The beginning.. the end.... and a fresh start

[surfjeepzx]

Hello everyone... ... I'm a new guy here and wanted to make this my official intro. I've posted a few things over in the paint forum but this will be where drop anchor for the rest of my build. I live near Daytona Beach Florida in a little town called Wilbur by the Sea. My first and only Jeep was an 81 Scrambler that I bought from the second owner back in 1990 when I graduated college. It was in good shape, all original, just like the copper one in the header at the top of the page less the side rails. The only thing that was not oem were the wheels and tires.

This is one of the few pics I have before I repainted her back in 91-92. I took these pics just for reference on repainting the stripes. These are pre-digital camera days. I scanned these in...

This is the only pic I could find right after the repaint with the top and doors.

Wheelin in Ocala

This one is actually not me pulling my buddy up the hill.. he's pulling me backwards over a drop off that I almost rolled the Jeep. circa 1991

 

[surfjeepzx]

There were a lot of good years and many... many miles put on her. So it was a sad day when I had to make the decision to put her down..

Over the years she was lifted 2.5", an AMC 360 was installed, fiberglass w/s frame and bulkhead. Lots of stainless goodies.

Various life changes moved her out of number one slot in the garage. Living beach side within a hundred yards of the beach would result in the rust monster coming to life and consuming her. I had another project car that I finished and sold last year. When that car left the garage I brought the Jeep back in and started the restoration process. It became obvious that the Jeep was not salvageable.

So the following pics are only a few of the many I took during decon

 

[surfjeepzx]

To go from this:

To this:

Amazing how we could fit all that in a 4x4 trailer So that was the end of my beloved Scrambler..

 

[bobbysjeep]

Thanks for sharing your story. I always enjoy seeing old "glory days" pictures.

 

[surfjeepzx]

Here is my new girl the day she arrived

 

[surfjeepzx]

She was a ranch find from California and the miles you see are actual. She spent her life as a working ranch hand. She's bumped and banged, scraped and scratched here and there, but NO RUST.

 

[hefavitzen]

I got a lump in my throat. Sad to see the first one go (about as gory an end as you can imagine) but glad to see the fresh canvas arrive in such pristine shape. The beach is no friend of the CJ.

Sent by way of pigeon.

 

[JeepScrambler]

Dang, wish you would have posted some of those parts on here before you hauled off the old Scrambler, I see plenty of usable parts loaded on your trailer! Congrats on the new CJ8! Looks like a great starting point! What are the plans/specs on the new one?

 

[skiptown]

I have to ask...did you get rid of those shorts with the Scrambler LOL Nice to see you got a lot of mileage out of the old girl...

 

[Randyzzz]

Sad to see them die...but your new start looks great!

 

[surfjeepzx]

Dang, wish you would have posted some of those parts on here before you hauled off the old Scrambler, I see plenty of usable parts loaded on your trailer! Congrats on the new CJ8! Looks like a great starting point! What are the plans/specs on the new one?

What you see in that trailer was not useable. Everything was rotten. Every seam was bleeding rust. The pics make it look better than it was. The remainder of the frame, dash and all connected to it went to a local Jeep shop for a small sum. They were interested in those items because they restore a lot of jeeps and sometimes need odds and ends. I kept anything that was even remotely salvageable. If you look at the first pics of her in the garage the shelves on the right are loaded with spares. Once I get into the next project I'll be listing many extras here first.

 

[surfjeepzx]

I have to ask...did you get rid of those shorts with the Scrambler LOL Nice to see you got a lot of mileage out of the old girl...

Hey now..

Those were one of my favorite pairs of surf baggies. After cutting up the Jeep they were tossed too. Don't worry I have more!

 

[surfjeepzx]

Fresh off the ranch

What little I know about her is that she was bought from the original owner. The original owner bought it as a working vehicle or "tool" as I was told for the ranch. They had a hydraulic winch installed with quik disconnect fittings front and rear. At some point it had a front rollcage installed and then removed. The VIN was Autocheck confirmed, for what it's worth, that the miles and ownership are all original. The odometer shows 39k+ and when you open the hood it's very believable.

I found this CJ8 on Craigslist in Sacramento Ca. The guy I bought it from found it on a ranch somewhere west of there and he sold it to me. I had it shipped to Florida and it now resides in my garage. The restoration is starting slowly and will pick up steam once I get my 360 rightside up, put back together and painted.
This is the pic the owner sent me before I bought it. Same pics were on Craigslist but more grainy.

So here she is in Fl..

All original paint and no rust under the carpet. Factory A/C that had been disconnected. Pics are deceiving but the only rust is some surface in the bed where raw metal is exposed and I think that only showed up during its journey across the country on a hauler. The dirt from out west is orange so at first glance some of the streaks appeared to be rust when it was just dirt stains.

Serpentine belt motor from Ca.

Every rubber hose and piece of plastic is like new.

The tub and rear section of the frame are packed with dirt. When I scoop it out the paint and areas behind it are like new. Fresh California dirt for my Florida yard.

 

[surfjeepzx]

a few more...

Massive D-rings welded to the frame, I think I'll keep em. At first glance it appears to be nasty with rust. Even my buddy said it was rusty until I took some soap, water and a scotch brite to a section of the frame and tub. It's orange dirt, or "preservative" as I call it, because when you clean it off it looks brand new.

And one day she'll be driving it to school

 

[aac1431]

Nice, nice, nice. I am jealous but great find.

 

[bigwalton]

I was shocked at the later pictures given where it started

Sorry to see that happen, but very cool on the new arrival

 

[surfjeepzx]

Hey Big,
I plan on contributing $$ this weekend and making myself an official member, are you still taken em?

 

[Polarfire]

It is indeed sad to see one die but sometimes it is the best choice. Congrats on a great find and I look forward to the build!

 

[hefavitzen]

[/QUOTE]And one day she'll be driving it to school

[/QUOTE]

This is my favorite part of this post so far. I love my old Jeep, but I love the pictures of my old Jeep with my daughter enjoying my old Jeep in them the best. I think the greatest thing about these Jeeps and all the work we put into them is the sharing we get to do with our family and friends in the adventure that they provide, even if that adventure is only in laying under it working on it all the time. What a fantastic spot to get comfortable and yack about lifes ills and triumphs while wrenching. Also, I tend to have an anthromophic bend with my dogs and cars. Sure, my Jeep may not love me for realz, but I love it and I love that my family loves riding in, climbing on, climbing under and doing things in our Jeep. Of the 4 cars we own, my Jeep would be the favorite child.

Now I have a 6 month old that will hopefully grow up to love the Jeep and cars in general. I just hope that by the time he's old enough to drive one they still are considered cars and they still make Jeeps.

I look forward to watching your Jeeps evolve and sharing my own Jeep build with you guys. I know I really enjoy hanging out on here and watching the development of your Jeeps. I sure can't wait for it to get warm again!

 

[bigwalton]

Hey Big,
I plan on contributing $$ this weekend and making myself an official member, are you still taken em?

Of course and always!