The Scrambler/Overlander Project:
Stock Scrambler

I found this 1983 Scrambler on eBay in May 2004. The photo above shows the Jeep basically as it was when I brought it home. The only thing in this photo that wasn't on the Jeep when I brought it home are the oak side boards; since I planned to spend the summer doing a "rolling restoration" on the mechanicals and driving the Jeep, leaving the hardtop restoration for later in the year, I fabricated the oak side boards for use until I was ready to do the hardtop. The Jeep spent its first few months parked on a gravel second driveway in the woods behind my house because virtually everything leaked oil - engine rear main seal, valve cover, transmission, transfer case, rear axle seal, you name it. And the cab leaked also, so every time it rained puddles formed on the floor.

The prior owner had started restoration, so the body was rust-free and the paint, while not showroom quality, was "good enough" as to not be on the list of things to be restored.

Condition and equipment:

  • 258 6-cylinder, stock Carter computer-controlled carb (or should I say "allegedly computer controlled"), with most of the stock emissions components and plumbing physically there, although I doubt much of it still performed its intended function.

  • Stock T-5 5-speed and Dana 300 transfer case. Other than leaking oil, both in good operational condition. I did have to replace the shifter bushings on the transfer case because they were shot and prevented reliable shifting between 2wd and 4wd, but other than that and the leaks they were fine.

  • The only rust on the body was a bit on the bottom of the windshield frame that I discovered when investigating why the cab leaked so much. The frame-to-body gasket was missing, which explained the leak, and some of the rust. Also visible in these photos is some fogging of the lower windshield due to separation of the laminations of the safety glass. I ended up replacing the windshield frame and the windshield.

  • A Ramsey 6000-pound winch was on the front bumper. The prior owner claimed it worked, but of course it didn't. After rebuilding the relay box the winch now works fine and the roller fairlead, which was jammed due to rust, has been replaced with a new chrome unit.

  • The interior included cheap replacement seats which were fixed instead of folding, so they would have to be replaced when the hardtop went on so passengers could get into the back seat.

  • The 31-inch tires were fairly new, and the Cragar wheels were in pretty good shape.

    In addition to what is mentioned above, the Jeep was in pretty poor mechanical condition. Much of the lighting and many of the dash components didn't work properly; the engine had significant blow-by and didn't idle well or have much top-end power and the exhaust system wasn't legal (no catalytic converter). Being a southern Jeep, the frame was solid and rust-free and the body was also rust free and didn't show evidence of having significant rust before the prior owner did the body restoration.

    Living in a part of New York State that doesn't require emissions inspection for vehicles of this age, I was able to get it to pass inspection fairly easily after replacing the exhaust system and fixing a few of the wiring/lighting problems.

    The photo below shows the Jeep after I had fixed enough of the leaks to allow it to park in the driveway.

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