New to me 72 J4000

[brentwood]

Hey guys. I just bought a 72 j4000. It's a very solid truck and runs pretty well but needs a lot of work. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

The plastic on the gas pedal is broke where it sits on the studs. Where can I get a replacement pedal? Or is there a better style pedal to replace with?

The driver side manual window regulator is broke. Where/what brand replacement should I get?

The split bench upholstery is totally beat. Upholstery prices in my area are really high. Are there any good aftermarket benches I can just bolt right in or benches out of other makes/models that will fit?

It currently has a Chevy 350, with short shaft th350 trans. No transfer case or front driveshaft. What transfer case set up would you guys recommend?

[44BZ]

Do you have the floor mounted gas pedal? If so I would convert over to the later pedal mounted on the firewall. Once the rubber flap that holds the pedal to the floor brakes, it's virtually useless.

[tgreese]

If the Chevy runs and drives ok, I would not change the motor. You have a few options to put the 4WD back. The Jeep setup would be a TH400 and a Dana 20 transfer case. You could use a Chevy TH400 and the Jeep pieces for the transfer case. I think the Jeep 4x4 stuff will bolt up in place of the Chevy output housing without changing the output shaft - search old posts or someone will correct me. The TH400 is strong durable and reliable, but not as efficient as the TH350 or later GM overdrive transmissions. You could convert the TH350 to 4WD with an aftermarket kit (ca $500) and use the Dana 20 or Dana 300 transfer case. Check out Novak COnversions or Advance Adapters. You could go with a modern Chevy overdrive transmission like the 700R4 and matching New Process chain driven transfer case. I believe the best choice here would be a NP241C from a Chevy or GMC. Also possible you could use the chain-driven case with the 350 or 400, but I don't know what's involved.

Novak has a lot of info on their site if you follow all the related links - https://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledg...tomatic/th400/

Other than service parts, very little is available aftermarket for these trucks. Check the junkyards or post in the WTB (want to buy) forum here and on other Jeep sites.

[joe]

Don't expect finding an after market bench seat for a J-truck. Also don't expect a bolt-in bench from another brand truck. Also "measure" other brand seats before buying. J-truck cabs are narrower than Ford/Chev etc. The bench may fit on the floor but you won't be able to close the doors. I'd work with a local auto upholstery shop regarding options. The springs and foam rebuild are pretty standard for time and materials costs. Can get expense when you get into fancy cover materials especially if they have to buy a small amount. I've had a couple bench seats rebuilt and opted for canvas for the cover. Looks good in a truck, wears well, not hot sticky in the summer and not freezing cold in the winter. Also when you get a price quote. Get it as a carry-in quote. If they have to remove/install the bench seat...price goes up significantly.
Compare their costs to buying a used bench and having it shipped. Shipping is expensive and usually kills that plan. Cost wise your cheapest option is prolly switching over to local boneyard available buckets from a Brand X car/truck.

[brentwood]

Do you have the floor mounted gas pedal? If so I would convert over to the later pedal mounted on the firewall. Once the rubber flap that holds the pedal to the floor brakes, it's virtually useless.

Yes, it's floor mounted. The rubber ripped and the plastic that sits on the studs is broke. I can't find a replacement anywhere.

[Crankyolman]

Welcome to the J4000 club


I can't help with the accelerator pedal but once upon a time I put a th350 trans and transfer case out of a full size Blazer in my '66 gladiator. It had the right hand drop and went in pretty easily.


I also put a split bench seat out of a mid 70s Cadillac in my '66 with no problem. There was an article in a 4 wheel drive magazine a few years ago called "Project Farmhaul" if I recall correctly they used a seat out of a 70s Ford pickup. A trip to the junkyard with a tape measure tends to be the best solution for swapping things like that. I could be wrong but I don't think a split bench was an option in '72 although maybe it was in the Wagoneer so I'm thinking what you have may not be original. In my case I had my original bench seat reupholstered, Seattle is a pretty expensive area to have anything like that done. I got quotes from $700 to $2500 to do it, can you guess who got the job? Yep, the guy in some hole in the wall little upholstery shop, he did a really nice job too.

[tgreese]

Yes, it's floor mounted. The rubber ripped and the plastic that sits on the studs is broke. I can't find a replacement anywhere.

I expect your only source will be another Jeep of similar vintage. That pedal was used across the Jeep line in the late 60s, PN 948748. Not sure what year the suspended pedal started (1973 would be my guess) - if you can find a donor (WTB section here or wrecking yard), you could take everything from the donor, pedal to carburetor, and install what you need.

If I didn't care about appearance, I would go to the hardware store and buy a gate hinge to replace the hinge part of the pedal. I would be very careful not to compromise the function of the pedal, since it's a safety related part.

Specialty junkyards for these Jeeps exist; Jake's in NC and Montana Overland, likely others. There are also Jeep specialty yards, like J&W in CA, again there are surely others.

[brentwood]

I went out to measure bench.... turns out it has a split ford bench with custom mounting bracket in it already. I should have noticed that sooner! I'll call around to some local junk yards to see if they have anything decent.
I'd like to leave the th350 in it. I think I'm going to look for a Chevy np208 or a Dana 20 with an adapter. And probably have custom driveshaft made

I ordered a universal firewall mount gas pedal that hopefully will work out.
Thanks for all the good info. Don't be shy to tell me if anything I'm doing is a bad idea. Haha

[Crankyolman]

On my '66 the front drive shaft out of a 4wd s-10 fit perfectly.

[brentwood]

On my '66 the front drive shaft out of a 4wd s-10 fit perfectly.

With what trans and transfer case?

[Crankyolman]

With what trans and transfer case?

I don't really have an answer. It was a long time ago, some time between '90 and '93 and I really didn't pay that close of attention. I installed a 350 trans and transfer case out of a full size Blazer but don't have any idea what year. The S-10 was probably late 80s, had a v-6 and an auto trans, that's all I remember. At the time I had unlimited access to a salvage yard so I just wandered around with a tape measure til I found something that fit and used that. By the way don't discount the possibility a car drive shaft could fit the rear. My 66 was a short bed and after wandering and measuring I found a drive shaft out of a Monza was perfect. My point is go to a junk yard and measure til you find something that will fit, you'd be surprised what will work.