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Randyzzz Scrambler Restification Thread!

Variable box

My box on the 82 has slight leak and was thinking about swapping to a variable ratio steering box.

I've got variable ratio and hydraulic assist on my 83 Modified Scrambler and it drives great even at 70 mph.
Don't remember what degree caster that Dynatrac used.

I like the way my 87 J20 drives...not so sensitive on freeway at speed.


I've been researching on Pirate & Jeep forums and saw U commented on a few of the topics.

However lots of mis-information and I can't find a good complete thread...so figured I'd ask U.

Looks like the 80-91 Waggy is best donor for a straight swap?


I've got a NOS metric box for J20 it's larger than the CJ & Waggy box.
Don't think I need extra power to turn the planned 31's nor do I want to modify the 82.
 
I checked today and it is quick ratio 2.5 lock to lock. I had a Jeep once with the slow ratio 4-turn box, hated that. I have used the Waggy gearbox too. There is a difference in the input shafts depending on year, 64-75 car boxes were 13/16 36 spline. 1976 and newer all were 3/4 30 spline. Also, 80 and up use the o-ring fittings, like the stock Scrambler box.

The Waggy gearboxes seem to give a lot of assist. The amount of assist is controlled by the diameter of the torsion bar in the input shaft. Bigger the bar, higher effort to obtain assist. The pump output pressure is a factor there too.

There are "throw" differences too, with 82 and up Camaros and Firebirds having 64-70* while most full size vehicles have 87*. The 68-81 Camaros are a good source for the variable ratio boxes.

I think I need to get my caster adjusted, and put in a sway bar- I know I'm getting "roll steer" caused by the wheelbase slightly changing as the suspension compressed and extends. And the lack of caster can contribute to less steering effort.

I think on a stock Scrambler the best solution is either reseal your own (UGH! Not a fun job, and it seems the success ratio is low), or find a reputable rebuilder.
 
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Cadillac steering?

IIRC, Cadillacs from the late 60s to mid 70s are supposed to have good "feel" boxes as well? And they usually have the 4 bolt attachment vs the normal 3. I believe you look for a ''76'' cast on the snout?
 
Psc

Randy,

Thanks for info, sounds like I need to take my box to Tom Allen @ PSC in TX and get gone thru.
 
jeepdreamer said:
IIRC, Cadillacs from the late 60s to mid 70s are supposed to have good "feel" boxes as well? And they usually have the 4 bolt attachment vs the normal 3. I believe you look for a ''76'' cast on the snout?
Click to expand...

"76" is the good box, although there are many variations.
 
I got my "winter wheels" ordered today. :smokin: They are cool....I have a set of 35" BFA A/T's to put on them...the KM2's are awful on the ice, and that's just around the corner here...:angry:
 
Randyzzz said:
I got my "winter wheels" ordered today. :smokin: They are cool....I have a set of 35" BFA A/T's to put on them...the KM2's are awful on the ice, and that's just around the corner here...:angry:
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I love the progress so far! Your Scrambler looks great; I especially like the look of the Jeep with the full length STC top. The STC tops are far superior to the bestop junk! When I first read your post I was worried about you driving it in the winter with rust and all after all the work you put into it but I had forgot you are not in the rust belt! Carry on! :D
 
JeepScrambler said:
I love the progress so far! Your Scrambler looks great; I especially like the look of the Jeep with the full length STC top. The STC tops are far superior to the bestop junk! When I first read your post I was worried about you driving it in the winter with rust and all after all the work you put into it but I had forgot you are not in the rust belt! Carry on! :D
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Thanks! I got lucky to find a Kayline top in great shape, close and affordable.

We get plenty of snow and ice, but they sand the roads, no salt. They do use a nasty deicer, magnesium chloride- it doesn't seem to cause rust, but it pits uncoated aluminum. Hence the winter wheels...still aluminum but clear coated.
 
Ok Randy you've ruined me, I now have engine envy. I'll be rounding up all the parts I need to do this conversion. I hope you doin't mind if I PM you from time to time with a Gozillion questions. I'll take any advise you can give me up front. Just go ahead and give me a parts list and save us both some time..LOL
 
No problem, Dennis. I think I have a parts list somewhere here that I can get together...

You'll love it!
 
Randyzzz said:
No problem, Dennis. I think I have a parts list somewhere here that I can get together...

You'll love it!
Click to expand...

Thanks, I hope to find a donor vehicle in the next couple months. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to convert mine or just do another cj8 build. I may even find some use for my 78 Scout in this rebuild. It has Danna 44's with 4.56 gears. Hummmm, maybe a TDK hybrid frame
 
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So, time to get to work on the front bumper. No photos of the building, but here's some of the partially finished product. I say partially because I still need to build a winch mount, and add some bracing. And powdercoating to match the fenders:thumbsup:

2019121910041433204S600x600Q85.jpg


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When I got home from work today I set the 9000i winch in place to see how it looks. I'm thinking I need to use the 8274 instead. It seems to run cool enough so the airflow issue is past. What do you think- 9000i or 8274? I'd bring the 8274 all the way to the front edge of the bumper and incorporate the mount into the front hoop.

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Personally, I like the look of the 8274's on a stock or near stock CJ; yours with the fenders and all has a somewhat different look over a stock CJ. I think the 9000i looks good on your Scrambler so that would get my vote. But regardless, the more old school/larger look of the 8274's make them seem more fitting on the front of a CJ over any other Jeep so I don't think it would look back either!
 
You've made all the right choices so far, flip a coin. BTW do you still have the VW bus?
 
You should have chopped up that front crossmember and sunk in the 8274 before the frame got painted. While your at it, build some mounts for the Anti-Rock there too-
 
mysunnshine said:
You should have chopped up that front crossmember and sunk in the 8274 before the frame got painted. While your at it, build some mounts for the Anti-Rock there too-
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Yeah....100%. Hindsight is always 20/20.:banghead:

That was still on the table, except the power steering cooler is in the crossmember. I'm also working on a way to use the extended box mount without notching the crossmember too...I can make hydraulic hoses at work now, so I'm like a kid in a candy store.

The anti-rock will probably be installed, eventually, over the frame like a TJ.

I'm leaning towards the 8274, polish the housing, install the Jeep decal, and remote mount the solenoid. It's only about 3" taller than the 9000i, but a lot narrower too. Just depends on what kind of mount I can come up with. I've never cared much for the "brick wall" flat mount, and the TMR mount is cool but still lacks imagination. I'm envisioning a tubular mount of some sort, real skeletonized. I just don't want the front to look too "busy" like a jungle gym.
 
zr10054 said:
You've made all the right choices so far, flip a coin. BTW do you still have the VW bus?
Click to expand...


Yep, still got the VW bus. The body work is almost done, starting to boardsand in prep for primer. Looks like a real POS right now...

Thanks for your vote of confidence...I'll get out my lucky quarter...
 
Not meaning to second guess myself, but just to throw this out there....

Should I have built full on tubular bumpers like these? I'm getting anxious and really ready to get this thing finished... but my wife said "I thought since you bend tube you'd be building tubular bumpers"....

Thoughts? I guess I'm about 80% happy with my bumpers...they work, but don't seem to match the cool factor of the fenders and cage....

Sorta like this...(yes, that's a NICE EB!)
2137476470041433204S600x600Q85.jpg
 
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