Throwback Thursday: Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler Pushes 37-Inch Tires Using 6.0L LS Power
It might not look like it from the outside but the folks at WFO Concepts upgraded just about every nut and bolt on this CJ-8 Scrambler.
The Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler was first produced for the 1981 model year. It was designed to compete in the compact pickup truck segment. It was eventually replaced by the Comanche and when production of the Comanche ended in 1992, we were without a factory Jeep pickup until the Gladiator returned a couple years ago. The Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler, like most things produced around that time, is hot again. And the Scrambler we see here is even hotter.
This week’s “Throwback Thursday” is all about this Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler. The team at WFO Concepts spent five months upgrading just about every part imaginable. Most notable is the original 4.2L engine has been ditched. Under the hood a 6.0L LS unit now provides the power. And while that engine makes the Jeep sound and perform great there is a lot more than first meets the eye with this build. A recent video posted to the WFO Concepts YouTube channel walks us through everything that was done to this Jeep. There is a lot to cover, so let’s get started.
Big Changes Hidden
The owner of this Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler had a vision. He wanted his Jeep to be all new, but he wanted to keep it looking timeless and classic. So that is the challenge that WFO Concepts had in front of them. Looking at the Jeep and hearing about all the changes it seems like they rose to the occasion with this build.
First Steps
Getting rid of the original engine was the first step in the process of this build. Once that was gone the team then got working on some 1-ton axles. A narrowed GM Dana 60 from a 1-ton Chevy truck sits up frot. Out back is a new GM 14 bolt that has also been narrowed. Everything has been completely rebuilt and upgraded everywhere possible. At the corners are 37-inch BFG KM3 tires mounted on double bead lock rims that are finished in a muted silver color. Again, the idea was to keep the old school vibe with this Jeep, so a set of highly polished chrome wheels was just not going to work on this Scrambler. The entire fuel system has been upgraded and is all new. This is another one of those items you can’t really see but it is there.
The Work Continues
Out back there is a simple two by four box tube bumper with some D-ring mounts and a tow point. One of the more noticeable changes is the half cab top has been ditched. As cool as it looks, it limits the space in the Jeep. The owner wanted some more room. The factory roll cage was copied and moved back a bit to give the occupants that extra room needed to be comfortable. And now a nice new bikini top covers the cabin.
Main Event
The Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler looks great and has been upgraded everywhere. But the big upgrade was under the hood. A Gen III 6.0L LS now resides under the hood. The engine itself has been upgraded with a Texas Speed cam. There are also Speedmaster headers, an aluminum radiator, and a few other goodies under there. The engine is hooked up to a Tremec 5-speed transmission. Also under the hood is the original paint that now has a cool patina to it. When the Jeep is fired up, it sounds so good. Whatever the cost of this build was, the sound and power alone make it worth the money.
The Drive
After the walkaround it is finally time to take the CJ-8 out on the road. Inside the Jeep looks brand new. Original dash and knobs, but all lights and cables have been replaced. It looks factory except the S-Pod switch bank to control the lockers, lights, etc. As for the drive itself, it is fantastic. Of course, the sound from the V8 and the power is there all the time. Yet the Jeep is so docile it can be guided with just one finger on the steering wheel.
The Video
We really just scratched the surface of this build. There are a lot more details that you have to watch the video to see. The Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler is a cool truck to begin with, but this modified version is something else entirely. Watch the video and see for yourself how special this stock looking Jeep truly is.
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