Extreme Scrambler Makeover

[mbryson]

please, please tell me someone cut that "cage" into a thousand pieces and deposited it in at least a dozen dumpsters so that it may never be seen again.

I think it's still available if you want to adapt it to the Commando

 

[James K]

I think it's still available if you want to adapt it to the Commando

its a jeepster and, HELL NO!

 

[Maverick]

I am suprised it has survived as long as it has. That scrambler was a pile when you first got it and did not improve. But hey, I guess the hay or grass or whatever was growing in the bed finally got mowed or did you just use round-up?

Hahahahahahahha, you remember the hay??? Dayem!!! Good memory. I didn't know if I ever brought it to a meeting. Yes, there was hay growing in the back. It actually didn't last that long I got rid of the dog food that was mixed in there.

 

[Maverick]

its a jeepster and, HELL NO!

It's kind of funny, there's a lot of scrambler guys that really dig the cage like that...

 

[James K]

Hahahahahahahha, you remember the hay??? Dayem!!! Good memory. I didn't know if I ever brought it to a meeting. Yes, there was hay growing in the back. It actually didn't last that long I got rid of the dog food that was mixed in there.

I can't remember if you brought it to a meeting or if I saw it at your place when we moved/towed that quality blazer you had away to your in-laws.

 

[James K]

It's kind of funny, there's a lot of scrambler guys that really dig the cage like that...

yeah, well that doesn't make it right.

 

[Maverick]

I can't remember if you brought it to a meeting or if I saw it at your place when we moved/towed that quality blazer you had away to your in-laws.

HOly crap, you DO have a good memory. Yup, that's right, you helped me get the hulking blazer carcass over to my brother-in-law's place, that was right after I got the scrambler, summer of '96. I pulled the drivetrain out of it and used it in the scrambler. I do recall that you had a chevy xcab or something like that, I bought one soon after that. btw, thanks again for the tow!

 

[DaveB]

What kind of tools would I need if I come by Saturday morning ? I am going to support the Rocklogic sale to help with Jeepin Joe's medical bills first but should have some time after that.

 

[BCGPER]

Don't forget the most important tool, a tetanus shot.

What kind of tools would I need if I come by Saturday morning ? I am going to support the Rocklogic sale to help with Jeepin Joe's medical bills first but should have some time after that.

 

[Bart]

yeah, well that doesn't make it right.

BWAHAHAHA, exactly my sentiments. Some of the Scrambler guys march to a beat of their own drum.

You can see from the frame why the group of us felt that even if Brett wanted to put his own life on the line by wheeling the Freak, we should step in and try to save his boys.

 

[Maverick]

What kind of tools would I need if I come by Saturday morning ? I am going to support the Rocklogic sale to help with Jeepin Joe's medical bills first but should have some time after that.

We've pretty much got all the tools we'll need, though if you prefer your own you are welcome to bring them. We'll be fabbing, so grinders/saws/welders are at a premium.

 

[Maverick]

BWAHAHAHA, exactly my sentiments. Some of the Scrambler guys march to a beat of their own drum.

You can see from the frame why the group of us felt that even if Brett wanted to put his own life on the line by wheeling the Freak, we should step in and try to save his boys.

His boys and their mom appreciate the intervention.

We had a work party on the 10th to clean up the frame and finish the reinforcement. The previous owner had started with 1/4" plate all the way down the inside of the frame. The top was welded up, but not the bottom. We flipped the frame over and got to work. 15yo Josh and I played with the grinders, and Carl wielded the welder. Russ came in the next day and finished up. Let's hope that's the last time the frame is inverted.

Who invited Marky Mark?

 

[DaveB]

Well I missed your work party, I came by after the fundraiser but it looked like everyone had gone home.

 

[Maverick]

Well I missed your work party, I came by after the fundraiser but it looked like everyone had gone home.

Bummer, sorry we missed you. We had to skeedaddle around 12:30, too many other committments. We'll be there all day next Saturday...there's a TON of stuff to do...not the least of which are the front spring mounts and motor mounts.

Here's a little about the plans for this thing:

I'm swapping my 14bolt and D44 over to the new frame. The D44 will get a new 4.56 ring and pinion and a ram assist. The 465/205 combo gets fresh paint and will get swapped over too. There will be another new addition to the family: an '89 TBI 454, last seen in Joe's big white GMCJ6 (1995 Top Truck Challenge)

The whole thing gets a new wiring harness, Monster battery cables, and new fuel lines. It also gets a new YJ master cylinder and new brake lines.

If I can find the AC compressor from the 454, it might even get compressed air (or if I can find one to bolt up)

The springs will remain Rancho 44044's in the rear, stock waggy fronts in the front. New shocks all around. Driveshafts will make the move, as will the rear GORILLA ladder bar.

We (Russ & Ian) made a rear bumper and tire rack. A cooler/cargo rack will sit up on top of the spare. (even a scrambler gets crowded with 4 kids in it ).

The front bumper will be prerunner style and incorporate the front spring hangers and the roller fairlead for the winch. Maybe even some tabs for lights.

The old front seats are going in the dumpster. I've got some gray wrangler buckets that will go in (for now) along with a gray fold and tumble rear seat. Since I run 2 back seats, I'm looking for another wrangler fold and tumble rear seat, gray. Otherwise I'll put a gray cover on the CJ rear seat I have. I don't think I'll reuse the sammy back seat.

I'm debating between a center console or overhead console for the head-unit. I have a soundbar, and just need an amp/sub.

I'm excited to make this version of the jeep really nice, with a lot of things I didn't bother with on the old one (like putting lipstick on a pig).

Brett

 

[Maverick]

Big Arse work party on Saturday, beginning at 8am. Amos Rents, 3300 South and 220 East.

It's crunch time! EJS is in less than a month, we've got 4 saturdays between now and then, and I know that everyone has their own things to get done.

The Famous Amos tubing bender is stuck in Odgen and will not be onsite. Does anyone have a portable benderer?

This is what we've GOTTA get done Saturday. I will be there all day.

• Front axle: new ring& pinion, ram assist (who volunteers to help Carl? Thanks Carl!)
• Frame: cut pieces to finish inner frame. Weld in pieces.
• Front suspension: Obtain long XJ shackles and bolts. Cut side pieces and hanger pieces. Cut rear hanger pieces. Build front and rear hangers.
• Front bumper: bend tube, weld together. Weld to front suspension side pieces on vehicle. Weld in plates to finish it with fairlead. sketch attached.
• Motor mounts: yup. cut and weld. Motor goes exactly in the same place/angle that it is now. sketch attached.
• Motor cross member: bend tube, weld or bolt to motor mounts.
• Transmission crossmember: bent tube from frame rail to frame rail. plate coming off back with holes. Gussets on side of plate.
• Rear bumper: cut and weld inner frame connections to bumper/receiver. Since there will be plate on the inside and outside of the frame, this can be bolted through with two 1/2" bolts on either side. Ian already has the bumper built with the receiver in it. (Thanks Ian/Russ!!)
• Drivetrain: A non-welder that really wants to help can finish wire-brushing the tranny/tcase, prep it with etching primer and paint it a gloss gray. Paint and materials will be onsite (Thanks EZ!)
• Bodylift: If we can find a simple way of raising the front cage mount, I'd really like to add a 1" body lift. This is low priority.
• Front and rear shock mounts. I'll swing by a f*rd dealer and get the front mounts. Does anyone know the part number offhand?

Thanks!

Brett

 

[Maverick]

Well, we got the first 2 items done...kind of. After Carl tore the axle apart, he discovered that the pinion bearing race was spun. We found another D44 in the blob and just about that time EZ showed up and helped us pull it. Carl took it home with the gear kit to do the install there.

Todd welded, welded, welded, welded and then welded some more. The frame reinforcements are now complete, top and bottom welded, and the frame is now turned over. After everyone left, I cut out the front spring mounts that attach to the frame...I still need to cut out the rest of the mounts.

Matt (10yo son) also came down and spent a lot of time wirebrushing the drivetrain and was the official mini-hoe operator.

To make this work, I need to find some 44044 springs and some long YJ shackles. Otherwise, to fix the freaky caster issue, the new spring mounts would have been as low as the fangs were.

Brett

 

[Maverick]

Went over at lunch today: Front hanger is cut, drilled and clamped to the frame on the driver side. We cut it a little big to give room for adjustment on the front bumper.

We're really behind the 8 ball now...

Here's my schedule over the next couple weeks.

I'll be there tues and thurs 5:30 to 6:30, and Saturday from 2pm to late. Sunday 7-10? afternoon 3-6
Next week, Tues/Thurs 5-whenever, and Friday noonish to whenever. Saturday 24th will see me in the morning and all afternoon (gone from 11 to 2) Sunday 7-10?, 3-6

The rear axle and springs could be swapped over at any time, same with the gas tank. The big push this week is to get a rolling frame, then we'll put the drivetrain in.

 

[Maverick]

Oh, btw, BC is making more progress by himself on the body than we are on the frame...

 

[Maverick]

RS44044's and "boomerang" XJ lift shackles are on site.

The freak has always had quite a bit more caster than it should, about 5 degrees too much, plus the amount from having bigger tires.

As part of the rebuild, we will fix the castor issue by changing where the spring is mounted. The front of the springs are 6.25" above the rear, it should be only 2". We're going to bring the front up 1" and the rear up 5" (that will take care of the 4" error). 4" at one end equals 2" at the center, and moving the whole thing an inch equals 3". The 44044's have 3" more lift over the stock waggy springs that are in the front right now.

To move the back of the spring up 5" means that the shackle can't be under the frame. We'll make a hanger on the side of the frame, so the bolt will go through the hanger, through the shackle and through the frame. The XJ rear shackle has a bushing at the top so it will be perfect for this. A 5" shackle is just about perfect, and because of the proximity to the bodymount, the boomerang shackles that Milner donated will be perfect. Thanks Marc!!!

 

[allterrain]

Dropped by yesterday Brett and Russ gave me the grand tour.
The frame is looking good.

Congrats man. Sorry I have been AWOL for awhile and missed it.

I may swing by Sat. or next week and see if I can provide some bonehead labor and cold refreshments.