Tony Newsom: Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler

I got my first Jeep when I was 15 from there on I was hooked. It was a '79 CJ7 with a 304 V-8 and 4.10 gears and a 3 speed/Dana 20 combo. Lets just say I had to get those tires spinning with no low range like that. But alas, last November, late October (1997) a guy pulled out in front of me, or into me. The Jeep had two diamond bends in the frame. Sitting on flat ground the rear tire was about 1 foot into the air. The front axle was moved back about 8 inches and the BFG Mud T/A was almost under my feet.

Now comes the good stuff. I bought the Scrambler with extra funds and the insurance money. I paid $5,000 for it, with six bad exhaust leaks (bad air tubes), and smog pump that had froze up. It at least had a 258, with a decent T-5 and wide track axles. Off I went to put it in my garage for a month and half before I could get a new manifold and the time to fix it. Another $1800 later, the Scrambler sat about 5 inches taller than stock with some 35" BFG Mud T/A's.

Two months, a toasted clutch and flywheel later, the gears and Detroits front and rear were installed at Four Wheel Parts Wholesalers (thanks Doug). Off to hit the trails.

The virgin run was out to 360 (in Arlington) and I had some hub problems. Problem 1: the brand new Warn solid hub kit's spring on the passenger side had become unseated. Problem 2: climbing Pinion hill the Jeep died and would not start. The battery cable came loose after cresting the hill. The Jeep would not start again. The Warn 8274 put a direct short across the Optima red top. TOAST!! Those problems fixed and many runs later, the Scrambler now has Howell Fuel Injection, flat fenders, and a full cage is about to be installed. Add all of this together and stir in some rocker damage and some other small problems and you get a whole year of having fun and doing some great wheeling.

Hope to see ya'll out on the trails.

Editor's Note: So, what's the name, Cramble? Look closely at Tony's hood and notice the missing S and R in the word "Scrambler."

Find out more about Tony's Scrambler here!