Hey Guys - Potential n00b here...

[Yes! I Own an MGB]

Hey everyone!

My name is Zack, and I live in Central Arkansas. I an contemplating purchasing a J-10 LWB pickup I found locally, and wanted to ask a few things about them.

I've always wanted a FSJ, be it a J-10 or a Waggy, but I had been discouraged in the past by people saying they were troublesome to maintain. I'm not ASE master tech, but I own a number of MG's, so nothing can possibly be more troublesome than those

Curious though, what types of things should I keep a wary eye for when I go to inspect this truck? Also, I plan on using this truck as a parts dog/tow-rig for my MG's, but I was told that the 360/TH-400 combo left alot to be desired in terms of tow ability. Any thoughts?

Any other advice y'all would care to bestow upon me would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks a bunch!

Zack

[bg29fan]

what is the year of the J10 and what are you going to have to give for it?

[Yes! I Own an MGB]

1979 and $1600

[bg29fan]

does it run and drive good as it is?

[Yes! I Own an MGB]

Seems to drive fine. Has an electric brake controller, and a winch in front. Its got a rear main seal leak and the fuel gauge isnt working.

[bg29fan]

I think if i was going to use it to tow or to drive on the road occassionally i would go with the T18 4 speed in place of the auto. I have the T18 in mine but am changing to a TH400 and NP205 chevy because i use mine strictly off road. they are super easy to work on and as you can tell by being on this site you can almost always find the parts you need or want. these things are super fun and what a beast they are off road. there is so much fabrication and upgrades that you can do yourself that save alot of money and you get the satisfaction of knowing you did it and it is not a store bought rig. there is nothing like a FSJ on the trail. as they say FSJ's GET IT DONE!!!!!

[jeepdad56]

Hi Zack,
New here myself. Trying to finalize a deal on a 77 J10 w/360 and a T18a trans. THAT truck also has a non functioning fuel guage . I wa told to check the ground. Good luck

[rustywagoneers_com]

howdy, i have had a couple dozen FSJ's (pickups and waggies) with quite a few of the various drivetrain options (buick350 / TH400 - 360/TH400 - 401/TH400 - 360/727 - 360/T18) as far as I am concerned the basically are all equals for strength. i flat-towed a 65 J-300 back from the idaho/montana border to eastern nebraska in an 84 waggy with 360/727. i have trailered and flat-towed numerous loads of parts and vehicles behind each of these different FSJ's and the only area i ever was concerned with was braking. (J-20's are not a problem so much as a waggy when you are talking towing quality brake system)

towing with an automatic (any automatic) is a matter of keeping the fluid cool. the TH400 is no more a liability in an FSJ as it is in a chevy 3/4 ton pickup, a buick electra, or a big block chevelle. the 360 will yank a trailer along all day, as long as the carb and ignition are good (life is better if you dont have a burnt exhaust valve - that is what i normally find if i have a miss that just wont go away)

the same guys who are telling you what a maintenance headache FSJ's are would praise the TH400 in a hot rod, i'll wager... and if they knew the real specs of the 360, they would think again also (2.03 intake valves stock, 1.68 exhaust valves stock, 1.to 1 rockers stock, .904 lifters stock, 5.88 rods stock, etc etc etc)

the main problem is rust.
mind the slack in the QT chain, and consider a part time kit, maybe - however, the QT is a beautiful thing when it is in good shape, so don't just go changing it around because someone said they are junk, or in an attempt to gain 1/3 of one MPG

now, i have had a couple MGB's (crhome bumper wire wheel MK2's 1965, one with overdrive, one without) also, and Alfa Romeos.
if you can keep your carb damper oil topped up, if you can stand the thought of synchronizing the S.U.s again because your 'tickover' has gone daft....
if you can bear with LUCAS (the prince of darkness) electrics...

you can handle anything this truck could ever throw at you.

peace
Dave

[jeeping1974]

welcome to the crazyness zack.

i have a 74 j10 with the 360/th400 combo. before i pulled everything and rebuilt it, i did haul some stuff in the bed, crushed stone, mulch, and personal cr@p, and i did tow a little with it, just a 4x8 trailer though. it was great.

even with the th400 with an oile leak into the QT case and teh clutches worn down to bare metal, it did not hesitate. i installed a heavy duty shift kit (stage1) from B&M and that made a difference also with teh shifting. nice firm quicker shifts.

low oil pressure, none working gauges, and a spun bearing in the motor did not slow this thing down either. heck, when i would go around corners, this thing would still spin the tires. after the rebuilding the motor,tranny and installing a new QT case, it felt like nothing could stop it. minus when it needed 4wd to get over a simple 1' log.

but i love this combo. i do not tow with it anymore as its just a 4 wheeling rig now.

[fulsizjeep]

Welcome Zack! I went through a Triumph phase in the 70s and early 80s restoring a 73 Spitfire and 72 GT6. It was British Leyland madness I tell ya. If you can deal with MGs, then, you can handle a FSJ.

[Yes! I Own an MGB]

Haha fair enough. I actually have 4 MGB GT hardtop coupes and one MGB roadster. I just moved here from Southern Louisiana so I have yet to move them all up here to Arkansas.

Mechanically wise, I guess I'd be most unfamiliar with 4wd. That, and AMC-particular type gremlins. (no pun intended)

Even if I decide not to get THIS rig, I'd still be in the market for a good J-10. What would I be looking at for them pricewise?

[Ca. Bowhunter]

This is the wifes DD.


Randy

[bg29fan]

When i bought my 76 J20 it could be driven daily if needed. the bed was very rusty but everything else worked fine. it has the 360/t18/d20 with the 60 rear and 44 front and everything worked great. had all the glass in working condition, even had the factory radio still in it. I only gave $900 for it 2 years ago. it is my first but certainly not my last because of the FSJ being the ultimate FULL SIZE rig there is in my opinion, and the ease of finding what you need and being able to do most everything yourself. you should be able to find one pretty reasonable that is still in fair condition. good luck

[Yes! I Own an MGB]

Awesome. I guess when I do see them come up, they are going for 6-7k on ebay, so I am trying to attune myself better to pricing on them

Awesome yeller B! Here are a few pics of mine...

[fulsizjeep]

wow, nice collection there... When I was driving Triumphs, had a couple aquaintances with MGC GTs while in Hawaii. Those were zippy with the 6! In the TR world, the GT6 looked like a Spitfire, but ran circles around it with the 6. My freakin Spitfire went through 3 engines in 4 years. That engine was not cut out for freeway use. Started out with a 1500 and ended up with a 1300 that ran much better. The modified cam and header didn't hurt none either.

[Yes! I Own an MGB]

Haha there's a common conversion process where you buy a GT6, junk the body, and bolt a Spitfire body to the chassis. There is one here locally, pretty quick!