wise idea, especially when I need to get this baby running!!!
Here's a look at the Ected front locker...
Front housing installed. I'm planning on either flipping the u-bolts, or getting u-bolt skids. But for now this will do.
Pressed new ball joints in the knuckles. The pass knuckle was machined for high steer, because I didn't want to have to relocate the steering gearbox. Used a shorty arm- going to get a corresponding flat shorty arm for the gearbox.
Driver's side. (Yeah, I'm missing a stud.) It's the brother of the right knuckle- Chevy stuff. Had the flat top studs already installed. Do you think I should install a cut-off arm over the studs? Might help with rigidity- or at least keep the studs from getting buggered up.
Here's the reason for the hi-steer on a SUA setup. The D44 moves everything forward. Under compression, a standard drag link would end up interfering with the tie-rod. Not to mention bump steer. This way, the drag link and tie rod should stay mostly parallel. I need to replace the drop arm for a flat arm. PartsMike has them.
Well, now that I've shown yesterday's progress, it's back out to the shop. Going to play with the engine/clutch/trans adapter today. Supposed to be close to 100* today- phew! I was going to go to the Groundhog Rock Crawl yesterday, but 3 hours of driving to bake in the sun didn't seem to be a wise idea, especially when I need to get this baby running!!!
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- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
John- thanks for the tip!
Not much progress today...but I have my reasons...
I did get the rear axle out and torn down, ready for locker install. The rear axleshaft splines were worn pretty sharp- hopefully my other axle has better shafts. If not, maybe it's time to cobble together a full floater AMC20. Here's a pic of the minimal progress today...
As to why I didn't get much done today.....well, let's say the wife and I went shopping. Just see my other thread in Scramblings...
Not much progress today...but I have my reasons...
I did get the rear axle out and torn down, ready for locker install. The rear axleshaft splines were worn pretty sharp- hopefully my other axle has better shafts. If not, maybe it's time to cobble together a full floater AMC20. Here's a pic of the minimal progress today...
As to why I didn't get much done today.....well, let's say the wife and I went shopping. Just see my other thread in Scramblings...
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- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
bigwalton said:Good stuff man, nice to see this happening!
Thanks, Eric- hopefully this will be the start of a lot more frequent progress posts. I'd wanted to get her running before summer- looks like I'll settle for sometime during summer! Just gotta keep focused.
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
Wow...almost 5 months! How embarrassing! Well, here's a couple of pics from today, I snuck out while Carol was cooking the Bird. While these pics don't look like much, they actually represent alot...the restarting of progress!
The future home of a 5.3 Vortec!
Hopefully updates will be coming alot more frequently now. I'm supposed to be picking up the engine next week!
The future home of a 5.3 Vortec!
Hopefully updates will be coming alot more frequently now. I'm supposed to be picking up the engine next week!
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- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
High Steer installed- for cheap!!!
Ok, I'm actually starting to make some progress! I have my front axle shafts out to Dutchmans, for shortening and resplining. I'm very pleased at their price since I'm working on a fixed budget with no "Scrambler" income. They will have the shafts back to me on Tuesday. I decided to work on the steering. I was dreading the cost of having to buy custom tie rods- so I went snooping in my parts pile. And...I found a workable setup- using all stock parts! The tie rods are stock from a narrowtrack Wagoneer- since I had a widetrack axle shortened to narrow width, that makes sense. The drag link is the long rod and sleeve from the same narrowtrack Waggy, and the long outer end from a 76 Chev 1/2 ton! Same threads and taper. The hole is where the OEM steering stabilizer attaches. Best part, all these used parts were in great shape, so no out-of-pocket today! Here's some pics...
Got some other good news, too. We put out new Unlimited on Craigslist because of my job loss- and someone is in the process of buying it! Praise the Lord! We are losing some on the deal, but we are getting rid of a payment we couldn't afford.
My old job called me back, and I start working one day a week tomorrow. It's some income, and I'm getting my foot back into the door for when business picks up again.
Lastly, I have been searching for a 5.3 Vortec for my Scrambler. Everything has been well over 2K for a complete drop out conversion kit. Can't afford that. I was talking to an acquaintance who works at a local salvage yard. He is a Jeeper also, and was really interested when he heard I wanted to put a 5.3 in my Scrambler. said he'd keep his eyes open. He just called me back- they just got in a 2004 Tahoe with 51k on the odometer. He made me a SMOKING deal on the complete conversion kit- about half of the going rate. He's going to supervise it's removal on Monday- I get to pick it up on Tuesday. I get all the accessories, all the harnesses, fan, throttle pedal and module, computer, plumbing, air box- everything!!! Can you tell I'm excited! More pics to come!!!
Ok, I'm actually starting to make some progress! I have my front axle shafts out to Dutchmans, for shortening and resplining. I'm very pleased at their price since I'm working on a fixed budget with no "Scrambler" income. They will have the shafts back to me on Tuesday. I decided to work on the steering. I was dreading the cost of having to buy custom tie rods- so I went snooping in my parts pile. And...I found a workable setup- using all stock parts! The tie rods are stock from a narrowtrack Wagoneer- since I had a widetrack axle shortened to narrow width, that makes sense. The drag link is the long rod and sleeve from the same narrowtrack Waggy, and the long outer end from a 76 Chev 1/2 ton! Same threads and taper. The hole is where the OEM steering stabilizer attaches. Best part, all these used parts were in great shape, so no out-of-pocket today! Here's some pics...
Got some other good news, too. We put out new Unlimited on Craigslist because of my job loss- and someone is in the process of buying it! Praise the Lord! We are losing some on the deal, but we are getting rid of a payment we couldn't afford.
My old job called me back, and I start working one day a week tomorrow. It's some income, and I'm getting my foot back into the door for when business picks up again.
Lastly, I have been searching for a 5.3 Vortec for my Scrambler. Everything has been well over 2K for a complete drop out conversion kit. Can't afford that. I was talking to an acquaintance who works at a local salvage yard. He is a Jeeper also, and was really interested when he heard I wanted to put a 5.3 in my Scrambler. said he'd keep his eyes open. He just called me back- they just got in a 2004 Tahoe with 51k on the odometer. He made me a SMOKING deal on the complete conversion kit- about half of the going rate. He's going to supervise it's removal on Monday- I get to pick it up on Tuesday. I get all the accessories, all the harnesses, fan, throttle pedal and module, computer, plumbing, air box- everything!!! Can you tell I'm excited! More pics to come!!!
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- City
- Richmond
- State
- VA
Looking Good Randy and glad to hear you have some work heading your way! That's a smoking deal on the engine! I am too old school so I would not know how to hook it up!
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
Monday's Progress...
Thanks for the positive comments, guys! Today was a good day- got the front end back together. Started with a visit from the Big Brown Truck...bearing a box form Dutchman Motorsports. My Shortened axles! Man, they do good work. Spent the next few hours pressing bearings, u-joints, and cleaning parts. Then on to the assembly. Everything fit together just like I had planned! I really like the way the front end sits now- the outer edge of the tread is about 6 1/2" outside the body line. Looks like I'll need some wider fenders...
Here are some pics...
Axle splines
Just the right amount of stick-out
Stay tuned- I will have pics of my 5.3 Vortec by the end of the week!!!
Thanks for the positive comments, guys! Today was a good day- got the front end back together. Started with a visit from the Big Brown Truck...bearing a box form Dutchman Motorsports. My Shortened axles! Man, they do good work. Spent the next few hours pressing bearings, u-joints, and cleaning parts. Then on to the assembly. Everything fit together just like I had planned! I really like the way the front end sits now- the outer edge of the tread is about 6 1/2" outside the body line. Looks like I'll need some wider fenders...
Here are some pics...
Axle splines
Just the right amount of stick-out
Stay tuned- I will have pics of my 5.3 Vortec by the end of the week!!!
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- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
I already posted this in "Engine Topics" but since I want to be able to document all my progress in one thread, here goes again. This is the 5.3 Vortec I got the great deal on. It looks to be in great shape and carefully pulled. What an engineering work of are these Gen3 engines are! A long cry from the old 350!
And the wiring...WOW! In order to stay within budget, I'm going to try and modify the harness to a standalone myself. If anyone has any tips, useful websites, diagrams, ect...Please let me know! I'll need all the help I can get.
Coming soon- pics of home built conversion mounts!
And...great news! The sale of my JK Unlimited went through, the new owner picks it up tomorrow! Not having that payment takes a load off!
And the wiring...WOW! In order to stay within budget, I'm going to try and modify the harness to a standalone myself. If anyone has any tips, useful websites, diagrams, ect...Please let me know! I'll need all the help I can get.
Coming soon- pics of home built conversion mounts!
And...great news! The sale of my JK Unlimited went through, the new owner picks it up tomorrow! Not having that payment takes a load off!
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mssldn
Legacy Registered User
- City
- Gooding
- State
- ID
Never done the the swap myself, but there might be a lot of helpful info here:
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids-28/
I have seen a couple of Jeep there.
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids-28/
I have seen a couple of Jeep there.
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
Bolt in Gen 3 Vortec to Gen 1 homebrew adapter plates
Put the cart ahead of the horse today. Started playing with the wiring, and got distracted by the motor mounts. I took a piece of 1/4" steel and after a short time with the drill press had some plates that will let me bolt the Vortec in on the MORE Gen1 mounts. They clear the A/C compressor, and give me adequate room at the rear and hopefully just enough room up front. Works out on paper... On to the pics!
Two of the three smaller holes are tapped for the Gen1 mounts. The third is for a nut and bolt. The larger holes are to the Vortec block.
Temporarily bolted up to the MORE frame brackets.
From the back...
Bolted to the block- clears the A/C compressor. There are 4 bolts going through the Gen1 plate- that'll hold!
Another angle-
So, now I have to tear up the wiring. Looks to be an adventure, but doing it myself will save me $300.00 minimum.
A few posts back I vowed to get this running by Christmas. I really don't think that's a realistic time frame with the LS swap- But I'm stoked to be able to work on it daily! It will definitely be running before winter is up!
Put the cart ahead of the horse today. Started playing with the wiring, and got distracted by the motor mounts. I took a piece of 1/4" steel and after a short time with the drill press had some plates that will let me bolt the Vortec in on the MORE Gen1 mounts. They clear the A/C compressor, and give me adequate room at the rear and hopefully just enough room up front. Works out on paper... On to the pics!
Two of the three smaller holes are tapped for the Gen1 mounts. The third is for a nut and bolt. The larger holes are to the Vortec block.
Temporarily bolted up to the MORE frame brackets.
From the back...
Bolted to the block- clears the A/C compressor. There are 4 bolts going through the Gen1 plate- that'll hold!
Another angle-
So, now I have to tear up the wiring. Looks to be an adventure, but doing it myself will save me $300.00 minimum.
A few posts back I vowed to get this running by Christmas. I really don't think that's a realistic time frame with the LS swap- But I'm stoked to be able to work on it daily! It will definitely be running before winter is up!
