Freiburger's Jeep

Freiburger’s Jeep is mostly an ’81 Scrambler, but there’s not much left that’s factory. Stage one of the buildup was seen in some mid-‘90s issues of 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine. The stories covered the installation of a GM Performance Parts HO 350 crate engine along with a Dodge/GM hybrid NV4500 five-speed trans, and the suspension back then used Currie 9-inch axles on top of a 4-inch lift. Mountain Off Road and Stage West 4x4, both in Colorado, handled fab work such as the rollcage and the frame bracing. The magazine also showed the bobbing of 12 inches off the back of the body and the installation of a shorter M38A1 front clip.

In the years since those articles were printed the Jeep has changed quite a bit. Pat Helgeson at Custom Welding in Williston, North Dakota, took it a step further, tubbing the body for 42-44-inch tires and adding Dana 60 axles with Air Lockers and 7.17:1 gears. The suspension now uses Old Man Emu 2-1/2-inch-lift springs for a Jeep YJ, and they are mounted atop the axles. Pat also fabbed a custom crossmember and floorboards to accept a rotated Atlas II transfer case; the bottom of the Jeep is nearly flat from tire to tire. The crossmember also supports an articulating rear traction-bar setup. The final touches from Custom Welding are the fabbed mount for the Warn 8274 winch, the formed-steel guards on the rockers and corners, and the integral hood and fenders.

The tires are normally 42-inch Super Swampers, but the Scramb has been seen with 44-inchers, too.

Two more recent stories on the Scrambler can be seen at the web site for 4-Wheel & Off-Road. Go here for a road trip story, or go here for a feature on the Jeep itself.