First post, J6000?

[willness33]

Ok, I'm certainly not new to jeeps, but early J trucks I know knothing about. I currently own a 99 TJ, 78 CJ, and a, cough, Liberty. I've done a ton of work on my Dad's '54CJ3B and he's looking at what he says is a mid to late '60s J6000. I've searched for J6000 info but seem to come up a little short on info. All I know about this Jeep so far is it's supposedly (according to the current owner) it's a 3/4 ton with a granny geared manual and a 60K original miles 360. From what I hear, this jeep runs and drives fine. What I really want to know is what alxes and transmission should I be looking for uder this thing before I go look at it and give the old man the nod to buy it. TIA.

[j20brett]

Its going to have drum brakes, so make sure they at least sort of work. Ummm...ive got nothing else except check the frame and floorboards for rust. And get some pics!!

[jaber]

Welcome. Can't wait to see pics...

[Bill Moore]

get the vin number and look in the tech section for details, sounds like an early 70s camper special with a 360, if factory, no j6000, prob a j4000, if it has 8 lug wheels, if not its a 1/2 ton. 3/4 has dana 60 rear and hd44 closed knuckle front, if 1/2 it will have 5 lug wheels and dana 44s front and back. welcome to the madness.
Bill

[willness33]

Thanks for the info so far and thanks for the welcomes. It's going to be 2 weeks before I can check it out. Hopefully I'll have some specs and pics when I get to lay eyes on it.

[dlowrance]

Might be a 3600 or 4600...6000 GVW maybe is what you're getting instead of the model #?

[willness33]

Could be. I'm just going on what my Dad is telling me. I'm anxious to see what kind of shape it's in and if it has the ever coveted T18.

[PlumCrazy]

Yep, you would have to loose a 0 to be in the mid-60's crowd and have to be 71 and later for the 360...course I could be wrong....again

Wayne S

[willness33]

Ok, I'm narrowing down the specs. It is a 1973 J4000, with the 360 and 4 speed tranny (T-18 YAAAAYYY), D20 of course, and the current owner still says it's the 3/4 ton. I'm assuming I'm going to see a full floating 60 out back since it's the "3/4 ton"? Obviously, the front will be a closed knuckle 44. So, I guess i'll just stand right up and ask the stupid J-truck noob question. Is a closed knuckle 44 really that much different than an open knuckle 44? Is it an undesirable axle for, say a 35" tire? In the short wheel based world, that's an acceptable combination on an open knuckle 44. Do the closed 44s still use the 297X sized u-joint?

I'm starting to think out loud and ramble. I'm going to look at this thing on tuesday. I'll take pics.:D

[KaiserMan]

If it's a 3/4 ton J4700 it will have a closed knuckle (smaller, 19 spline inner/10 spline outer axle shafts, wide turning radius, and 260X u-joints) and a Dana 60-2 semi floating rear. The D60-2 is an excellent axle. It has 1.5" 35 spline shafts.

Only the 1-ton J4800 got the full floating D60 untill the J20's came about in 74.

[Bill Moore]

If it's a 3/4 ton J4700 it will have a closed knuckle (smaller, 19 spline inner/10 spline outer axle shafts, wide turning radius, and 260X u-joints) and a Dana 60-2 semi floating rear. The D60-2 is an excellent axle. It has 1.5" 35 spline shafts.

Only the 1-ton J4800 got the full floating D60 untill the J20's came about in 74.
I believe the 8 lug wheels are all full floating rear 60s correct?

[JeepTopless]

And wouldn't the granny T18 in 73 be the 4 to 1 versus the 6 to 1 T18A that started after 75 or 76? Or am I thinking baby Jeep?

[KaiserMan]

I believe the 8 lug wheels are all full floating rear 60s correct?

Yes, all FSJ's with 8 lug wheels will have a full floating rear.

Jeeptopless, all J-Series T18's have the 6.32:1 first gear. They never used the 4 something to 1 T18B, just the CJ's had that.

[Herk]

7000# GVW will have 5 on 5 1/2" standard Jeep/Scout bolt pattern on wheels.

[willness33]

Jeeptopless, all J-Series T18's have the 6.32:1 first gear. They never used the 4 something to 1 T18B, just the CJ's had that.That's what I was hoping to hear. I've been digging through the net and have found that there's a million variations of the T18. I was hoping the J trucks had the deep geared 1st.

So the closed knuckle 44 on the front is a tad on the weak side, eh? I'm still researching what springs will net enough lift for 35s, but that axle now has me a bit concerned. Dad is wanting to wheel this thing a little harder than he does the 3B. The 60 in the rear is good to go with a lunchbox locker, that's not a concern. Has anyone run a 33 or 35 on the weaker 44 in stock form, open of course? On that note, would it be blasphemy if I were to find and run a chevy 44 or (gasp) a 10 bolt in the front? Again, the front axle would not be locked.;)

Edit: Did Chevy ever use a 44 front? Dunno. More reaearch needed. Now I just realized that wheel bolt patterns will be an issue with chevy stuff. DOH!!!!

[Herk]

If you feel a lunchbox locker is adequate, the front 44 will seem bulletproof. Just replace the threaded studds with button-heads. It's the same knuckle, spindle and hub as the 3B. If you want 35's, the Hell Creek springs will get you there. If you want a 5000# full size work truck to go places a 2800# flatfender can't you're kidding yourself. If you are trying to make this truck into something it was never designed to be, you will be fighting an uphill battle. Ask yourself first EXACTLY what it is you want to do and then go looking for a vehicle to fit that mission.

Yes, there were Chevy D44 front ends. GM was smart enough not to make their own axles when it really counted.

[willness33]

If you want 35's, the Hell Creek springs will get you there.I've been looking at those, and that may be the direction we go if I can't figure out a junkyard leaf pack. If you want a 5000# full size work truck to go places a 2800# flatfender can't you're kidding yourself. If you are trying to make this truck into something it was never designed to be, you will be fighting an uphill battle. Ask yourself first EXACTLY what it is you want to do and then go looking for a vehicle to fit that mission. I've been waiting for someone to actually come out and say this. My dad just wants to be out on the "easier" trails with us and be able to carry more than just a cooler. He's not going to wheel nearly as hard as I do and he doesn't want to have to load up the 3B on the trailer just to head out to the trails. Anything over 45mph in the little Jeep is impossible and scary to even try. FWIW, here's the B.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c391/willness33/Aug24_04.jpg
I'm not looking to make a J truck into a full-on crawler, just a capable truck for the old man to get out and have a little fun in, without worrying about undersized axles for a 33-35" tire. The 3B is running 31's and I'm even a little leary about putting a locker in the rear for fear of breaking hard to replace parts.

[Josh D]

I used a set of ScoutII lift springs on the front to gain about 3.5" Room enough for 35"

Also, if it's a five lugger, early '80's to early '90's Dodge D44 make a nice swap to get disc brakes, open knuckles, internal spline hubs, and 760 joints. You'll also need '74+ J10/J20 tie rod/drag link, combo valve, and disc/drum master cylinder. I've done this swap and have all the details if you need. The Dodge axle is narrower than a Chevy, so it would better match the rear.

Nice 'B' by the way!!

[Herk]

Disks can be easily swapped onto the closed knuckle as well. Exact same knuckles, spindles and hubs (although external drum) as an early CJ.

Chevy 1/2 ton backing plates and calipers, 78 CJ-7 "thick" rotors and hubs. A little grinding and it's there.

[ncjeepers]

Hey... where you at?