The body is the first thing you notice about this Jeep. Thanks to some rust, YJ fenders got swapped on to complement the custom-louvered hood. Rocker guards and Crusher Corners provide rock protection for the body. YJ Wrangler half doors were added and then the Go-Mango orange paint was shot with a mix of B-5 Blue and Plum Crazy purple for the flames. The reason this Jeep is able to look like this, even after repeated beatings, is that Robert shoots the paint himself.
The front seats were pulled from a Hyundai and match the rear TJ fold-and-tumble seat remarkably well. The rollcage was based off of the stock CJ-8 hoop and then had 2-inch DOM tubing grafted on to form the custom owner-built cage with integrated spare-tire carrier. Under the fold-down carrier is enough space for tools, spare parts, and a cooler for the family's food for a long day of wheeling.
In the theme of using simple modifications that work, a set of 37x12.50R15 Goodyear MT/R tires were mounted up to the chrome steel 15x10 rockcrawler wheels. With this combination and the 60-inch wide axles, the tires still only rub at full stuff while at full turn.
Good, Bad, & What's it for
Leaf springs, small-block Chevy V-8, and SM465 transmission-all in a CJ-8. It's a tried-and-proven build, and it works. The duality of the trick paint and bodywork with the plain-Jane drivetrain really gets us. It's the polar opposite of a sleeper, but it sure is cool.The shackle reversal really helps the ride on-road and on trail rides. About the only place it's a liability is in the gnarly rocks, but Robert tells us he doesn't do it enough to make it an issue. With 37-inch tires, that front Dana 44 wouldn't handle too much abuse, so it all works out inthe end.
We'd have probably put a Dana 60 in the front and heavy-duty outputs on the Dana 300, but we like the fact that Robert left the long overhang of the CJ-8 alone.
Hard Facts
Vehicle:'82 Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler
Engine:'77 Chevy 350 V-8
Transmission:SM465
Transfer Case:Dana 300
Suspension:Rubicon Express YJ spring-over conversion
Axles:'79 Wagoneer Dana 44, high-steer conversion, Detroit Locker, and 4.10 gears (front);'70 Ford Dana 60 cut down to 60 inches, Warn full-float conversion, custom disc brake conversion, Detroit Locker, and 4.10 gears (rear)
Wheels:15x10 Chrome Modular
Tires:37x12.50R15 Goodyear MT/R
Built For:Enjoying the sport of four-wheeling with the family and friends
Estimated Cost to Build:$15,000