Voodoo Blue 82 Complete Refresh
- Thread starter gpassida
- Start date
- City
- Redding
- State
- Ca
"Phase 2" of my build has officially been started!
The plans are to increase the highway drivability for distant Overlanding/Rocklanding trips. It runs great now with the V8, 5-Speed and 22 gallon tank. The problem areas are heat, noise, dust and lockable storage.
When my F350 died and we drive it 3K miles to Colorado and Idaho and back to California, it cruises easy at any speed up to about 80 mph. 80 mph is a bit too fast but 70-75mph is perfectly doable for long stretches in 5th gear. But heat and wind noise can be brutal. Especially on triple digit temperature days. And once on a dirt trail, the full Kayline soft top is not optimal due to the back window getting very dusty, including the zippers. I have had to clean and fix the zippers more than I care to. It allows a good amount of dust inside as well. And on cold days, frequently opening and closing the back vinyl window isn't fun when it gets rigid.
Here are the plans:
- Air Conditioning (Vintage Air Kit)
- Full length hard top (Xtreme Tops)
- Heat and noise insulation on the floor and side surfaces (Dynamat type stuff - need to research)
- Likely a CJ-7 Bed Rug kit for the front of the tub and custom (matched to the Bedrug) carpet in the rear
- Rock lights (Switch is already wired and active on my S-Pod)
- Interior lights (Switch is already wired and active on my S-Pod)
- Front and back cameras that show on the iPad mini I use on my dashboard
- Potential bonus item 1: Cruise control for the Chevy 350TBI
- Potential bonus item 2: Custom second gas tank under the bed in the empty space. (maybe 5-8 gallons)
Once all of this is done, I anticipate running in either FULL TOP mode for Overlanding and general camping trips OR for the Rubicon and similar trails, just my full-length bikini top and the YJ steel half doors I will finish rebuilding and install this summer. (also painted Voodoo Blue)
I can drive it to any trail or tow it.
I bought the full Vintage Air kit with the Sanden compressor and brackets for my Chevy V8. Will be working on that very soon.
And, after looking for 2-years for any West coast Xtreme Tops/Rally Top type full hard top, I just ordered a new one from Mike at Xtreme Tops. Shipping to Northern California is brutal. But the time has come and Mike has been great to work with. I gave him detailed measurements of my full-length roll cage, and it looks like his top will fit - just barely. It should start its journey to me next week sometime.
I used AI to generate this picture to see what the Xtreme top would look like on my Scrambler. It did pretty good and it helped me sell the concept to my wife. (She also recalls the hot, noisy 3K miles trip...)
So... we're off the starting blocks for Phase 2! This Jeep is my escape from everyday life and the events that happened to my family on April 3rd last year. We take Athena with us everywhere and leave these buttons behind. She's our constant sidekick on all of our adventures. We will never forget her. All of our friends have these buttons as well and send us pics of where Athena has been with them. We also have a TV in our house that constantly rotates a slide show of her short 21-year life - including the button pictures.
And lastly, I want to get these upgrades done while I have a job. Our plan is to retire at the end of this year - both at Age 62. Unless we go into a significant recession, that should be happening for us. We're excited and once it actually does happen, the adventure gates will open wide for us. Look out! We're hoping to have a lot of action in our "Go-Go" years before moving into the "Slow-Go" and then "No-Go" years.
Scrambler's rule!
The plans are to increase the highway drivability for distant Overlanding/Rocklanding trips. It runs great now with the V8, 5-Speed and 22 gallon tank. The problem areas are heat, noise, dust and lockable storage.
When my F350 died and we drive it 3K miles to Colorado and Idaho and back to California, it cruises easy at any speed up to about 80 mph. 80 mph is a bit too fast but 70-75mph is perfectly doable for long stretches in 5th gear. But heat and wind noise can be brutal. Especially on triple digit temperature days. And once on a dirt trail, the full Kayline soft top is not optimal due to the back window getting very dusty, including the zippers. I have had to clean and fix the zippers more than I care to. It allows a good amount of dust inside as well. And on cold days, frequently opening and closing the back vinyl window isn't fun when it gets rigid.
Here are the plans:
- Air Conditioning (Vintage Air Kit)
- Full length hard top (Xtreme Tops)
- Heat and noise insulation on the floor and side surfaces (Dynamat type stuff - need to research)
- Likely a CJ-7 Bed Rug kit for the front of the tub and custom (matched to the Bedrug) carpet in the rear
- Rock lights (Switch is already wired and active on my S-Pod)
- Interior lights (Switch is already wired and active on my S-Pod)
- Front and back cameras that show on the iPad mini I use on my dashboard
- Potential bonus item 1: Cruise control for the Chevy 350TBI
- Potential bonus item 2: Custom second gas tank under the bed in the empty space. (maybe 5-8 gallons)
Once all of this is done, I anticipate running in either FULL TOP mode for Overlanding and general camping trips OR for the Rubicon and similar trails, just my full-length bikini top and the YJ steel half doors I will finish rebuilding and install this summer. (also painted Voodoo Blue)
I can drive it to any trail or tow it.
I bought the full Vintage Air kit with the Sanden compressor and brackets for my Chevy V8. Will be working on that very soon.
And, after looking for 2-years for any West coast Xtreme Tops/Rally Top type full hard top, I just ordered a new one from Mike at Xtreme Tops. Shipping to Northern California is brutal. But the time has come and Mike has been great to work with. I gave him detailed measurements of my full-length roll cage, and it looks like his top will fit - just barely. It should start its journey to me next week sometime.
I used AI to generate this picture to see what the Xtreme top would look like on my Scrambler. It did pretty good and it helped me sell the concept to my wife. (She also recalls the hot, noisy 3K miles trip...)
So... we're off the starting blocks for Phase 2! This Jeep is my escape from everyday life and the events that happened to my family on April 3rd last year. We take Athena with us everywhere and leave these buttons behind. She's our constant sidekick on all of our adventures. We will never forget her. All of our friends have these buttons as well and send us pics of where Athena has been with them. We also have a TV in our house that constantly rotates a slide show of her short 21-year life - including the button pictures.
And lastly, I want to get these upgrades done while I have a job. Our plan is to retire at the end of this year - both at Age 62. Unless we go into a significant recession, that should be happening for us. We're excited and once it actually does happen, the adventure gates will open wide for us. Look out! We're hoping to have a lot of action in our "Go-Go" years before moving into the "Slow-Go" and then "No-Go" years.
Scrambler's rule!
- City
- Redding
- State
- Ca
Yes, that's definitely something we're addressing. Fortunately, we have been investing using a "3 bucket strategy". 401K, Roth IRA's and an after tax Brokerage account. We're able to pull some from each during the three years and stay under the MAGI cap so we qualify for ACA incentives. And I've been modeling our retirement plan in the "Boldin" software which has been amazing for us.
sdsupilot
CJ-8 Member
- City
- OKC
- State
- OK
Excited to see what you decide on phase 2! I also added AC to my jeep. I used the Jeep air kit. Glad to see you got the sanden compressor. I got the original style, new, and it has started leaking after 2 years.
AC does make the engine run hotter and the floors reflect more heat. To combat that I added fender vents. I am also going to add hood vents and trim my metalcloak inner fenders. Lastly a new radiator should solve the run hot issue while running AC.
All that said I will be following how you deal with heat/noise as that is something I also need to get under control.
AC does make the engine run hotter and the floors reflect more heat. To combat that I added fender vents. I am also going to add hood vents and trim my metalcloak inner fenders. Lastly a new radiator should solve the run hot issue while running AC.
All that said I will be following how you deal with heat/noise as that is something I also need to get under control.
- City
- Redding
- State
- Ca
Test fit the Jeepair AC unit to my dashboard. Since the dashboard is totally custom, I was worried I may have fitment issues with the areas that stick up behind the dash. I did have to undo my very neat and organized wire looms to get it to fit but I think we will be good. Need to cut the top of the throttle pedal off a bit.
Also need to drill the four mounting holes in the bottom lip of the dash. It's held on for the test fit with a couple of C-Clamps on the ends.
And I painted the compressor and alternator brackets I bought from Jeepair. The existing alternator bracket on the 350 Chevy needs to be changed out as part of this.
Also need to drill the four mounting holes in the bottom lip of the dash. It's held on for the test fit with a couple of C-Clamps on the ends.
And I painted the compressor and alternator brackets I bought from Jeepair. The existing alternator bracket on the 350 Chevy needs to be changed out as part of this.
- City
- Redding
- State
- Ca
Lot's of work to get my Phase 2 done!
I ordered the Xtreme Tops full Scrambler hard top. Mike there has been great to work with.
They built it and shipped it out from Tennessee. I will have it here in CA next week. Here are some pictures he sent me:
I ordered the Xtreme Tops full Scrambler hard top. Mike there has been great to work with.
They built it and shipped it out from Tennessee. I will have it here in CA next week. Here are some pictures he sent me:
Xtreme Hardtops
New member
- City
- Lafollette
- State
- TN
Thank you George for the shout out and the kind words.
- City
- Birmingham
- State
- AL
I love those full hard tops. On the list of upgrades to my Scrambler in the near future!!
- City
- Redding
- State
- Ca
The Xtreme Hard Top arrived a day early. The box took a little damage under the front of the top but it was packed really well inside and the top is in perfect shape. It is a really good looking top. Sealed it back up after inspecting it. It will likely be 2-3 weeks before I can install it. I want to finish the AC install and I have some work travel coming up.
Mike at Xtreme even packed me a surprise box with a hat and some stickers.
I gave him measurements of my roll cage and it should fit over it. But that's the last potential issue that would not be good if it won't clear it.
Here are some pics:
Mike at Xtreme even packed me a surprise box with a hat and some stickers.
I gave him measurements of my roll cage and it should fit over it. But that's the last potential issue that would not be good if it won't clear it.
Here are some pics:
- City
- Allen Park
- State
- MI
Love it! That side glass opening up is an awesome feature. 
