88 J-10's

[mt-renegade]

Anyone know how many were built? I've heard rumors but nothing for sure.

[Chris P.]

I've heard 150, but I don't think anyone is sure.

[Long&Low]

Weren't the '88's just given '88 VIN's and were actually just carry over's from the '87 inventory?

[janie]

I heard approximately 250 rolled off the line in early 88, but like Chris said, I don't know that anyone knows for sure.

[fulsizjeep]

Welcome to the forum. :)

That information is made of unobtanium. :( ;)

I think there were a few made. An old friend of mine has an 88 J20 in the FL panhandle. Bought it new off a lot in Atlanta. Was it really built for the 88 model year? This is but a mystery. :huh:

[Kali]

from "The Standard Catalog of Jeep"


Among Jeep aficionados there is some uncertainty as to whether any 1988 J-series trucks were actually built. Evidence seems to indicate a small number were produced. The factory releases pricing and ordering information in July 1987, around the time the merger was going through. The company issued an updated version of the ordering information in November 1987-- something it was hardly likely to do if it didn't intend to produce the vehicles. It's very likely that some Jeep dealers ordered a supply of trucks during that July-November ordering period. At any rate, pictures and specifications exist of the 1988 truck.


That is the most info ive ever come across published regarding the 88 J-trucks, and as you can see it doesnt mention or even guess at numbers...

[Lindel]

knowing the jeep line workers, they probably just put stuff together til they completely ran out of parts, hence the '88 trucks...

[tkiller13]

Welcome to the forum. :)

That information is made of unobtanium. :( ;)

I think there were a few made. An old friend of mine has an 88 J20 in the FL panhandle. Bought it new off a lot in Atlanta. Was it really built for the 88 model year? This is but a mystery. :huh:


Was it a inline 6? I've heard from factory workers that, the last run of j trucks were all inlines. I do not know how many that actually means.

[ScrambledKJ]

I had a chance to buy an 87 cj7 once. It was a laredo with manual steer and a dana 44 rear. one of the last 86's. The dealer had it re titled as an 87 when it was new. I should've bought it...

[mt-renegade]

My dad has one and he told me he was gonna sell it. I told him to keep it cuz there were only 150 or so made and he changed his mind. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't lying. thanks for the help!

[fulsizjeep]

Was it a inline 6? I've heard from factory workers that, the last run of j trucks were all inlines. I do not know how many that actually means.It is a 360/727/208 J20 with column shift tranny and flag shifter for the 208. I don't think any 258s went in the J20 line.

[skeletor]

i've read somewhere that said most if not all where longbed j10s, no j20s made in 88. it doesnt mean that it didnt happen its just that amc and at this point chrysler kept horrible records. i dont think an 88 titled j series truck would make it more valuable, unless you could 100% prove that it was made in 1988.

[mt-renegade]

no prolly doesn't make it more valuable, especially since most people wouldn't care if it were the only one made. Its just kinda cool since there aren't many.

[UnkleMunky]

It is a 360/727/208 J20 with column shift tranny and flag shifter for the 208. I don't think any 258s went in the J20 line.

If they did put a 258 in a J20, it'd indeed be a rarity....but I'd be surprised to see one.

'84 was the last year of the shortbed J10s, so almost certainly there would have only been longbed J10s and/or J20s if any came out in the '88 model year.

Due to the timing of the changeover.....I think the announcement of the AMC sale to Chryco was in April of '87, and the formal takeover was like in August, so probably a good share of migration of things in those months, and after as well. Jeep was still sold under "The Jeep Corporation" through the '88 model year and only became sold under "The Chrysler Corporation" for the '89 model year. With new models usually showing up on dealer lots August to October of most years, the '88s were probably already geared up to be produced and some may have just gotten designated '88s, even though they may have been made in summer/fall of '87.

I have no idea on numbers either, and have only seen the occasional '88 on the net, but even the '87 production numbers were pretty slim as it was, so any of the mid to late 80s would be considered *rare* to extent....but value of anything is usually subjective and variable over time and so on....so that all needs to be weighed in. Most people wouldn't even think of owning one of these flying bricks, but some of us have a magnetic attraction to them, so we can't help but like 'em! :)

[The PIG Smith]

I think there were a few made. An old friend of mine has an 88 J20 in the FL panhandle. Bought it new off a lot in Atlanta. Was it really built for the 88 model year? This is but a mystery. :huh:
J10Mike had a confirmed 1988 built J20 that was rusty beyond repair and it gave its axles for his J10.
While I thought it was sad that such a uncommon rig (one of the last J Series Truck built) was sacrificed, it was truly beyond hope.

http://www.j10mike.com/j20pics/j20front.jpg

http://www.j10mike.com/j20pics/j20rear.jpg

http://www.j10mike.com/axlerebuild/weekend1.jpg

Pics courteous of www.j10mike.com (http://www.j10mike.com)

[fulsizjeep]

That red J20 is just like the one I know in FL panhandle! His has much less rust but YEAH! :drivin:

[FSJ-Earl]

J10Mike had a confirmed 1988 built J20 that was rusty beyond repair and it gave its axles for his J10.
While I thought it was sad that such a uncommon rig (one of the last J Series Truck built) was sacrificed, it was truly beyond hope.

http://www.j10mike.com/j20pics/j20front.jpg

http://www.j10mike.com/j20pics/j20rear.jpg

http://www.j10mike.com/axlerebuild/weekend1.jpg

Pics courteous of www.j10mike.com (http://www.j10mike.com)

If that truck is beyond hope, I might as well as give up on all my FSJs that I currently own!

[The PIG Smith]

If that truck is beyond hope, I might as well as give up on all my FSJs that I currently own!
Those were exactly my words when I first saw pics of it.
If I recall what Mike told me about it, it lived its life a plow rig and salt spreader.
The underneath was bad, real bad.
Frame was bad rotten, that rear springs hangers were gone.
Also the floors, lower parts of the cab, lower doors, front clip...all gone.
The outside and floor of the bed looks good, but up underneath...crusty and thin.
Mike indicated that is was a 50 footer J20.
Looked good at 50' until you go close and saw how bad the rust was.

I wanted to buy some body parts, but Mike told it was a waste of his and my time as they were not worth it.
Media blasting would have resulted in having nothing.

My J20 is rusted bad, but the frame is in good shape and I have waiting for me in Texas, a rust free cab from New Mexico.
So, while my rig looks bad at 50', up close, the bones of my truck are solid.
If my J20 had structural issues like Mike's J20...then I would part my rig out.

Mike...did I get all that correct?

[J10Mike]

Those were exactly my words when I first saw pics of it.
If I recall what Tom told me about it, it lived its life a plow rig and salt spreader.
The underneath was bad, real bad.
Frame was bad rotten, that rear springs hangers were gone.
Also the floors, lower parts of the cab, lower doors, front clip...all gone.
The outside and floor of the bed looks good, but up underneath...crusty and thin.
Mike indicated that is was a 50 footer J20.
Looked good at 50' until you go close and saw how bad the rust was.

I wanted to buy some body parts, but Mike told it was a waste of his and my time as they were not worth it.
Media blasting would have resulted in having nothing.

My J20 is rusted bad, but the frame is in good shape and I have waiting for me in Texas, a rust free cab from New Mexico.
So, while my rig looks bad at 50', up close, the bones of my truck are solid.
If my J20 had structural issues like Mike's J20...then I would part my rig out.

Mike...did I get all that correct?
That pretty much sums it up. In fact, when I picked it up, the tires had sunk and were frozen to the ground (January in Chicago). The PO was afraid to yank it out because he thought the frame might break in two.
The frame at both front hangers of the rear springs were almost completely rusted thru. I was worried myself that it might break from road bumps while trailered home.
I have never seen a vehicle so eaten up with rust like that. Not just the frame, but, inner wheel wells, core support, body mounts, etc. Yet, you could hardly tell it had any rust from the outside.
After I had the carcass towed away, the pile of rust dust that I swept up was about 18 inches round by about 8 inches tall. All of it having fallen off while I was banging on this and that.
Nope, that 88 J20 was not worth saving. However, many parts were salvaged and found their way to other FSJ owners or used on my J10.

[red mistress]

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/202/2081/25503540001_large.jpg

oh my... :eek:

[UnkleMunky]

that first link didn't work for me, but this did:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2550354

Definitely a gem to see. Takes you back in time, I say! If those links don't work, use their search, choose Jeep, then J-series, then 1988...it should pop up in the results.

Wait....the grills are different in the pics....looks like someone must have swapped the grill after getting it? Why? The muscle is a nice grill!

[Lindel]

Man, that's sharp!

[Chris P.]

I think that truck sold on Ebay a couple of years ago. I can't remember what it went for.

[J.J.]

That truck is amazing.