'73 Thriftside Buildup

[TexTJ209]

Well, finally took delivery of my thriftside today. Its dirty, but fairly straight and clean overall. Even the cardboard glove box is still intact, including all the original papers. My plan is to combine it with my J20's drivetrain to make a wheelin' rig. Progress will be slow at the moment, as school is approaching finals time.

One teaser pic: :)
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/IMG_04811.jpg


First things first though. Need y'alls opinion on how to procede combining the two rigs.

I've got:

1973 J2000 Thriftside
258/T15/D20
D44(closed knuckle)/D44
Fairly good body
Titled
Post mount front and rear

1974 J20
360/T18/D20
D44HD/D60
Post mount rear
Body is toast


Do y'all think the easiest course of action would be to swap the Thriftside's body onto the J20's frame (would require at least the moving of body mounts, the rear axle, and chopping the tail of the frame off), or swapping the J20's drivetrain over to the J2K?

[Elliott]

Are you sure your '74 J20 is a post mount front? If so, it's a direct bolt in. Check the size of the end cap on the J20 steering box it may be larger and a bigger box is nicer to have.
If they are both post mount I'd just swap the axles into the Thriftside and not screw with the frame shortening.

[TexTJ209]

Sorry, post mount rear. Not front...bit of a brain fart. Fixed it.

[Elliott]

Still, it's easier to cut off the post mounts and swap on the under frame hangers than to chop the frame n'll. I've done them both ways...

If you are swapping the V8 in then I think the 258 core support is narrower (the 230's had narrower radiators anyway) and you'd want to swap that too. The frame horns for the motors aren't hard to swap over.

[TexTJ209]

Still, it's easier to cut off the post mounts and swap on the under frame hangers than to chop the frame n'll. I've done them both ways...

If you are swapping the V8 in then I think the 258 core support is narrower (the 230's had narrower radiators anyway) and you'd want to swap that too. The frame horns for the motors aren't hard to swap over.


Hmm, might just go the drivetrain swap route after looking at it a bit. Not sure why I thought the body swap would be easier..

[Elliott]

Well, I guess it depends on what you want to lift. The body swap is harder to do by yourself. The powertrain swap is a no brainer and goes real well with the front end open on the front clip 'cause you can yank the engine/tranny/tcase all in one pull.

[H Callaway]

I am a little partial to Thriftsides. I am sure it will a lot of fun!!!
Before and After
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/hcallaway/Gladiator-1.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/hcallaway/DSC02378-1.jpg

[KJ Ryu]

:eek: Wow!

[TexTJ209]

I am a little partial to Thriftsides. I am sure it will a lot of fun!!!



Yeah, the color really made me think of yours.


Gonna hopefully get some work done on it this weekend(and more pics), just have a Thermodynamics test tomorrow, so been a bit busy. :(

[jeeping1974]

i vote drivetrain swap. I love the look of those trucks with the thriftside beds.

[Slick Willie]

...have a Thermodynamics test tomorrow, so been a bit busy. :(

Man, I sure don't miss those studying nights...or classes for that matter. I feel your pain, though. Good luck!

[Long&Low]

That pic right there is almost pornographic.:eek:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/hcallaway/DSC02378-1.jpg

[TexTJ209]

Worked for about five hours today...just cleaning the dang thing. Hopefully in the next few weeks it will see some actual progress, got a few friends lined up to help, so I'm hoping it goes fairly quick.

Did finally find some rust though, one of of the thriftside's bed supports is rusted through, but doesn't look too bad to fix. Other than that, the rusted up front valance and the standard floorboard rust its good. Which really surprised me, seeing as how its from the same farm as my J20, and that thing makes swiss cheese look solid(for a Southern rig, that is ;)).

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/Before%20Pics/BeforePictures001.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/Before%20Pics/BeforePictures004.jpg

Warn Lock-o-Matics:
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/Before%20Pics/BeforePictures017.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/Before%20Pics/BeforePictures016.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/Before%20Pics/BeforePictures018.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/Before%20Pics/BeforePictures019.jpg


The rusted support:
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/Before%20Pics/BeforePictures008.jpg




Plans are eventually to run 36s with the front SOA and Chevy 63s in the rear. Going basic for now, nothing fancy, although the D20 will probably be swapped out for a twin sticked D300 sometime after its all completed. Think I'm going to paint it a '70s AMC color called Big Bad Blue.

[KaiserMan]

Looks like a nice project. Makes me want to run out and start playi ng with my thriftside!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/CRNJG/Thriftside/p1010010.jpg

[TexTJ209]

Hey...progress! I told ya I worked slow.

Hoping to get the motor swapped over Spring Break (next week), got the front clip on the J20 stripped off (took forever..I need a torch) and the J2K's shouldn't be too bad as its not a rusty POS like the J20 is. SOA might take a bit longer as my spare funds are torn between the Jeeps and panic buying firearms. :thumbsup:

Been cold/rainy today so haven't gotten to work on it any more, but was playing with some rear bumper ideas in Inventor. My rear skirts are pretty dented up, so I'm hoping to fab up a step-bumper once I reach that point in the project. (Measurements are all guesstimated as this was just a quick drawing to see what it'd look like, plus as I mentioned before its cold outside and I didn't feel like measuring)

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/ThriftsideStepBumper1.jpg

[jepj2000]

I think that back bumper can be pretty bad ace! I could be interested in in one for my thriftside.:thumbsup:

Also what are you doing with the steelie wheels from the J2K?

Thanks,
Rankin

[TexTJ209]

I think that back bumper can be pretty bad ace! I could be interested in in one for my thriftside.:thumbsup:

Also what are you doing with the steelie wheels from the J2K?

Thanks,
Rankin


Not sure yet, if I end up not keeping 'em you're welcome to them.

[TexTJ209]

And I'm exhausted. Spent all day removing the J20's drivetrain..mostly solo, which sucked.

The Parts Pile.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/Picture002.jpg
Dirt just from playing archaeologist trying to find bolts.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/Picture021.jpg
D20 Removed
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/Picture009.jpg
And liftoff.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/Picture017.jpg

[james1414d]

I am a little partial to Thriftsides. I am sure it will a lot of fun!!!
Before and After
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/hcallaway/Gladiator-1.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/hcallaway/DSC02378-1.jpg


Man, I like a thriftside!

[krek]

And I'm exhausted. Spent all day removing the J20's drivetrain..mostly solo, which sucked.

Is there another way?

Looks like a great day's work, eager to see future progress!

[cap'n]

i cant tell from the pics, but did they make a thriftside longbed???

[TexTJ209]

And progress...of sorts. The J20 is dead! Kinda.


http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/IMG_0067.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/IMG_0070.jpg

Spot the J20
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/IMG_0072.jpg


I need a bigger garage. :(


Anybody want to buy a J20 frame? :thumbsup:

[Straightpipe]

Planning on hauling that off to Bryan Iron and Metal any time soon?? I know a Cherokee that would be happy to tag along with you :thumbsup:

[TexTJ209]

Planning on hauling that off to Bryan Iron and Metal any time soon?? I know a Cherokee that would be happy to tag along with you :thumbsup:

I don't have a trailer. If I can't find anybody to buy the frame its getting chopped into smaller bits and hauled over there in my bed.

[arclight]

And progress...of sorts. The J20 is dead! Kinda.


http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/IMG_0067.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/IMG_0070.jpg

Spot the J20
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/IMG_0072.jpg


I need a bigger garage. :(


Anybody want to buy a J20 frame? :thumbsup:



No garage is big enough. My three bay garage the pap used to park his Macks in looks just like yours... but bigger.

[chrisnsarah]

Good progress. You have some tolerant neighbors:), I hope.

[nitro4x4]

nice job so far man keep it up

[TexTJ209]

Good progress. You have some tolerant neighbors:), I hope.


Hence the car cover on the thriftside, everything else hides inside the garage when I'm not working on it. More worried about the city coming around than anything.. :o

[Carleysjeep]

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/IMG_04811.jpg




Was that thing sitting under a Pecan tree?
Are you keeping the old cab?

[TexTJ209]

Was that thing sitting under a Pecan tree?
Are you keeping the old cab?


Was sitting under a few trees...so I wouldn't doubt it.

As for the cab I think I'll but cutting out a section of the roof to help in the repair of the big dent in the thriftside's cab, but other than that I'm not entirely sure what my plans for it are.

[TexTJ209]

I apparently still have this thing, so I guess I should make progress on it. :eek: Plus, I've got a real job and a 2-car garage now, so I actually have the money and room to work. Which were my big holdups before.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/TexTJ209/1973%20J2000/IMG_0832.jpg

Trying to decide a few things before I start though. I'm planning on pulling the body off the frame, cleaning up everything and making this thing into a nice daily drivable truck slash mild wheeler.

I plan on inboarding the rear springs(currently a post mount rear), and swapping in a set of Chevy 63s. I'm also going to convert the post-mount front spring setup to the 1974 and later style, as I've already got all the parts saved off of my old J20, in addition to going SOA. Or so my plan goes.

Can I relocate the spring hangers with the cab/bed off of the frame, or is it better for the full weight of the body to be on the frame before fiddling with spring mounting? Basically I need to know if it'd be better to swap the axles under the truck before I pull the body, or if it can wait.

[joe]

Looks like a nice project. Makes me want to run out and start playi ng with my thriftside!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/CRNJG/Thriftside/p1010010.jpg
Wow, long box thriftside. Don't see those everyday.

[TexTJ209]

Wow, long box thriftside. Don't see those everyday.


Yeah, you see more Panel Wagons than you do LWB Thriftsides I'd say.

[Elliott]

You can relocate with the body off as long as you keep the center pin
(for each end of the spring) distance the same your springs will hang right.

[TexTJ209]

You can relocate with the body off as long as you keep the center pin
(for each end of the spring) distance the same your springs will hang right.


Gotcha, thanks. All stocked up on ziploc baggies, duct tape, sharpies and plastic parts containers. Now to begin disassembly.