Need quick J10 purchase advice!

[Tubro]

I went and looked drove the J10 I was talking about buying. Well Its at a body shop, there are letting the guy park it there. Well I look in the radiator and its empty. I ask em for some water and the get a jug of antifreeze. Well it starts pouring out between the engine and tranny. The engine runs great, holds 80lbs of pressure and doesn't make any noise.

Do you guys think the block is cracked or just the freeze plug has pushed out. He probaly had straight water in it, and it has been VERY cold lately except today.

He is asking $2500, i was gonna offer $2000, but he doesn't know yet about the water problem. Watcha think, give em $1250 and just hope its a freeze plug, and convince him he will never sell it the way it is otherwise? Its been sitting there for months and I am the first to even go start it up and drive it.

So what do you guys think? I was figuring, yank the tranny, send it out, have it rebuilt while I fix the plug. Or do you guys think its a cracked block? I am bitting at the bit here, I just don't know what to do!

[Jim Barbero]

Between the engine and tranny? Doesn't sound like a freeze plug there unless the water is running down along the side of the motor or something.

Someone may correct me, but the location of the leak sounds strange :confused:

[Tubro]

I'm almost positive there is one back there that is covered by the flexplate, I'm thinking there are two. Its been so long since I had the tranny of the 360 in my wag.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

There are two freeze plugs in the back of the block, behind the flywheel. The problem I think is a 50/50 deal. I would check the oil to be sure no water is in it, this would have to be done after operating temp is reached and that does not sound possible. If no water is in the oil, and the block is cracked it would be external and possibly fixable. I feel the price is out of line unless it is in good condition. Sounds to me though sitting that long......who knows. The other thing 80 LBS of oil pressure HMMMMMM AMC was never noted to maintain that type of oil pressure, and that is real high for any engine. I would be pulling out the fine tooth comb before handing over the $$$$ :eek:

[ArtsiFrtsi]

My factory guage reads about 80, but the reality is about 25-30 according to my aftermarket guage. sounds like $1250 may even be a bit too much... no tranny, no motor, any rust on the body or frame? How straight is the sheetmetal? Any bondo? Tire condition? sorry, lots of questions, but the '65 I had AND what I have in the Chero adds up to about $1250 :D

[Tubro]

After you said that about the oil pressure, I started thinking, actually it held 60lbs. I forgot that the 3/4 hash mark is 60 not 80. The engine was rebuilt last year. I couldn't see any water in the oil, and it poured out like it was being poured straight from a bottle. If it was a crack big enough to do that, I figure it would be big enought to let the water in the oil.

My best guess is, since the engine was rebuilt, the freeze plug was probaly not time welded with rust to the block, making it easy to push out. I think I'm gonna offer em $1250. I know its a little more than its worth, theres no rust buts its really ratty, but J10s go for alot more money around here than any of the big three. Most places it is the other way around. If it says Jeep here, its at least $1500 bucks period. Sometimes you gotta pay what you gotta pay.

Oh yeah, it has a part time kit already in the QT which is kinda cool.

[Tubro]

Here I go with another update, The tranny is OK it is a little soft when you first take off, but it shifts good, and doesn't slip when you get outta first. Its livable and probaly just needs to get out and run a bit. Its got almost new tires, no rust execpt the bed floor, fairly straight metal, and only a few real dents, its not really damage, just 24 years of sitting around unkept. Its just 1978 and never been fixed up kinda shape ya know. Oh it runs great, drives straight, stops on a dime, and doen't shake or shimmy.

[PAJEEPER]

Maybe you should just go ahead and offer $1250. Cant believe J10s are worth that much in your area though. Here there worth practically nothing. Which is good for me though, I'll take em if nobody else wants them :D You could always swap the cracked block out if that the case. Probably a freeze plug though.

[Slingmaster]

I bought a 76 J-10 back in July for $1800. Owner said 'blown head gasket.' All real good tell-tale signs. Pulled right head...valve dropped into #3 cylinder. So you may want to get into that engine/trans a bit more. If you want a good 360 check with J&W in Cali. I got a great rebuilt 360 from them, very affordable. http://www.jwjeep.com/ :eek:

[Tubro]

Well the owner doesn't even know yet that there is problem actually. I am waiting till I get the money to offer him, so I can catch him right when he gets mad at the truck for being broken. The thing runs great, no need for a new engine. I've already got another 360 that I could rebuild for what they would charge me for shipping.

If he doesn't like my $1250 offer, I have found me another Scout 800 to go look more into tommorow, so one way or another I will have me another 4X4 soon!