In This Day Of Trick, High-Tech, Coilover Vehicles, There Are Some Of Us who can still appreciate the form, function, and feel of a leaf-sprung Jeep. We know that true connoisseurs of a fine rig don't really care if the rig is shiny, rusty, dented, banged up, or stunning. It's the mechanical workmanship that counts. We ran across Glen Wanczyk and his nicely restored '81 Scrambler on our recent adventure to Moab, and immediately took a shine to the Jeep.
Glen spent the better part of the last eight months restoring this CJ-8 before hitting the trails at Easter Jeep Safari. He bought the Scrambler from a good friend, and when he drove it home the Jeep was in perfect OEM condition and only had 16,000 miles on its odometer. After driving it a while, he completely stripped the vehicle for a frame-off restoration-twice! Using a mix of old- and new-school technology and some mechanical know-how, he bolted it back together to not only look great but function properly on some of this country's most spectacular trails.
Fewer than 28,000 Scramblers were manufactured from 1981 to 1986, so there aren't too many of them around today. Most of the CJ-8s we see wheeling have been so heavily modified and chopped up (bobbed), that it's refreshing to see an old '8 restored and left intact.
The clean factory lines, functionality, and fancy Harley Davidson-tank paint color make this Scrambler stand out on the trail. To the untrained eye this Jeep might look factory except for the Bushwacker fender flares and custom rocker guards. Little would they know this CJ-8 is rolling around on a very capable custom suspension. The front suspension was built with Wrangler YJ rear leaf springs and a Poison Spyder shackle-reversal kit. The springs are relocated just outboard of the Jeep's framerails, which give the rig more stability and control on and off the highway. The power-steering gearbox uses a Mountain Off Road Enterprises brace, and the OEM steering shaft has been replaced with a Borgeson shaft. Skyjacker shocks were installed on the front and rear of the Jeep. The Dana 44 axle is fit with an ARB Air Locker and 4.56 gears.
Leaving the Scrambler's interior...
Leaving the Scrambler's interior intact should make most Jeep purists proud! There's nothing better than the classic look of a Jeep dash sporting original gauges, a dash pad, and a steering wheel.
This is cool! The naturally...
This is cool! The naturally aspirated inline-six 258ci engine has been left intact. Everything is almost the same as it was when it rolled off the assembly line. After disassembly, the engine compartment was painted with the rest of the vehicle.
The stock rear axle was swapped...
The stock rear axle was swapped out with a GM Corporate 14-bolt and fit with a 4.56 gearset and a Detroit Locker for traction. The 4-inch-lift Skyjacker Softride leaf springs were left in the spring-under position. Glen left the heavy-duty geardriven Dana 300 transfer case in place since they are extremely stout and dependable. The low-range gearing on this transfer case is 2.62:1 and the high is 1.00:1, which is more than adequate for this old Scrambler and the type of terrain it will see.
Tech Specs
1981 Jeep Scrambler CJ-8
Drivetrain
Engine: '81 AMC 258ci
Transmission: T-176
Transfer case: Dana 300
Front Axle: Dana 44, ARB Air Locker, 4.56 gears
Rear Axle: Corporate 14-bolt, Detroit Locker, 4.56 gears
Suspension
Springs & Such: Spring-over front with factory Jeep Wrangler springs, spring-under rear with Skyjacker 4-inch-lift Softride springs
Tires & Wheels: LT315/75R16 Pro Comp Xterrains on 16x8 Classic Locks
Other Stuff: Pro Comp front and rear bumpers, MileMarker 9,000-pound winch, Poison Spyder shackle-reversal kit, custom rocker guards