Gr8Dain's 1984 Scrambler

Gr8Dain

Board of Directors
Member 2024
VA4WDA
OK.  So I am going to try to make up a lot of time and create a build thread here.  I know.  I am a big slacker.  I got my Scrambler in 2010 and just now doing a thread on it.  Give me a little time to get my posts up to date here.  THis will include my Sniper install as well as the 4.0 swap I am doing now.
 
My 1984 Scrambler:

I had been dreaming of owning a Scrambler since 1986 when I learned to drive and first saw one. In college I had a chance to buy one but was a poor college student so.....

Marriage, kids and life got in the way for a while, until I thought about Jeeps again (I had an XJ in high school and college). Bought a cheap YJ to see if I really wanted to get back into a Jeep. YES. SO i started a search for a Scrambler. I found a bunch I could not afford. I had to be able to drive it immediately so no “projects”. I found this one for a decent price in OH. Honestly, I should have kept looking. But I bought it.

bc63c8708324c4faa499b1a542429f6b.jpg


Fixed a few things and made it better in my opinion as I was driving it around.

A few years later, I discover the frame was rotting out from the inside. Major holes. So I had to do a complete frame swap in my garage and driveway. I got a frame and built a rolling chassis in my garage.

15bcec65ecd164c8e8e38cbed185b5da.jpg


Had some friends over to move the drivetrain and then move the body.  Hey tgere Mike (DamTall)

9e1d5a6047c18af4e8a9303a069ee008.jpg

 
I have put on a 4 inch suspension lift and running 33” tires. I try to go wheeling a couple of times each year. Mainly at Rausch Creek in PA but I have been to Windrock in TN. That was a blast.

43c30d2cea6a473a7ddd3d17e0b0da52.jpg
 
While doing the new chassis, I installed a 20 gallon poly tank to replace the 15
 
59a6bb46fd15142a4de3192230aa9860.jpg

 
I also decided that I did not want to drop the tank to replace the fuel sending unite which I know will happen since it is from Omix. So O installed a boat hatch in the bed.
 
b46a33dba24b5942508b2148468ec7af.jpg

 
 
254e7f30ae79a45e402acc8ec49113bb.jpg

 
I also added some USB and 12v power for my phone.
 
1ba98039dd9cda4f2b57c27fdcf4e84b.jpg

 
And to make removal of the half cab easier/quicker, I got rid of the screws and added these latches from McMaster-Carr. 4 for the front and 3 for the rear connection to the bulkhead.
 
9c552703aac6959066066d4dc69e70c6.jpg


 
Added the Holley Sniper EFI this weekend. It was a relatively easy installation.

Started with this carb set up
8e28f76b2470f17ccd5c6a23e5a87829.jpg

53eb316fcaf022326c7a42b30f05d0d2.jpg


Then took the carb off

4b3ef41359a93212e9b436869a530d69.jpg


Installed the O2 sensor in the header

b4cac474021f0e5bccf7266d41e1e8e1.jpg
 
Put the EFI u it on and put the relay and fuse along the firewall
4c448b2bcea7c1bd31efc6ad033980c5.jpg


Installed the fuel pump and pre-filter along the crossbar in front of the tank and ran the wires through the frame

1e133219caca1e7cfd4aeb1513622c58.jpg


766269e310ba4ae04e316a22bdc7bf04.jpg


Cleaned up a lot of wiring in the engine compartment by getting rid of the electronic fan controller. The Sniper will control the fans now too.

fabd3ccbf5de99ce9036cb856b612b6c.jpg
 
A nd cleaned up
70b476ce94467495c2b326227a911bb0.jpg


Put the display on the dash

eede273671e30f268fee529ceaef9e25.jpg


Put the temp control sensor in the heater hose

c6f23bb02473117226760d66216f1d20.jpg


Test drove it today. The system will be “learning” for a bit. But confirmed that the fans kick on at temp.

Throttle response is way different that before. I barely have to hit the pedal and it wants to spin the tires leaving from a stop. It will take a bit for me to get used to it.
 
Not as big of a project today. I took out my old (1996?) suction cup mount phone holder and installed a RAM mount using a screw in ball replacing one of the dash bolts. So far I like it a lot.

9da1afd99a62aebffc43699deceb1367.jpg


b10ff23e0067856bab72e37c46b4d4a7.jpg
 
This needs updated. I had my timing jump which snowballed into killing my starter and about five teeth ripped off of the flywheel. Since the motor is starting to have blow by again, I decided to do a 4.0 swap. Located a 4.0/aw4 combo from a 98 XJ and dragged it home. Then went and pulled a full harness with ecu and trans controller from a different 98 XJ.

Also started to disassemble the stuff on the 4.2. Still need to buy a bunch of parts and send the harness off to get thinned out and made to mate the CJ to the 4.0. Fun times ahead.

9572346590471953d0f2bb8eed74c2d8.jpg


02db44cfc192195b951afd63d81f8c16.jpg


c27e13776a135c8e771808300367e68c.jpg
 
Got the head machined a couple of weeks ago.  Hope to hone the cylinders and reinstall soon.

9d3628f1c3e2549c9fcbc30dc6e42205.jpg

24aaa96729cd0a46c2432fa1b3804843.jpg
 
Well, no turning back now.  Removed the manyal pedal box and installed the auto pedal box.  What a pain in the arse.  2.5 hours but it felt like 8.  Had to remove the fuse box and drop the steering wheel as low as possible to get the old box out.  And ask me why I cleaned and painted the new pedal box?  No clue.  No one will see it. 

3bd04c46756bd9709fdac87c75270d68.jpg


7ddcacdabc26bc92cc17c7b2028921f6.jpg
 
While Rick (02tj) and Dave (HawaiiCJ) are honing the cylinders of the new motor and putting it all together, I bought some 35s off of him.

They look to be more than just 2” bigger than the current ones. 

695533cc584a8351753abedc198f8a4a.jpg


071c88c29164c9ae5f2f643b3e0d311e.jpg
 
Kind of swapped a transmission (and cash) for these YJ uppers that will work with my hard top.  Not the season for them, but I am not driving the jeep right now anyway. The soft uppers are TJ uppers with the rear pin cut off

From
5f3dd62dcc60644468df75180b4a4245.jpg


To
3120e786931e88ec2aba82659191f2a9.jpg
 
Picked up my motor and brought it home.  I will have a couple of little things to do before I jam it into the front of the Scrambler.  But it is getting closer!

707783de8f2232a82ab3e92acacc3931.jpg

9bcef6d9129cab77ce9fe70657282e2f.jpg
 
Installed the hard top to test fit the new slider uppers.  Love the half cab look.

From
519b9e5e8e2c0a5c637de2454c17ce04.jpg


To
e3f2b1fe0c7cf4c5c359e54501b8aa14.jpg



I can't wait for the new motor to go in and fire up.  Then put the 35s on it. 
 
Back
Top