OK, here she is. 81 J-10 Laredo Build

[Mars]

This is the 81 Laredo I picked up off of Craigslist.
Aside from getting it running it's been untouched.
I've got a Pile of parts to go on it.

I figured before I got going on it I would post before pics.






I kinda looks nice wet.

I've got a new power steering pump, and pressure line.
New Radiator
Door locks
4 brand new Firestone Destination AT's 31x10.5x15's
And a bunch of misc electrical bits.
So I'm hoping in the next couple days to have it up and going and ready for wigwam villiage.

[Ristow]

looks decent enough.

[OutrageGIS]

Lots to work with

Looks like a good start. Lotsa potential...

[Mars]

Yeah it's probably the nicest one I've ever had. I'm kinda torn.
I bought a J-truck to hang all my 715 stuff on ( fenders, hood, bed ) but I think I screwed up and actually got a nice truck..

[Strode]

That looks good, especially the seats. That looks really solid, with maybe some rust areas? I think your 81 and my 82 were the same color....vintage red metallic? The muscle grilles are really growing on me.
What are your plans for it? Keep posting as you go

[Mars]

Honestly the plan right now is to finally have a jeep to drive.
Get it going, get it reliable and put some terrain under the wheels.

[Retro93]

Look's like a WigWam vehicle to me. Nice score.

[cma]

Nice Catch!!!! And of course, i love the mucle Grill

[The PIG Smith]

Wow! Very nice!

[Mars]

Yeah! I'm very happy with her. With all the things she still needs I put some gas in her, a hot battery, some power steering fluid and some trans fluid and she fired right up and I took for a ride. A short ride due to the timebombs it has for tires. But she drove like a CHAMP! I couldnt be happier. Now I just need a radio, speakers, headlights, working dash cluster.. you know the little things in life.


Mike

Just a side note, those 727's shift way different than the th400's I've gotten used to, the shift a bit harder than I would expect.

[mrtazwrench]

Yeah it's probably the nicest one I've ever had. I'm kinda torn.
I bought a J-truck to hang all my 715 stuff on ( fenders, hood, bed ) but I think I screwed up and actually got a nice truck..

I got a J20 perfect for hanging M715 parts on.

Looks like you got a solid truck there!

[Mars]

Busy day.

Got my power steering pump in, and both lines brand new.


Also, to the person who thought the giant meathook of death was a good idea.. I say.. please go drown yourself in a truckstop toilet.

I was raging after the 4th time hitting it in the exact same spot, taking my hat off and knocking my glasses off.. grrrr

On another thread I was wondering if maybe the VIN decoder was inaccurate since my VIN states I have a inline 6 auto, when I clearly have a v8. I won't say 360 till I actually look under the motor mounts. It could be a 304.

But what we have here is a I6 Core support.


And a crusty I6 radiator....

and... you guessed it! A brand spanking new V8 radiator!!


Here's where my being a packrat pays off..

Couple years back Hoot and I pilliaged a Super clean 86 Waggy at the pull and pay.. I still had the face panel ( that I converted to take both the square and round buckets.. and.. and.. a V8 core support! Here's the kicker.. it's all the same color as the truck haha.. maybe my patience is being rewarded?


I'm still grinning about it. Heck I might even take that old three piece bumper apart and see if I can get it on this rig.

And yes it's sitting on it's drums/rotors on the lift.. it's tall and I'm short.. so it works.. no worries it's just kissing the ground, not taking any weight.

See you tomorrow

[OutrageGIS]

Right on

Nice! Will you be able to use the shroud from the I6? Maybe fab some wider side brackets? Its always cool to clean out the storage & fix something at the same time!

[Mars]

Havent really given much thought to the fan shroud.
The engine has a unclutched flax fan on it so it should pull plenty of air.
ANd this is the only FSJ I've had that actually had a fan shrowd so I dunno if it's needed.

Headed out to pick up new calipers and then down to the shop to fiddle with it.

Mikle

[Strode]