- City
- Redding
- State
- Ca
Well, I've lurked around here for years and you guys have done some incredible builds. I have gained much from reading and observing. Thank you!
I am in Year 3 of my complete refresh of my 1982 Scrambler. I have done a lot of work and I'll post below some of the history of my Scrambler and pics of the build to this point. I'm sure I will be needing help and advice to bring this across the line. The goal is to have it done to run the 70th annual Jeepers Jamboree on July 28-31, 2022. I'll need to finish it and do some shakedown trips first.
I have wheeled this Scrambler all over Northern California, Moab, Colorado. It was on the first "Rubicon Scramble" and 4-5 more after that. I was also at the first "San Juan Scramble" with it too.
History: I have previously owned a 1978 CJ-5 Levi's Edition, a 1981 CJ-7 and then this Scrambler. My wife drives a 1995 YJ and my oldest daughter caught the bug and drives a 1999 TJ. Needless to say, I do a lot of wrenching and maintenance on all of them. I bought this Scrambler in 1997. I knew I was going to build it and really only looked for a good frame and body. It was a 4-Cylinder, 4 speed and second gear was shot. But the body was clean and the frame was in great shape.
I proceeded to tear it down and start the first build in 1998. Long story short, I copied a LOT of what Mark Werkmeister did with his yellow "Project Too Long" in the pages of JP Magazine. I sourced a junkyard 1987 350 TBI motor (this is pre-LS days) and pulled it. Took off all the external parts and TBI and put them on a brand new Chevy roller cam long block. Did it smog legal in CA and it has always passed the smog test we have to do every two years. I replaced the axles with Dynatrac (old days before all the Pro-roc stuff) D60 in the rear and D44 in the front. Used Detroit soft-lockers on both ends and 4.56 gears. Put in an early NV-4500 5-speed with the 6.34:1 first gear. Added one of the first Atlas II transfer cases (serial #23) with a 4.3:1 low range. It has a 125:1 crawl ratio. I originally did a 4" SUA lift but eventually did a spring-over using Rubicon Express YJ springs for a better ride and flex. It runs 35" tires. I have the strength and power to run 37's but it won't fit in my garage without doing things with air pressure in the tires.
I ran it that way for 18 years and it was extremely reliable and amazing on the trails but also drove great on the highway with the 350, 4.56 gears and the overdrive 5th gear. The new long block engine only has about 20K miles. The frame and body was totally stock, with the original white paint, and time started taking its toll along with a few rock impacts. The light rust that was starting to appear freaked me out. So I decided to tear it apart and make it look good again. That was 3-years and a significant amount of cash ago.
Here is one of the few photos I have of it when I bought it in 1998. (before digital cameras)

That's my story and I'll post some more pics of how it got to the current state of build and as I go forward.
The "Voodoo Blue" comes from the new paint color. I literally went to a new Toyota Tundra TRD-Pro and used that paint code. I really love the pop on that blue paint so my Scrambler is now a very bright blue:

I have some Rubicon, Moab and other videos on my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/gpassida
More to come shortly...
Thanks!
George
I am in Year 3 of my complete refresh of my 1982 Scrambler. I have done a lot of work and I'll post below some of the history of my Scrambler and pics of the build to this point. I'm sure I will be needing help and advice to bring this across the line. The goal is to have it done to run the 70th annual Jeepers Jamboree on July 28-31, 2022. I'll need to finish it and do some shakedown trips first.
I have wheeled this Scrambler all over Northern California, Moab, Colorado. It was on the first "Rubicon Scramble" and 4-5 more after that. I was also at the first "San Juan Scramble" with it too.
History: I have previously owned a 1978 CJ-5 Levi's Edition, a 1981 CJ-7 and then this Scrambler. My wife drives a 1995 YJ and my oldest daughter caught the bug and drives a 1999 TJ. Needless to say, I do a lot of wrenching and maintenance on all of them. I bought this Scrambler in 1997. I knew I was going to build it and really only looked for a good frame and body. It was a 4-Cylinder, 4 speed and second gear was shot. But the body was clean and the frame was in great shape.
I proceeded to tear it down and start the first build in 1998. Long story short, I copied a LOT of what Mark Werkmeister did with his yellow "Project Too Long" in the pages of JP Magazine. I sourced a junkyard 1987 350 TBI motor (this is pre-LS days) and pulled it. Took off all the external parts and TBI and put them on a brand new Chevy roller cam long block. Did it smog legal in CA and it has always passed the smog test we have to do every two years. I replaced the axles with Dynatrac (old days before all the Pro-roc stuff) D60 in the rear and D44 in the front. Used Detroit soft-lockers on both ends and 4.56 gears. Put in an early NV-4500 5-speed with the 6.34:1 first gear. Added one of the first Atlas II transfer cases (serial #23) with a 4.3:1 low range. It has a 125:1 crawl ratio. I originally did a 4" SUA lift but eventually did a spring-over using Rubicon Express YJ springs for a better ride and flex. It runs 35" tires. I have the strength and power to run 37's but it won't fit in my garage without doing things with air pressure in the tires.
I ran it that way for 18 years and it was extremely reliable and amazing on the trails but also drove great on the highway with the 350, 4.56 gears and the overdrive 5th gear. The new long block engine only has about 20K miles. The frame and body was totally stock, with the original white paint, and time started taking its toll along with a few rock impacts. The light rust that was starting to appear freaked me out. So I decided to tear it apart and make it look good again. That was 3-years and a significant amount of cash ago.

Here is one of the few photos I have of it when I bought it in 1998. (before digital cameras)

That's my story and I'll post some more pics of how it got to the current state of build and as I go forward.
The "Voodoo Blue" comes from the new paint color. I literally went to a new Toyota Tundra TRD-Pro and used that paint code. I really love the pop on that blue paint so my Scrambler is now a very bright blue:

I have some Rubicon, Moab and other videos on my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/gpassida
More to come shortly...
Thanks!
George
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