- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
Love it! Family test drive!
Tammy Scrambler Gets a Facelift
- Thread starter oregonscrambler
- Start date
oregonscrambler
Basic User
- City
- hood river
- State
- OR
Been having a blast driving this beautiful girl around and enjoying the wet and muddy Oregon fall. Probably have about 600 miles since the first drive in August. Mostly county highways and a few dirt roads with a couple of white knuckle freeway miles. Still letting the Sniper efi learn. Being mellow on the new gears and letting them mesh before a flush. Just kinda feeling out the build and making notes on where I shoulda paid more attention or where I shoulda paid less. The full hardtop is still growing on me aesthetically, but ultimately makes more sense in our climate and my lifestyle.
I’m trying to talk myself into repurposing the front bumper that was on it before. Gonna cut the ends off and remove 4” on each side. Remove the front receiver and add some retrieval points and a modest bullhorn? Idk, seems like more work than buying new but it gives me a fun learning project. I smashed the driver side in pretty good before the rebuild and needed to fix the bend, so a snubby bumper makes more sense. Mocked up the winch just to see what it would look like. Forgot how big these 8274s are. I’ll wait for another day to build up the bumper and fit to that.
Honestly, I’m at a 75% finished stage and the details are the hardest, but it’s driving and a quarter tank a week helps me dial in the details in my brain before I spend the man hours and the money.
I’m trying to talk myself into repurposing the front bumper that was on it before. Gonna cut the ends off and remove 4” on each side. Remove the front receiver and add some retrieval points and a modest bullhorn? Idk, seems like more work than buying new but it gives me a fun learning project. I smashed the driver side in pretty good before the rebuild and needed to fix the bend, so a snubby bumper makes more sense. Mocked up the winch just to see what it would look like. Forgot how big these 8274s are. I’ll wait for another day to build up the bumper and fit to that.
Honestly, I’m at a 75% finished stage and the details are the hardest, but it’s driving and a quarter tank a week helps me dial in the details in my brain before I spend the man hours and the money.
oregonscrambler
Basic User
- City
- hood river
- State
- OR
Been hard to get motivated on the finishing touches so I’m just driving it and working out the kinks and making more and more money pit lists. Took Tammy on her longest drive since the rebuild- a 120 mile round trip up Mt. Hood and into the mud and snow! Snapped my speedo cable, bound up my wipers somehow, and found that the windshield gasket still has a slight leak during major storms. Got to utilize the 4x for the first time, found out the 4x bulb was in the wrong slot on the speedo so didn’t shine 4x4, got real stuck, got out and realized it might be time to deal with the winch situation.
Saved some money by resisting all the shiny sales during Black Friday by just cutting down my bumper and practicing some welding. Knocked 15” out of the width, filled some license plate holes and cut off/covered the front hitch mount that has bothered me forever. The ends now sits just inside the tires side to side. Found a guy on eBay who makes some bomber recovery mounts and will attach them utilizing the 3/16 steel from the bumper cut offs as backing plates in line with the frame. Hoping this will be strong enough.
I was reminded that my partner is CAD savvy and her biz also works with a company who does waterjetting and bending of steel. I hadn’t found an 8274 mounting plate I liked or justified the $$ so I got on Illustrator and mocked up my concept. She printed it out to scale and I cut myself a cardboard mock to see. A few adjustments and some styling and I’ll get this cut/bent so I can weld up and install.
The winch was gifted to me but is sans controller or even wiring to the box so after researching that, I’ve gone deep into wiring of not only the winch, but the daylighters I scored last month, the overhead light of the hardtop, the ARB rear locker and probably a rear/backup LED lights in the future. This is the current plan but hasn’t been purchased.
All in all, driving her a tank a week, which I guess isn’t that much! Finding so many little tweaks and additions and styling decisions. I followed the “drive it or park it” or whatever it was thread and don’t understand how anyone can not drive these things?! How would you ever know what to fix? I digress.
Saved some money by resisting all the shiny sales during Black Friday by just cutting down my bumper and practicing some welding. Knocked 15” out of the width, filled some license plate holes and cut off/covered the front hitch mount that has bothered me forever. The ends now sits just inside the tires side to side. Found a guy on eBay who makes some bomber recovery mounts and will attach them utilizing the 3/16 steel from the bumper cut offs as backing plates in line with the frame. Hoping this will be strong enough.
I was reminded that my partner is CAD savvy and her biz also works with a company who does waterjetting and bending of steel. I hadn’t found an 8274 mounting plate I liked or justified the $$ so I got on Illustrator and mocked up my concept. She printed it out to scale and I cut myself a cardboard mock to see. A few adjustments and some styling and I’ll get this cut/bent so I can weld up and install.
The winch was gifted to me but is sans controller or even wiring to the box so after researching that, I’ve gone deep into wiring of not only the winch, but the daylighters I scored last month, the overhead light of the hardtop, the ARB rear locker and probably a rear/backup LED lights in the future. This is the current plan but hasn’t been purchased.
All in all, driving her a tank a week, which I guess isn’t that much! Finding so many little tweaks and additions and styling decisions. I followed the “drive it or park it” or whatever it was thread and don’t understand how anyone can not drive these things?! How would you ever know what to fix? I digress.
- City
- Richmond
- State
- TX
Great score on the winch. Wiring is straightforward with auto solenoid packs. Could go heavy duty relay With an Albright relay.
Gigglepin4x4 in the UK has an endless list of mods for that winch.
If that is a modified stock bumper, they are strong, but not near as strong as an aftermarket bumper. I’ve towed my ‘82 with a bumper mounted hitch just fine, but I mounted the brackets near the frame mounts.
But I don’t think the stock bumpers are great for recovery points. This is a basket case Scrambler I drug home several weeks ago.
Gigglepin4x4 in the UK has an endless list of mods for that winch.
If that is a modified stock bumper, they are strong, but not near as strong as an aftermarket bumper. I’ve towed my ‘82 with a bumper mounted hitch just fine, but I mounted the brackets near the frame mounts.
But I don’t think the stock bumpers are great for recovery points. This is a basket case Scrambler I drug home several weeks ago.
- City
- Richmond
- State
- TX
And Texas.
oregonscrambler
Basic User
- City
- hood river
- State
- OR
My buddy had a few winches lying around and felt it needed to sit on my Jeep instead of in his shop. Thanks for that gigglepin4x4 response, just went down some rabbit holes there. Was thinking about the Albright relay but currently am just trying to get it going and am not trying to start another money pit that sits on this money pit... Realistically see myself using the winch 3-4 times a year at most and if I need to upgrade looks simple enough.
The bumper looks to be a handmade job by PO, not modified stock bumper. It looks pretty sturdy 3/16" steel like all the aftermarket ones I was looking at, but I am building the 1/4" steel winch plate to extend out to the frame and bolt through the bumper and also attach to the second hole in the frame where I think the original tow hooks were mounted. Should stiffen it up plenty but for good measures do l brackets from bumper. back to the shackle mount bolt. The clevis mounts will bolt back to these brackets I think as well. IDK how overkill a lot of this is, but have heard horror stories like that bumper on your last pic. I'm kinda just mimicking the rated tow bumper in the back and how it was mounted up, if that makes sense.
Side note, just saw Craigslist post while searching Warn and maybe it's something someone is interested in.
Fix up that old Winch! Albright contactors, motors and fairleads -...
Over the last decade winch manufacturers have replaced the packs of individual solenoids with monoblock contactors. These contactors are purpose built to do the same job better than the individual...
portland.craigslist.org
oregonscrambler
Basic User
- City
- hood river
- State
- OR
they pop up all the time here but usually in the $700-$1200 range.
There's one here on OR craigslist for $600 now
Warn winch 8274 - auto parts - by owner - vehicle automotive sale
Warn winch 8274 Date code HE8
corvallis.craigslist.org
oregonscrambler
Basic User
- City
- hood river
- State
- OR
I looked around for rear bumpers but couldn’t find anything that I liked, and if I did was waaaay outta the budget even before I accounted for shipping.I liked the original truck bumper look but also wanted to keep with the off-road look/use. Went to the local fab shop and they had a 6’ chunk of 3x4” 3/16 steel so I had a canvas. Did some loose fitting and freestyled some measurements. Cut, tack, fit, grind, cut, tack weld. The width was the biggest question mark. I fabricated the drivers side angles first and mounted it up with clamps just to see what it looked like flush vs in vs outside of the tub. Ultimately I liked it flush with the tub so went with a 59” width.
I didn’t want it to stick out too far so I kept my brackets down to 3/4”. Bolted them on and tacked the bolts to the brackets, took measurements on how they fit on the crossmember, welded to the bumper, and made sure it fit.
Got a raw hitch and some gussets from Ruffstuff to finish this out. A 6” hitch fit perfectly inside the 3x4 tube so I could cut 2 holes, weld to the back and the front, and still have enough room for a pin. Practiced some welds on the back and the underside; which unfortunately happened to be my best welds of the day. mounted back up, did a half ass strength test, and went for a beer. I’ll clean up and paint this weekend. Overall pretty happy with this simple lil custom project. It’s simple and utilitarian and fits the look I had in my head.
I didn’t want it to stick out too far so I kept my brackets down to 3/4”. Bolted them on and tacked the bolts to the brackets, took measurements on how they fit on the crossmember, welded to the bumper, and made sure it fit.
Got a raw hitch and some gussets from Ruffstuff to finish this out. A 6” hitch fit perfectly inside the 3x4 tube so I could cut 2 holes, weld to the back and the front, and still have enough room for a pin. Practiced some welds on the back and the underside; which unfortunately happened to be my best welds of the day. mounted back up, did a half ass strength test, and went for a beer. I’ll clean up and paint this weekend. Overall pretty happy with this simple lil custom project. It’s simple and utilitarian and fits the look I had in my head.
Attachments
oregonscrambler
Basic User
- City
- hood river
- State
- OR
Had some pocket change to spend after selling the hardtop so decided to finally button up the kc lights and rear locker. I hadn’t done anything with the arb locker yet but plumbed it in when it was just a rolling chassis. I knew I wanted to run some sort of relay box and switch box for it and the lights and have room and simplicity for future add ons so after pricing out building ‘em myself, I decided the extra coin was worth it to have the plug and play no brain install of the Painless system. I used their wiring harness and it was so simple, and this proved to be just as easy. Utilized the provided mounting bracket to also mount the cute lil ARB compressor. 4 holes, a little rotation, and it fit like a glove. Used switch #6 for the compressor and switch #5 the locker, #4 is reserved for a future front locker if I want/can afford. #3 is empty, maybe future roll bar lights?! , #2 for reverse/flood lights and #1 for the KCs. I have a touch of wiring clean up in the engine bay and a whole rats nest under the dash that I hadn’t finished yet, so that’s on the never ending list. Also in the list is finish up the winch mount and get the 8274 mounted. You can see I’ve routed the wiring for it. Not bad for an afternoon of tinkerin.
oregonscrambler
Basic User
- City
- hood river
- State
- OR
Our first of 3-4 false springs happening right now so Tammy and I went for a lil walk in the woods. I’ve been preoccupied with driving the newly acquired Scout ii all winter and she was feeling neglected. Reminded me of the small but important laundry list of finishing touches that I’ve been putting off. 
oregonscrambler
Basic User
- City
- hood river
- State
- OR
Had a buddy buy a yj for everything but the engine so I decided to get familiar with the spare 258. Mine throws oil all over the place- top and bottom. It was the one thing that I assumed was good based on paperwork, but foolishly didn’t rebuild with the rest of the restore and now it irks me every drive.
History on the engine from what I can tell- 200k on the odo, been machined and rebuilt once before based on the piston and bearing markings. Will confirm with a machine shop.
Everything honestly looks pretty good, just going to do a basic rebuild, pull her existing engine , swap some key upgrades and see how she runs. I’ve never gone past a head gasket on a vehicle so this is pretty fun for me. Figured it was a no lose situation since Tammy is still running pretty well… if this doesn’t work out how I want, I’ll have the original on an engine stand to try again.
History on the engine from what I can tell- 200k on the odo, been machined and rebuilt once before based on the piston and bearing markings. Will confirm with a machine shop.
Everything honestly looks pretty good, just going to do a basic rebuild, pull her existing engine , swap some key upgrades and see how she runs. I’ve never gone past a head gasket on a vehicle so this is pretty fun for me. Figured it was a no lose situation since Tammy is still running pretty well… if this doesn’t work out how I want, I’ll have the original on an engine stand to try again.
Chamba
Not obsessed: focused.
- City
- Vero Beach
- State
- FL
I feel your pain: I replaced/ rebuilt everything on my 8 after buying a pig in a poke in 2016. The engine was the only thing I didn't rebuild (although I replaced all the seals and gaskets due to weeping and the water pump, alternator and power steering pump). The seller, who was obviously a politician in a former life, told me the engine was a performance create engine with 8,000 miles when I bought it.... though he 'couldn't find' the receipts.
Now I'm waiting for my new engine to turn up as my sole-remaining 'original' item lost oil pressure and sounded like a coffee can full of ball bearings. After only 23,000 since supposedly rebuilt.
But, like you, now nearly everything is new........I just hope I've exorcized the demons. Of course, mine isn't nearly as pretty as yours.... yet.
Last edited:
oregonscrambler
Basic User
- City
- hood river
- State
- OR
Sunny spring cleaning day. We have limited shop/garage space so every year I go thru and cull out the clutter. I have a loose rule where I consider items I haven’t used in the last calendar year and take a realistic look at if they will be used much or at all in the next calendar year. It’s difficult, but if the item is deemed excessive it goes in either a FOR SALE, a donate or a trash pile.
It saddens me to say that Tammy has reached this critical crossroad. She sat under cover for almost an entire year, only to get uncovered to make sure my piece of shit optima red top held a charge(never did), no critters were making a new home(never happened) and to make a lap to the carwash for a quick rinse and long admiring look in the sunshine(so shiny). Then back to her covered home to await her next the next 10 mile outing.
So short story long, Tammy is now FOR SALE. I’m gonna go thru this weekend and button up a few small things, and probably leave a few things for the next owner to tinker on. I’ll make a full Classified for sale ad this weekend when I can take proper detailed pics and give a detailed list of specs mods add ons and left undones. But I figured listing here first would give anyone interested a very comprehensive look back at Tammy’s transformative years. It’s all there, you might just have to sift thru my longwindedness to get to the meat and potatoes.
1984 Jeep scrambler cj-8
Full rebuild 2020-2021, ongoing
T176 4 speed mated to a Dana 300
Clean title in hand, OR tags current.
Replacement 4.2 with Holley sniper EFI
Ome 2.5” springs
Bfg km3 33” tires
Full professionally rebuilt stock front and rear with 4.10s Nitro gears, chromoly shafts and an arb locker/compressor.
Painless wiring and switches
Custom interior
Aftermarket MD Juan tub
Lizard skin interior/bed coated with raptor liner. 2 stage paint and heavy dose of clear.
Couple of imperfections have shown in the fender/hood/bed/door etc. over the years
It’s a Jeep.
Whole bunch of extra and original parts sittin around that also hit the get rid of pile.
Located in Hood River, Oregon
/////////////// $27k OBO //////////////////
Cash is king and I’m very open to discussions
541-821-3767 text is best I can’t always answer a phone call but can set up a time to chat. Any questions here I’ll also try and answer. I’ll tell ya everything you want to know and a couple of things you don’t.
I’m not cross posting anywhere at this time because I honestly hate dealing with the locals yocals via facespace or craigslist. I will be putting the ol’ sign in the window once weather holds.
oregonscrambler
Basic User
- City
- hood river
- State
- OR
