Howdy

[69 Gladiator]

Hey all, I just popped in to say, "what a site!! " . Just got here today through a bizzare happening. I needed to use a winch to pull some trees up straight before I cut them down and my only winch left at the house just happened to be on my '69 J-3000 Gladiator . This was my wood haulin', mud boggin', 4 wheelin' fun time rig back 13-15 years ago . Well after the rear gears took a left turn and I quit burning so much fire wood and a lot of the riding areas got closed down, I parked him in the back and very seldom use it. I fired it up for the first time in 5 years on Wed. and everything still operated cept the brakes. Warn 8274 working great as always.

Well, my 11 year old son started looking at my ole Jeep pretty hard as we were working it around the place and he had me wondering if he remembered the only ride he got in the Gladiator when he was three. Uhh, yeah, I remember it Dad, he says. Wow, three years old and I'm pushing down new 4 wheeler trails with the Gladiator and he's in the front seat(standing in the floor board), holding on to the dash grinnin' as we push saplings and small pines over. I parked it again after that and only moved it 5 years ago to clean it up and change the oil. I hated that too.

So, back to reality, I come in after cutting the trees down yesterday and he's been on the computer googling Jeep Gladiators of all things. Searching for pictures and such, you know, what 11 year old gear heads do. So I go back to the history page on the computer and find this site that he had been to, and BAM , here I am all registered and ready to start playing with my J Boy all over again. :drivin:

I hope I can help out and learn all at the same time. Will try to get some pictures up soon!!!

[jaber]

Sound like a good one. Can't wait to see pics.......

Welcome. LOTS of help and helpful poeple 'round here.

[HOOT]

Welcome Back !!!

Sounds like your boy deserves a 69 J3000 Gladiator for his 16th birthday.:thumbsup:

[Elliott]

Be sure to post some pics of that 403 Olds under the hood. :D

[Dirtball]

Welcome to you AND your son... and please, get those pics up soon or we'll start giving you a hard time about it... things like:

:worthless:

[fulsizjeep]

That is a good story! :thumbsup:
Welcome to the Madness! :drivin:

[69 Gladiator]

Ok guys, will do. Right after church today. The fambily been wearing me OUT ! :thumbsup:

[misfittom138]

That's cool. Welcome.

[69 Gladiator]

Ok, there are some im my previous post now. I didn't knock the cobwebs off of it yet. As you can see, it is a woods runner. I could use a drivers side flare extension and a headlight ring.

[red mistress]

Nice looking Glad, even for a woods runner.

I see you've got the old time Buckshot tires.

Maxxis makes a modern version Buckshot but the treads aren't 1 1/2" deep like the origional version.

Who made those tires you have? Denman or Gateway?

[Elliott]

Thanks for the pics, and yes... lots of room for the hydroboost you emailed about. :thumbsup:

[69 Gladiator]

Nice looking Glad, even for a woods runner.

I see you've got the old time Buckshot tires.

Maxxis makes a modern version Buckshot but the treads aren't 1 1/2" deep like the origional version.

Who made those tires you have? Denman or Gateway?

Thanks. I like em broke in :D. Yeah, I got those tires in '90 , I believe they were bought in '88 , 20 years ago. They're Gateways. Maxxis tires don't hold a candle to these as far as pulling goes. Ride quality is a different story though. This truck is one pulling son of a buck. It amazed people wherever we rode. Still gets talked about :thumbsup: .

I built the 403 in '95 . It would smoke the hides on the street. It is in need of a HUGE tune-up right now. Gonna break out the Marvel and run it throught the top end next week. I'm in need of some stoppers right now. All the drums are worn out, thinking of upgrading to a disc brake front end .

Elliot, yeah thanks. I want to see a few more pics of that '65 in your avatar. I looked at the diesel HB unit again and it appears to be a good bit bigger than the Astro unit.

[710 Burner]

Nicely done. I am looking at putting a 455 Olds in my Chero. What did you do for motor mounts?

[69 Gladiator]

Nicely done. I am looking at putting a 455 Olds in my Chero. What did you do for motor mounts?

Good deal. I hunted for the 455 for weeks until I fell up on this 403 for a song. My truck came with the Buerk three fiddy so the motor mounts bolted right up to the 403 block. When I bought the truck someone had just set an Olds three fiddy down in it. I finished the install with what I figured was the factory Buerk M/Mounts. SO when I put the 403 in, I just bought new mounts for the 69 with the Buerk power plant , and BAM , they fit like a charm. From what I understand the Olds 455 will bolt right up using these mounts. I'm not displeased with the performance of the 403 by any means, but the extra cubes are always nice when it comes time for braggin' and jumpin' stumps and sandbars :D .

[Elliott]

Elliot, yeah thanks. I want to see a few more pics of that '65 in your avatar. I looked at the diesel HB unit again and it appears to be a good bit bigger than the Astro unit.

The only differences in the HB itself is the backing/mounting plate, the length of the pushrod and then the internal linkage has a different ratio for pedal movement/piston actuation.

My '65 is at an awkward stage right now. ;) The front just went up another 3" and I haven't gotten to putting the 63" springs under the rear yet. Then, it's probably going to get a Thriftside box on it to boot.... mmmm, yummmy... lifted Thriftside with the small back window, brow, 401, triple stick doubler/4sp, twin detroits, Dana 60/14 bolt/caddy disc brakes, Ramsey winch, 40 gallon aux tank.... what more could you ask for? ;) Maybe some beadlocks and a paint job....

[69 Gladiator]

Welcome Back !!!

Sounds like your boy deserves a 69 J3000 Gladiator for his 16th birthday.:thumbsup:

Thanks for the welcome back. You know, I thought the same thing about the 16th birthday, but the more I think about it the more I am thinking; should I really do my poor ole son that way? Heh, man, that would mean every spare cent he made for the rest of his life would be spent on Jeeps, tools and spare parts. :eek: :D

[PlumCrazy]

Thanks for the welcome back. You know, I thought the same thing about the 16th birthday, but the more I think about it the more I am thinking; should I really do my poor ole son that way? Heh, man, that would mean every spare cent he made for the rest of his life would be spent on Jeeps, tools and spare parts. :eek: :D

You sound like a thoughtful father...give the kid a Vega and tell him about all the money he would save in gas. ;)

Wayne S