Drum brakes on a 1976

[threepiece188]

I recently bought, from the original owner, a 1976 j10 that has 38,815 documented miles. Don't get too envious people, other than the L6 engine, 4 speed trans. and original Snow Boss package, there was nothing salvageable on this truck, even the axles tubes were rotted. The farmer I bought it from stopped using it in 1996 when the frame let go. This truck has drum brakes on the front. I thought 74 was the last year drum brakes were available on FSJ's. The owner assured me that no major work was ever done on this truck and I believe him (he has no reason to lie about it). Has anyone ever run across anything like this?
Dan

[Tad]

IIRC Trucks and NT Chero's were optional for disc's up front thru 1975.
Could be a late '75 build that got titled as a '76.

[tgreese]

Jeep was very accommodating wrt optional equipment. Possible that it's really a '76 that was ordered with drum brakes. Some people have odd requests ... disk brake delete would bring the sticker down a little.

[Josh D]

IIRC, discs were standard on all J20 ('74+) and optional on J-10 ('74-?).

Maybe '77 was the first year discs were standard on J-10. I'll have to look it up.

[joe]

A 76 truck should have disc fronts but as Tim mentioned AMC was pretty loosy goosey about ordering. Or It's likely a late 75 built truck the buyer got a deal on. Discs were standard on the Wags from 74 on. Opt on the Cheros and trucks 74-75 and standard from 76 on.
What's the 2nd digit of the VIN? 6 is 1976, 5 is 1975.

[threepiece188]

A 76 truck should have disc fronts but as Tim mentioned AMC was pretty loosy goosey about ordering. Or It's likely a late 75 built truck the buyer got a deal on. Discs were standard on the Wags from 74 on. Opt on the Cheros and trucks 74-75 and standard from 76 on.
What's the 2nd digit of the VIN? 6 is 1976, 5 is 1975.
The VIN is J6M45. It was built in early 1976 (I don't remember the month). Included with the documation on this truck is the original factory option list for the truck. The guy ordered the truck specially equiped with 4.09 gears, HD suspension, ect. There is no mention of drum/disk brakes. The rear springs by the way appear to be the same two leaf pack used on the standard GVW J20.

Another thing I'm goofed about is the lack of power brakes on this truck, and the fact that it had the same pedal assembly that a regular FSJ would have. I have seen in the past, a pedal assembly with different geometry used on non power brake systems.