Need some advice.

[TK421]

Hi folks, I received the 1970 J4000 this weekend and wanted to talk to forum about its condition.

The good: Engine runs well, fires right up, good acceleration, no smoke and idles smooth. Buick 350 Dauntless, everything hooked up and intact, even a wiper fluid resevoir "bag" that is original equipment.
Shifts through all gears smooth, 4 wheel drive is great.
All electrical stuff is good to go.
Interior is really nice, bench is worn and ripped in places but nice.

The bad: The body forward the cab is done, the rockers are rusted out and the bed is done, the inner front fenders are done and barely holding up the hood. The shocks are even rusting out, springs are worse than flat and one rear shackle has popped due to rust. There is also one spot in front of that shackle where the frame has some rust holes....

I was thinking flatbed and repair or reinforce the frame with 4"channel and a bunch of lag bolts like a splint...and just cobbling together the front body parts as I go. Thoughts?

[Green Giant]

I have a 79 parts truck that might help.
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb129/78cherokee/th_167-1.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/albums/bb129/78cherokee/?action=view&current=167-1.jpg) I am going to pull the drivetrain for my use.
I know the bed is shot, but the front clip may be of some use, I will have to look closer when I go out to the farm tomorrow or friday. I also have a left front fender from a 79 or 80 that I bought a few years back and never used. Sorry for the pic quality.

The truck is at our farm between York and Clover if you are interested. You also may want to visit our website at cfsjc.comhttp://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb129/78cherokee/cfsjccolor.png

[jaber]

If it were me, I would look for a frame donor. Unless it is fixed correctly, I would not run it for safety reasons. Just my .02.

[Dumpy]

In all honesty, sounds like you just need to get a whole new truck and swap the drivetrain. Jake's Full Size Jeep Junkyard is up in Burnsville, which is quite a drive for you, but would be worth the trip. You can get anything you need, and the majority of the trucks up there are in great condition! If you're nice enough, he might even bring a parts rig to you, pending he ever digs out of the snow! PM Tanker or Halftrak. Green Giant's rig looks pretty good, too. Be pretty sweet to have a Honcho with a 350:)

[TK421]

I have a 79 parts truck that might help.
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb129/78cherokee/th_167-1.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/albums/bb129/78cherokee/?action=view&current=167-1.jpg) I am going to pull the drivetrain for my use.
I know the bed is shot, but the front clip may be of some use, I will have to look closer when I go out to the farm tomorrow or friday. I also have a left front fender from a 79 or 80 that I bought a few years back and never used. Sorry for the pic quality.

The truck is at our farm between York and Clover if you are interested. You also may want to visit our website at cfsjc.comhttp://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb129/78cherokee/cfsjccolor.png

thanks Green Giant, I am a new member of the Carolina club and I am hoping to meet everyone at URE. I am working hard on my other rig, 74 J10 to get it ready.

[TK421]

If it were me, I would look for a frame donor. Unless it is fixed correctly, I would not run it for safety reasons. Just my .02.

Exactly my thoughts, this isn't my primary project so I do have time.

[TK421]

I should point out that I got this truck free, so I would like to take everything off and go to a better frame...will the 1970 cab, buick 350 and drive train fit on any other fsj frame or should I look for something in particular?

[DerekTJeep]

Don't worry if frame is bad. YOu can make a new boat anchor out of it :)

[jaber]

I should point out that I got this truck free, so I would like to take everything off and go to a better frame...will the 1970 cab, buick 350 and drive train fit on any other fsj frame or should I look for something in particular?

Free can be good, sometimes...
Having all the mounts and such from the free one, you could park them side by side and swap the needed parts before you set the cab. I think there was a change around '74 when they changed the rear spring hanger,but I dont have the details. Someone will chime in....:thumbsup:

[Dumpy]

That's correct. 73 (or just pre-73?) and earlier have post mounted springs that are outside of the frame. If you keep the same axles and a post '73 frame, all you would have to do is move the axle perch, Buuuttt...If you get a donor with a disc front and a passenger side drop front axle, I would swap that as well for the stopping power. If you know anyone who is a good welder, the perch job should be pretty easy. Now that I think about it, there's a '70 J4000 sitting about 2 miles from my house and the guy wants 450 for the whole truck, and he'd probably take less. No engine in it, but the 4 speed tranny is still there. Dunno about the frame condition, but I can stop and look.

[[]V[]AXX]

Off topic, but TK421...? For some reason I can hear in my mind Dan Aykroyd's voice saying TK421. Is that Spies Like Us? I'm tryin to remember, it made me grin. :D Good luck finding a donor. I need a bed for mine.

[TK421]

V[]AXX']Off topic, but TK421...? For some reason I can hear in my mind Dan Aykroyd's voice saying TK421. Is that Spies Like Us? I'm tryin to remember, it made me grin. :D Good luck finding a donor. I need a bed for mine.

Star Wars. "TK421 why aren't you at your post?" Busy getting his butt kicked by Luke and Han on the Millenium Falcon...

[fulsizjeep]

Star Wars. "TK421 why aren't you at your post?" Busy getting his butt kicked by Luke and Han on the Millenium Falcon...:lol: :thumbsup:


That is too much rust for me to deal with personally. The Buick 350 might be worth something to someone. I tried to give one away out here for 2 years with no takers so it went to scrap. If you transplant that to another FSJ that was not a B350, you'll probably want to get the frame horns up to the motor mounts off the frame too as well as saving the tranny and tcase. If it has 5 lug axles, they may not be very desirable for much. 8 lugs might have some potential.

[TK421]

:lol: :thumbsup:


That is too much rust for me to deal with personally. The Buick 350 might be worth something to someone. I tried to give one away out here for 2 years with no takers so it went to scrap. If you transplant that to another FSJ that was not a B350, you'll probably want to get the frame horns up to the motor mounts off the frame too as well as saving the tranny and tcase. If it has 5 lug axles, they may not be very desirable for much. 8 lugs might have some potential.

Flint, I may have taken on more than I am capable of dealing with. I promised the PO, who was a member here, a good home but I don't think he realized the extent of the damage. It is 5 lug...I really want to focus on my J10 right now so maybe this will just do a little more rusting while I figure it out.

[[]V[]AXX]

Boy, was I off track!

[andrew williams]

Flint, too bad it turned out that rusty. if you decide to let it go, I might could use the engine and some parts on mine. Andy

[TK421]

Flint, too bad it turned out that rusty. if you decide to let it go, I might could use the engine and some parts on mine. Andy

We can talk about it Saturday if you are still swinging by. I haven't completely decided on the route I want to take but I think the frame is going to be hopeless...