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Be still my heart...

Also, the rear tires are new, and the gearing is 3.73.

Dennis, you asked about a/c and cruise. The underhood components of both are missing, might be in the tubs but I doubt it. I think I have spares, though. The Trans seems to slip a bit, but none of the vacuum lines or linkages other than the shifter are hooked up. The condition of the Trans will determine which way this project will start. Looks like it's time for a build thread!
 
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The truck is awesome, it has less rust than a 6 yr new truck up here in Cleveland.
 
built in January 1987, sold April 1987. Officially AMC, not Chrysler.:woohoo:
 
built in January 1987, sold April 1987. Officially AMC, not Chrysler.:woohoo:

Freakin' awesome back story!! Too bad that built motor is gone. I have a headliner board out of a J10 if you need. I can send it to Portland with my parents when they go up in May to visit my sister. I could possibly send other parts too. Just fyi. :cheers: :popcorn:
 
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Josh, a headliner would be great!

I think one of the first things that I will do cosmetically is replace the power bucket & jump seat with a bench. IMHO, pickups need bench seats. Plus the Waggy style seating allows no access behind the seats, and seeing as they have been used as a mouse sauna:huh:, they need to go.
 
A few inspirational pics (sorry, only one long bed):

'82 J10 Blue.jpg

I believe I have all the chrome trim for both sides of the cab like in this pic if interested. The bed chrome would have to be sourced.
'75 J10.jpg
'83 J10 4 inch Rustys Lift 33in tires.jpg
 
Am I wrong in feeling that they never made a bad looking front on those trucks?

My God, each one is great looking, although I think my favorite is still the rhino.

Anyway, great truck, best of luck!
 
I agree the bench seat is the way to go. Maybe you could restore it to the Al Unser motor days too.:)
 
A few inspirational pics (sorry, only one long bed):

View attachment 53441

I believe I have all the chrome trim for both sides of the cab like in this pic if interested. The bed chrome would have to be sourced.

That top one is nice! I'm probably not going to replace the side trim even though i see it came with it. Been thinking about a white "fill" in that recessed area.
 
The trim I have is the thin chrome like the second pic, not the wider trim with black in the center. I was going to put it on my J10 at one point but you have to drill holes for the clips and I didn't want to do that.
 
Or the 6.0 LS style...:evil:
It scares me how we think alike.
BTW It's time to hit me up side my head with that 2x4. I keep looking at this.
 

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Thanks for all the kind comments guys. I had a chance to give it a closer once over this afternoon. The PO/PO'S had no concept of wiring, among other things. The harness under the hood is hacked, bad, and the underdash harness doesn't look much better. The headlamp chime comes on when I hit the brake! :crazy: I'm thinking I'll end up replacing all the wiring before I'm done- it wasn't that great when new anyways. The engine tag revealed a 1976 360 4V, and the P code indicated factory .010 undersize rod bearings. The carb tag dates it a 77. It has good oil pressure and is quiet (for having no exhaust other than manifolds). The idle is WAY too high and it looks like it's carb related. Although the distributor has some funky dual white vacuum diaphragm system, not familiar with that. The trans concerns me. Got the TP linkage hooked up and adjusted, checked fluid level, it still slips. Fluid is clean, new-clean. Might try a quart of TransX in case the seals are just hard. Obviously can't check the transfer case much. Might have to call a local trans guy to come over and check it.

Even with all the unforseen issues I am still on cloud nine about this Jeep. (OK, honestly I figure a clean title and rust free body is well worth what I paid.:cheers:) It will just take a lot more work up front than what I had hoped. My wife just shakes her head and says "As long as you're happy". My only regret is that because I am going to build this truck next, my red Scrambler will get moved back in the build order again.

I had hoped to do the cosmetics and then the powertrain, but that ain't happening unless my trans tech buddy can work some magic. I also know that at some point I want a modern fuel injected powertrain. It seems worthless to invest in a carb, distributor, and possible trans work or a good used trans, especially when it's probably temporary anyways. So, here's my dilema. Invest $300-$500 plus my time to get it going as-is and then incrementally upgrade as I can afford it, or say to heck with it, and start getting my fuel injected powertrain together and accumulating the other parts I'll need. I know, some of you are thinking "And this is a problem?". I'm leaning to dive in head first, as usual- install the fuel injected powertrain and get the mechanicals done by fall. Then get bodywork and paint sorted. I was able to purchase this without selling any guns, so there's potentially some funds to start building. Plus I can sell the running 360, and a bunch of other stuff I call my "savings account'.

I keep reading through this thread http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=89280 and having such evil thoughts... a blue J20 version...:evil:

Thoughts? Comments?
 
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It scares me how we think alike.
BTW It's time to hit me up side my head with that 2x4. I keep looking at this.

Dennis, I had one of those in the mid 90's. I'd have another except the cab is just too small.
 
I'd like to say do the sensible thing and spend minimal amount of money and time to get it drivable then you can take your time and find all the parts to do what we both know you really want to do with it. But then again when was the last time we did anything the sensible way?
 
I've seen the words "sensible" and "sell guns" appear in this thread and that scares the heck out of me....I'm just saying.
 
I've seen the words "sensible" and "sell guns" appear in this thread and that scares the heck out of me....I'm just saying.

A wise man only sells a gun with the intent of replacing it with something he desires more. Over the last year I sold the bulk of my Sig's and replaced them with Hk's. The 2 Sigs I have left are enough to cover the parts end of a swap, and I'm planning on buying tooling so I can build HK's from parts kits. MP5, HK91, etc. And the new Ruger Precision Rifle looks interesting... but for now I'm all in on this Jeep. It's nice having 2 hobbies/passions- when one becomes overwhelming or otherwise out of reach, you just switch over to the other. Last year was guns, this year is looking all Jeep. The only down side is I picked 2 expensive passions.

Dennis- I'm leaning towards your tag line- "Sometimes cheap turns out to be way more expensive". I guess it all hinges on the transmission, but I can't imagine putting money into a powertrain that I'm going to replace anyways. If it was the original hot Unser engine, then it would be a different story.

I may have a 2X4 coming my way too...I keep thinking how to keep both Scramblers and the J20. Just have to get the wife to buy in... Of course, she has 3 horses... That link Josh posted up looks like a perfect start for your next project, Dennis!:evil:
 
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