Initially we planned to wrap the Aqualu aluminum Jeep tub in steel body armor, but decided against it since the tub is already stronger than a standard steel body and it would detract from its cool looks! We decided to add steel rear CJ fenders from Overkill Engineering and Rock Ribz rocker guards from Currie Enterprises for a Jeep LJ, which had to be modified to fit.Initially we planned to wrap the Aqualu aluminum Jeep tub in steel body armor, but decided If you're surprised you don't see the Scratch-Built Scrambler out on the trail with every new issue of Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road, then we have to assume you never built a rig from the ground up. With every new part that gets fitted to the vehicle, there is another fancy gizmo contraption that has to be unbolted, refitted, and then reinstalled. It doesn't help much that we have a bad habit of changing our mind and that our shop time is cut in half by office work-which really sucks! Switching gears for the final push to finish the Scrambler, we moved the project to T&J Performance Center in Orange, California, for a helping hand and some advice. T&J has been in business for over 25 years and has a long history of building dependable trail rigs and Jeeps. Mike and Tom Barnett are longtime Jeep enthusiasts and are experts not only at building low-range hardcore overland adventure rigs like the Scratch-Built Scrambler, but also high-speed race Jeeps. Mike and Tom are avid Jeepspeed Series racers, and both hold a number of titles and First Place finishes. The rear fenders were modified to fit the wider wheelwell opening we created so the 37- to 40-inch tires we'll be running will stuff properly. The fenders are made from 1 1/2x0.120-inch DOM tubing and 3/16-inch steel plate and should stand up to anything the Jeep scrapes against.The rear fenders were modified to fit the wider wheelwell opening we created so the 37- to We have already made considerable progress on the project at T&J. They helped us knock out the rest of the rig's body armor, checking off another task on our long list. The rear fenders needed to be welded to the backing plate that bolts to the body. The fender flare was tacked to the backing plate while it was mounted to the aluminum body. To minimize warpage, the fender was removed from the tub and T&J's fab tech tacked the plate to a steel bench and then finished the complete weld.The rear fenders needed to be welded to the backing plate that bolts to the body. The fend We love making parts fit! Looking around for a great set of rocker guards for the Scrambler, we found Currie Enterprises Rock Ribz made for a Jeep Wrangler LJ. The guards are the perfect length and will offer good side protection. The Rock Ribz built with 1 1/2x0.120-inch DOM tubing and 10-gauge steel plate.We love making parts fit! Looking around for a great set of rocker guards for the Scramble To get the rocker guards to fit the Aqualu tub they needed some minor modifications. The lower portion of the plate needed to be trimmed to fit around the frame mounts and then tabs needed to be welded in place to bolt to the body mounts.To get the rocker guards to fit the Aqualu tub they needed some minor modifications. The l The guards also needed spacers between the lower plate and the underside of the Jeep's body. We found some 2-inch aluminum round stock in the remnant bin at the local metal supply shop for $1.79 a pound. Aluminum can be cut by just about any tool, but T&J let us use their cold saw, which makes a far more precise cut than any handtool.The guards also needed spacers between the lower plate and the underside of the Jeep's bod If you want to start making your own aluminum and steel parts, we highly recommend a trip to your local metal store. For about $7 and an hour of time, we made a cool set of aluminum spacer mounts, which is a great way to save money in a tough economy. Keep this in mind next time you want to purchase a set of body mounts or radiator supports.If you want to start making your own aluminum and steel parts, we highly recommend a trip The front Overkill Classic fenders with flare are constructed from 3/16-inch steel plate and 1 1/2x0.120-inch DOM wall tubing and will offer more than a enough protection for any type of four-wheeling. With the steel rear fenders and the Currie Rock Ribz, the Scrambler should survive relatively intact any punishment we decide to throw at it.The front Overkill Classic fenders with flare are constructed from 3/16-inch steel plate a SOURCES Currie Enterprises 382 North Smith Corona CA 92880 714-528-6957 www.currieenterprises.com Overkill Engineering Nuevo CA 888-225-0243 www.overkilleng.com T&J Performance Center Orance CA 714-633-0991 www.tandjperformance.com Aqualu 435 Neave Court Kelowna AK 888-765-6714 www.aqualu.com By Kevin McNulty Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
