Build thread: “Project Taildragger”

**jkl** · 08-14-2009, 08:43 PM

Hello all.

I’ve been working on this jeep for a while, so I figure its time to start a build thread for it. I’ve always wanted a Scrambler but never could find one at a decent price. Back in Dec ‘08 I found this jeep on craigslist. It was somebody’s project that was never going to be put back together. The previous owner was just going to replace the floor pans and it went from there. Four years later, it was still sitting in pieces in his backyard. Bought it with no motor, trans or transfer case but a whole lot of spare parts.

The jeep:
1982 CJ 7 that’s been stretched
Dana 30 front
Model 20 rear
4” susp. lift
Lift shackles
33” all terrains

The plan:
Chevy 350 V8
Auto tranny
Atlas transfer case
Body armor
37 - 40” tires
Dana 44 or 60 front
Dana 60 rear

Its being built so I don’t have to beat up my LJ on the more extreme trails. Hopefully it will be drivable by the spring of 2010. The dana axles will probably come after the factory axles break.

Now onto the pics!

**jkl** · 08-14-2009, 08:53 PM

How it originally looked

The body after the stretch

The night I brought it home

Had to get a basic idea on how it was gonna look so here it is a few days later after some clean up and some reassembly

**jkl** · 08-14-2009, 09:13 PM

More pics from different angles

taythegibs · 08-14-2009, 09:16 PM

i really like the look of that cage

AustinTexasXJ · 08-14-2009, 11:17 PM

wow man looks great! cant wait to see where its going!!

well all know original plans never happen haha

**jkl** · 08-15-2009, 07:40 AM

The teardown begins

**jkl** · 08-15-2009, 12:56 PM

Striped the paint to the bare metal then started with the bondo. Let me tell ya, Talstrip does wonders!

**03Jeeper** · 08-15-2009, 04:07 PM

looks good man! can't wait to see more progress!!

**jkl** · 08-15-2009, 07:18 PM

Fender trimming time! I was originally gonna run TJ flares since I have a spare set, but decided to go flareless.

Here I followed the lip for my cut.

Before

After

Once again I followed the lip to cut. I don't like how it looks so Im going to recut it later.

Cut some off the front too. Might take a little more. Don't know yet

**jkl** · 08-15-2009, 07:24 PM

Sprayed some primer to keep it from rusting.

JEEP97TJ · 08-15-2009, 08:36 PM

Looks awesome. I think the front of the front fenders looks fine, I personally wouldn't cut anymore off unless you were going to make it into a flat fender.

Keep the updates coming

**jkl** · 08-15-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEEP97TJ

Looks awesome. I think the front of the front fenders looks fine, I personally wouldn't cut anymore off unless you were going to make it into a flat fender.

Keep the updates coming

I've been considering turning them into tube fenders but I think Im going to leave them alone to leave a little of the classic cj look.

**jkl** · 08-15-2009, 09:09 PM

Removed the tub

I cut off the side step bars. I believe bigger tires will rub them while flexing so they will need to be shortend. If I decide to reuse them I'm going to make plates for them to bolt them on. Shot the bottom side of the tub and the frame with some black paint

19_OIIIIIIIO_41 · 08-16-2009, 10:14 AM

Looks nice... Home Made Scrambler...

AustinTexasXJ · 08-16-2009, 12:07 PM

wow man your moving along fast on this!!

keep up the good work..

crawled