1980 Jeep J20 - Project Briosa

[navegare]

OK, guys, I'm getting started on bringing this J20 back to street/regular homeowner pickup duty. The first step in the plan is to get it running well/safely and get plates, etc. As far as cosmetics... well, we'll see. Plan for now is to do nothing fancy, just bring it back to functional OEM. I'll try to document and share as I go along. I'll be asking lots of questions also :D

Yesterday I towed it to a shop a friend is going to let me work out of. Towed it about 100 miles doing about 55 on the u-haul Auto Trailer. At 60 it could get interesting with a little fishtailing when going over bumpy spots. The Wagoneer did great, but after a while the air in the air shocks started leaking and it had a bad case of wag-sag by the time I got to the shop.

Apparently this J20 was a farm truck and the PO got it from a teen who lost interest after rattle-can priming it, removing the tank, etc. PO says he was told the engine was recently rebuilt. Last year it was plated was 1990, from what I could read off what's left of the plate sticker. I had to change the fuel pump and starter, install a new battery and whack on the carb to loosen a stuck valve needle to get the J20 going, sucking fuel from a gas jug I rigged up. The engine sounds like a good one but, unless the dipstick is wrong, it was way overfilled with oil. There's also a TC and Trans in the bed of the pickup, condition unknown. It fit the trailer just barely, as you can see in the pics link below.

Much work to be done, but it's going to be a fun project. I have an 83 GW for parts. I'm going to be transplanting the A/C, Carb and related stuff, steering column and gauges if they fit, etc.

Questions:
-So I can get the proper gaskets, are those really D44 front and D60 rear diffs?
-What Transfer Case did these come with?
-Rock Auto lists 2 size brake shoes, 11 x 2 inch, and 12 x 2.5 inch. Other than going back there and measuring, anyone know what I should have by looking at the pics?
-Floor pans: Riveted or welded?
-GVWR as per the VIN is 6800. It has 3 leaves in the front spring leaf packs, 2 leaves in rear. I've read here about them having 3 leaves in the rear, but 2? They look pretty stout, though.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/J20%20Before%20Pics/OnAutoTrailer8.jpg

Here's a link to the before pics:
http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/J20%20Before%20Pics/

Here's a link of it running and a short drive after I got it off the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIO-RzqoSS0

[KaiserMan]

Any auto store can get you the correct diff gaskets. Probably have at least the D44 in stock. And yes, you have a 44 front and a 60 rear.

Rear brakes are 12x2.5. The 11x2 are for J10's and Wag/Cherokees

Welding the floors in is the better method, but riviting them in and then seam sealing them is fine.

IIRC 2 leafs where stock on some J20's. Not really sure there though.

[navegare]

Cool, thanks for the answers. The J20 is a couple of hours away, so I want to show up with all the right parts I'm going to need for whatever I'm tackling the times I go up there to work on it. I'll try my hand at welding the floorpans in and practice on scrap before doing it. Looks like 18 gauge sheet metal will do the trick.

[navegare]

Soon after the last update, I started traveling a lot for work and I'd only get to work on the J20 every now and then. I'm about to bring it home for the second phase of the plan, so let's catch up with a bunch of pics.

This is a pic of how I found it when I bought it.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/Asitsat.jpg

So I towed it with the Wagoneer
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240292.jpg

I was really happy with the way it towed, all things considered
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240300.jpg

The J20 has some rust issues along the seams in the bed
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240303.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240302.jpg

But the rest is solid (except for floorboards)
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240309.jpg

The engine is supposedly a rebuilt one
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240310.jpg

A spare 208 which on closer inspection looked just rebuilt and is currently in my 1989 GW. Also a spare transmission, condition unknown.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240320.jpg

It's been sitting for a while
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240321.jpg

Two leaves on a 6800 lbs truck
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240322.jpg

Rusty floorboards
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240331.jpg

The kid the PO said he bought it from pretty much gutted the interior and who knows where the missing parts are

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240336.jpg

Someone started sanding the dash
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240338.jpg

Door panels, gone.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240340.jpg

The dash pad is in good shape, but brittle. I don't even want to touch it out of fear of putting a hole in the speaker grille area.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240341.jpg

Headliner, gone. Surface rust only.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240342.jpg

The engine is a mess but sounds and feels strong after replacing the carb with a known good one.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240346.jpg

That was it for that time. The truck waited patiently until the next time I went to work on it.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P7240329.jpg

[navegare]

After changing the carburetor, installing a starter, battery, fuel pump and having it run off a gas jug, I started with the rear axle and brakes.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P8070008.jpg

The drums were trash far too gone for turning.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P8070001.jpg

Just like one would expect.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P8070012.jpg

Scary sight.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P8070020.jpg

After much cleaning and brushing off the rust it turned out OK. This is a before pic.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P8270056.jpg

Of course, new bearings, seals, etc.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P8070022.jpg

Sunsets out in the country were a treat.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P8070027.jpg

As was stopping by here late at night on the way back home.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P8070030.jpg

Next visit was the rear brakes. New shoes, drums, hardware and wheel cylinders, but I ordered the wrong ones from Rock Auto.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P8270051.jpg

I eventually rebuilt the wheel cylinders that were originally there with kits from Rock Auto also and put it all together. Most of the parts I've been using come from Rock Auto.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P9240011.jpg

The drums were new but I got them for a song because they had surface rust. Whatever, I'll take them.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P9240013.jpg

In the meanwhile I had picked up 5 H2 wheels for cheap off craigslist and 5 used tires for the time being. I really wanted to see if they fit OK.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P9240014.jpg

I didn't have to have the center hole opened up.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P9250029.jpg

There's so much stuff I did that I have no pictures of. I rebuilt the front hubs with bearings and seals, rebuilt the calipers, new pads, new master cylinder, rotors turned, transmission filter and fluid, new fluid for transfer case, engine oil and filter, new brake lines, the fuel return line was plugged and replaced with a stainless one I bent into shape, new hoses all over, etc., all of it with the help of my nephew, who was on school break and seems to like to hang out with me and work on cars when not on his computer or playing the violin. He's a good kid.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PA100003.jpg

Eventually we removed the bed. I had scored a better one from Milton, along with other choice goodies, so the old bed came off.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PA100004.jpg

Nothing but surface rust, nothing to be concerned with.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PA100009.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PA100041.jpg

I couldn't figure out what this was at the time.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PA100062.jpg

Brought it out to the sun for a pic or two
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PA100069.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PA100086.jpg

Still moving around with gas from a jug.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PA100070.jpg

In the meanwhile, we received some more goodies to be used later.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PB160002.jpg

Inside I found:
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PB160003.jpg

And this:
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PB160006.jpg

At first I took a wire wheel to the frame, but it took too long and I burned out at least one angle grinder and several wire wheels with not much to show.



So we went for sandblasting the frame from the cab back. The front part of the frame would just have to wait until there was a reason to pull the cab. the frame is just so solid that I could get away with a thick coat of chassis black, anyway. But, since the bed is off...
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PB210052.jpg

We then brushed on some Rust Bullet.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PB210066.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PB210062.jpg

And prepped to shoot some black paint over it.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PC050073.jpg

With this:
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PC040026.jpg

Some Prep:
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PC050073.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PC050074.jpg

One coat:
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PC050076.jpg

Two coats:
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/PC050083.jpg

More later.

[navegare]

It sat there for the better part of a year, securely locked in the shop and waiting until I had time once again.

I picked this up.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/IMG_0239.jpg

A very clean bed, except for the cracked welds and many holes on the bed rails.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/IMG_0240.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P1030525.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P1030526.jpg


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P1030568.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P1030571.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P1030572.jpg

It got bent during the dragging it out of storage and loading it onto the trailer. I really should have gotten a flatbed for this but this is all I could get at the time.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P1030529.jpg


Some hammer work and wire wheel later
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P1030540.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P1030539.jpg

After painting the side that faces the cab, it's ready for mounting.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P1030587.jpg

Just rigged up one of these
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P1030583.jpg

And set it down
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P1030588.jpg

After installing the tank and filler neck with new hoses, plumbing the fuel lines, filter, etc., it's now ready to drive onto the car hauler in a couple of weeks to bring home. Once here I'll be able to weld the bed, floorboards, fit the rhino grille and a new exhaust system, weld seat bases for some buckets I got, etc. There's no 240V at the shop where I've been working out of so all of that had to wait.

After that, if all goes according to schedule, it will be going to paint. After paint comes fitting the interior, windows and seals, etc. I'll start using it at that time, and everything else it needs will have to be fixed during weekends.

[jaber]

Your doing an awesome job. :thumbsup:

Your adjusters went out yesterday, so you should see them in 1-3 days.

Keep up the good work.

[KaiserMan]

Nice progress, it's really starting to look good!

[Ristow]

looking real decent. i have a '79 6800gvw. pretty sure its 2 leaves in the back too.

[Bill J]

Great project, its also great to have that shop available to you...Some day, I would love to tackle that same type of project...

[3rdelement]

love this build! keep up the hard work

[Kevin armstrong]

Lookin real good. So, how does that chevy truck seat work out in a jeep truck? Always looking for a good swap that does not put you too close to the steering wheel.

[srobertsfsj]

looking real decent. i have a '79 6800gvw. pretty sure its 2 leaves in the back too.

x2

[navegare]

Thanks for the replies. The feedback sure does help.

Thanks, Jaber. Installing the adjusters and round headlights along with the rhino grille will be the first thing I do. I don't know, I think it will define it's new personality, :D

Good to know about the 2 leaves being normal for this load rating and year. I found a set of 8400 camper special springs that I might eventually put on, we'll see. Would that make it a true 1-ton truck, having 8400 lbs gvwr? My 1993 F250 4x4 diesel is only 8800, and it's a 3/4 ton, but also a much heavier truck.

Yeah, having the use of this shop for free really helped. I live in the city and my driveway is on a slope, so working at home is rather difficult. The only downside was that the shop is far from me.

Good to know that it's a Chevy seat. I was wondering. It came with the truck and is the correct width, but the seat's back doesn't tilt forward. It was just sitting there, unbolted, so I've just been using just it to have something to sit on for the time being.

[navegare]

Not much to report, other than just a while ago I rolled off the J20 from the car hauler and it now sits in my driveway after an uneventful 270 mile drive. Got a smiley thumbs up from a guy who slowed down next to me on the highway, and a guy came up to me to talk about the truck while pumping diesel.

In the pic it looks like it's squatting on the back because it's loaded up with a bunch of tools, parts and leftover sandblasting media I was bringing back.

Anyway, seeing it every day will sure make me want to work on it, so I'm counting on a quicker rate of progress :D

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P1030630.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/V4Ocelotl/1980%20Jeep%20J20/1980%20Jeep%20J20%20During/P1030636.jpg

[mike12]

outstanding b t and pix i have a 1980 j10 your project pix will help me mike 12