Be still my heart...

[bigwalton]

Exceedingly late to the thread, but saw the pics on FB.

I vote to get it drivable as-is and not tear it apart until you're done with the house stuff, maybe a next-winter project, if then.

Who knows, you may find that it fills a nice gap between the Scrambler (with it's modern fuel injected drivetrain and CJ attitude) and the Grand (with it's modern drivetrain and luxury interior). That's EXACTLY where Mater sits for me between the Postal and LJ. Barely have to mess with it, simple as crap, cheap as dirt, patina for days, yet still attention getting as all get-out.

I know you love the build, but you have that in the red Scrambler already, enjoy that build, drive the J-truck. Wiring work pays off long term anyway for your swap and you should be able to sell off anything you put a bit of time/money into to keep it running and you know how to find deals on stuff regardless with all your resources.

If it wasn't so close to drivable, my answer would be different, but with the things you already know are on your plate (and knowing how more will come up), I'd just hate to see this usable truck come off the road before you were ready to knock out the full build start-to-finish.

 

[spankrjs]

Exceedingly late to the thread, but saw the pics on FB.

I vote to get it drivable as-is and not tear it apart until you're done with the house stuff, maybe a next-winter project, if then.

Who knows, you may find that it fills a nice gap between the Scrambler (with it's modern fuel injected drivetrain and CJ attitude) and the Grand (with it's modern drivetrain and luxury interior). That's EXACTLY where Mater sits for me between the Postal and LJ. Barely have to mess with it, simple as crap, cheap as dirt, patina for days, yet still attention getting as all get-out.

I know you love the build, but you have that in the red Scrambler already, enjoy that build, drive the J-truck. Wiring work pays off long term anyway for your swap and you should be able to sell off anything you put a bit of time/money into to keep it running and you know how to find deals on stuff regardless with all your resources.

If it wasn't so close to drivable, my answer would be different, but with the things you already know are on your plate (and knowing how more will come up), I'd just hate to see this usable truck come off the road before you were ready to knock out the full build start-to-finish.

X2

 

[Randyzzz]

Guys, I agree 100% with your advice. But....this truck needs just a bit too much work to make it feasible to do a quick freshen and go. Body wise, it's 100% driveable. Axles and brakes too. However, it will need a complete exhaust system, a new carburetor, new interior (OK, seats), window overhaul, and a complete rewire. As you guys know, late 80's FSJ's had nightmare wiring when new, and this thing has had it's wiring raped and pillaged by a couple of PO's that should be banned from vehicles for life. It's not just the wire nuts, quick splices, and duct tape- it's the harnesses that have been deemed unnecessary and just chopped off, with bare ends dangling, the bare wire ends twisted together, etc. It would take me hours to even begin to sort this out. Seeing that makes me doubt the safety of anything else without going through it myself.

I bought this truck for several reasons- To be a more stable tow vehicle for our new travel trailer, to be an alternative for towing a trailer to Home Depot, and if I'm 100% honest- because I wanted one. But, it needs to be reliable and safe before I will ever get my wife into it, and I sure don't want her to not like it. I want to go on vacation in the J20 instead of the Grand Cherokee on occasion.

I envy you guys who were able to find Trucks like Mater that were roadworthy with a few repairs. The first J4000 would probably have been like that. There were a couple of J10's that probably also fit that description. But I knew I'd rather get one with good bones, the axles, brakes and load capacity I wanted, and I just happened to fall in love with this one.

 

[gazzo]

You are in a bind. My Wagon was a bit like your truck but I've chipped away bit by bit and now it fits BW's brief to a tee. Starts from a month of sitting, all glass goes up and down (slowly) and it stops. Family loves rolling in it so I'm calling it good.

 

[Randyzzz]

Come to think of it, Copper was that way. Just needed a starter and some minor cleaning and electrical and it was good to go- for a while. Anyway- I know I'm extremely blessed to have 2 Scramblers and a J20, all with no rust and endless potential.

So- I sold a couple odds and ends, 1/3 of the way to what I think I might need to do the LS swap. I guess I'll just be patient and wait until I get to my goal, and start ordering parts.

 

[zr10054]

Come to think of it, Copper was that way. Just needed a starter and some minor cleaning and electrical and it was good to go- for a while. Anyway- I know I'm extremely blessed to have 2 Scramblers and a J20, all with no rust and endless potential.

So- I sold a couple odds and ends, 1/3 of the way to what I think I might need to do the LS swap. I guess I'll just be patient and wait until I get to my goal, and start ordering parts.

And exactly how does one know when he has enough assets saved up? I sure can't figure it out. I've said this before, you can't think of it as spending your own money, you need to think of it as spending your kids inheritance. It's a lot easier that way.

 

[Randyzzz]

And exactly how does one know when he has enough assets saved up? I sure can't figure it out. I've said this before, you can't think of it as spending your own money, you need to think of it as spending your kids inheritance. It's a lot easier that way.

I'm looking at just basic parts cost for engine/Trans/transfer case plus extras. That's enough to get me driving. Although my local "source" appears to have gotten greedy, so I may have to find a more reasonable supplier. On Copper the engine/Trans/transfer was about $1600, my guy wants $2100 now.

You know, I'm probably not spending my kids inheritance- I'm building it!

 

[Randyzzz]

Look what showed up on my workbench tonite! I mentioned to my son-in-law that I needed some LS block mount plates- here they are, fresh off the plasma table. Engine hopefully will show up in a week or so. Getting time to start a build thread...

 

[mysunnshine]

Those bolt holes look ginormous.

Sent from my SM-G920V

 

[Randyzzz]

That's what I thought- but he went straight off a print he had saved on file. (He works at a welding/fab shop that does mostly Govt contracts, but the guys build short course race trucks in their spare time). The price was right and if they are too big I can easily fix that. Put my order in for an engine- told my guy at LKQ that I wanted a 2004-up 5.3 complete, 60-80k mileage, good compression, for no more than $1400. He said give him a week or so and he'd have one for me.

 

[MrBeep]

I just picked up a complete 5.3 with 72K for $1000. They are starting to come down a little.

 

[Randyzzz]

Would be nice to find one cheaper, but I'm not holding my breath. Looking at car-part.com there are some nice cheaper ones out there, but they are all a couple days drive away.

 

[zr10054]

It will be fun seeing you with another build. I'm about done with mine so I'll need something to keep me busy.

 

[Randyzzz]

Those bolt holes look ginormous.

Sent from my SM-G920V

Just checked. His print uses 14mm shoulder bolts, but the actual threaded boss on the block is 10mm. He's going to get me 8 of their shoulder bolts.

Did some internet searching- I sure can't find a shoulder bolt with a 10mm thread and a 14mm shoulder... I'll see what he comes up with.

 

[Randyzzz]

A little progress made...and probably time to start a build thread. Sold the engine/trans/transfer case today. That means I get to kick the Bronco out of the garage and work on the J20! WooHoo! Stay tuned...it's starting to happen!

 

[zr10054]

I was almost tempted to sell you my 5.3 so I could have an excuse to buy a 6.0. Just having one of my weak moments. LOL
Then I remembered, "if it ain't broke don't fix it."

 

[Randyzzz]

I was almost tempted to sell you my 5.3 so I could have an excuse to buy a 6.0. Just having one of my weak moments. LOL
Then I remembered, "if it ain't broke don't fix it."

I'm trying hard to talk myself into the 5.3 vs the 6.0. I only intend to tow occasionally, so I think the 5.3 with a 4L80E should do the trick. I'm considering buying a hi-mile complete engine for cheap on EBay and then getting a reman long block to go with it. Not going to be buying anything right now, I'll wait and give it time- there's lots more to do on this build. Just found a clean dash bezel, and a pair of uncut front fenders. Who knows, while I'm waiting another 60K 5.3 might show up.