VIN confusion and the need to order parts

[Tigger4X]

Most of you have seen pics of "The Ugly" aka my '70 Gladiator J-3000 ...

The problem I have is in locating a body mount kit for it. I checked out BJ's and ZM Jeeps and either they had no pic of the product and/or there was no product description. So I googled a few websites and they are all jacked up with their cookie cutter search features claiming their isnt a J-3000 or a J-4000, but rather J-2700, J-3500, J-3600, J-3700, J-3800, J-4500, J-4600, J-4700 models.


So I went over to oljeep.com ( http://oljeep.com/gw/vin_66-71.html ) and checked out the VIN Decoder there and it claims I have a J-4000 and not a J-3000 w/a 6000# GVWR.



All I want for now is a set of body mounting bushings so I can get rid of the cancer ridden cab and bed so I can swap better sheet metal on. I guess this is what I get for a $250


Where can I find them?

[mud89]

I guess that your VIN looks like : 3406X...?
My old parts catalog or the site VIN decoder http://www.ifsja.org/tech/figures/vin68-70.html say that if the rig was manufactured before august 1969 it's a J3000, otherwise it's a J4000

Maybe yours is a 70' because it was sold and titled in 70, but actually according to the manufactured date it is a 69' and so you have the J3000 emblems on the body ?
Of course the easier way to surely differentiate a J3000 from a J4000 is to measure the wheelbase
- J3000, WB = 126''
- J4000, WB = 132''

[Crist Clapper]

VIN Decoder. I've learned to double/triple-check the VIN's. One site shows mine as a 1990; Another a 1991. Mine is registered as a 1990, but it came with a Final-Edition dash-label.

[mud89]

DEcoders online are often not perfect
I think that the VIN decoding in our Tech section is reliable
Otherwise some members got the original Jeep documentation and may help

[Tad]

What cab are you swapping over Keith?
(I don't remember the years of yours)

IIRC body mounts change for '74 to the newer style 2-piece bushings as do the mounting brackets on the frame and the recieving portion on the body (location may change slightly also but I'm not sure on the trucks).

I know BJ's has the older style for both Wag's and Trucks as I have gotten both from them over the years, but they will not work properly on the newer years (or possibly something could be modified/fabricated, never tried that).

[Tigger4X]

Originally Posted by mud89

I guess that your VIN looks like : 3406X...?
My old parts catalog or the site VIN decoder http://www.ifsja.org/tech/figures/vin68-70.html say that if the rig was manufactured before august 1969 it's a J3000, otherwise it's a J4000

Maybe yours is a 70' because it was sold and titled in 70, but actually according to the manufactured date it is a 69' and so you have the J3000 emblems on the body ?
Of course the easier way to surely differentiate a J3000 from a J4000 is to measure the wheelbase
- J3000, WB = 126''
- J4000, WB = 132''

. . .

DEcoders online are often not perfect
I think that the VIN decoding in our Tech section is reliable
Otherwise some members got the original Jeep documentation and may help

You hit the nail on the head with the 3406X... My registration doesnt show the year first sold or DOM so I'll have to go out and look at the data plate for that info and to measure wheelbase; although it is wearing J-3000 badges.

Originally Posted by Crist Clapper

VIN Decoder. I've learned to double/triple-check the VIN's. One site shows mine as a 1990; Another a 1991. Mine is registered as a 1990, but it came with a Final-Edition dash-label.

Who knows what the deal is, but for sure the VIN is correct on all my paperwork. My biggest deal was that when trying to figure out which parts to get most of the websites didnt give an option for J-3000 or J-4000.

Originally Posted by Tad

What cab are you swapping over Keith?
(I don't remember the years of yours)

IIRC body mounts change for '74 to the newer style 2-piece bushings as do the mounting brackets on the frame and the recieving portion on the body (location may change slightly also but I'm not sure on the trucks).

I know BJ's has the older style for both Wag's and Trucks as I have gotten both from them over the years, but they will not work properly on the newer years (or possibly something could be modified/fabricated, never tried that).

The swiss cheese '70 cab as of now is being replaced with a '67 J-3000 cab. But it wasnt until now that I wasnt thinking about this compatability issue. I just emailed the guy I'm supposed to be buying a bed from to find out what year truck it came off of. Heres hoping its gonna work out.



EDIT : the seller emailed me back and didnt have a pic on hand but did say the bed has the round tail lights. Anybody know when they stopped putting round lights on J-trucks??

[jpcoutts]

I think you'll be OK since you're planning to use a cab/bed that were the same era as the ones you are replacing.

[Tad]

I think you will be ok also Keith.
Those older body mounts are just a simple rubber bushings.
As best I recall the core support ones are slightly thicker than the body ones, or it could be the other way around.
It's been a long time but I may still have some of those laying around in the shed. I ordered extras back then thinking I needed some for the bed but those were more like thin sections of rubber mat.

[joe]

Originally Posted by Tigger4X

the seller emailed me back and didnt have a pic on hand but did say the bed has the round tail lights. Anybody know when they stopped putting round lights on J-trucks??[/font]

72 was the last year for the round taillights, single wall box and chain tailgate.

[Tigger4X]

Thanks guys I'm sure hoping this bed will be compatible and that I can get the body mount kit here ASAP. I have to get the swiss cheese rack and bed off my truck and then go pick up the bed in two weeks. The intent is to bolt the bed down at the seller's location so its safe to make the 4 hour trip home.

[Tigger4X]

I went back to BJs OffRoad website and ended up using the "Live Chat" ... actually chatted with Brent. Apparently I only need 6 mounts total for the cab and core support, but the bed supposedly only needs some thin rubber strips on the bed mounts. I thought it was kinda so I'm headed down to go lay eyes on the truck and check this out. Brent told me the parts were on the shelf and my order would ship today because the shipper had already been there yesterday. Soooo hopefully I have my goodies by friday, saturday at the latest. I'll post up about the rubber strips and when I get my parts. Til then ...