New J2000 owner with a question about engine and transmission

[mbwinter633]

Hey yall, I am picking up a 1971 J2000 truck next weekend and I had a question about which engine and transmission is has in it. Ive read a lot of articles and vin decoders but have gotten some mixed messages. Mainly because I have read that all 71s have the 358 while someone else said they switched from the 232 to the 258 mid year.
I know it is a straight 6 and a manual transmission but I need to know which ones. The truck was manufactured in june 1971. And the Vin is 2406W17400XXX. I know there is a code on the side of the engine, but I cannot get to the truck until next weekend and wanted to have as much info about it as possible so I can be ready when I pick it up. Can yall give me some guidance please? Thank you!
Ps Im super excited to be joining the community! Ive always wanted a jeep truck and feel very blessed to be getting one.

[timwiller]

https://www.offroaders.com/tech/jeep/vin_66-71.htm

[mbwinter633]

https://www.offroaders.com/tech/jeep/vin_66-71.htm

Yep, checked that one. I just see on engine code "7" it says 232 or 258. Didnt know if there was any other way to narrow it down.

[babywag]

It ~50yr old Jeep there is zero chance anyone on here can tell you with any certainty it's a 258 or a 232.

[mbwinter633]

It ~50yr old Jeep there is zero chance anyone on here can tell you with any certainty it's a 258 or a 232.

I know... Im just very excited and I have all these plans in my head and I cant get it until Sunday... I was just hoping someone had some firsthand knowledge. Thanks to everyone for helping out.

[rang-a-stang]

The good news is you are

picking up a 1971 J2000 truck next weekend

!!!!

The thing with these old dudes is they are and always have been super easy to fix/modify. So your truck may have left the assembly line with a 258 or 232 but it might now have a 4.0, or a Chevy 292, or a Ford 300, or a Rotax 503. 50 years worth of owners, mechanics, repairs, etc. can really changa truck up!

When you get it, take tons of pictures and post them up! I know you posed this a couple months ago so hopefully you know for sure now. I hope to hear back!

[tgreese]

Looks like you're still around.

You will need to look at the engine build date code on the side of the block. It's between and underneath the 3 and 4 spark plugs on a cast-in platform.

Look here at the '62-73 Jeep J-series parts catalog. https://oljeep.com/edge_parts_man.html In the front is a description of the engine build dates. Suggest you download the whole book and read it on your local computer.

You understand that there is an early 232 (the Rambler engine), a transitional 258, and the unified 258 with the same bell pattern as the Gen 3 V8s (290-304-343-360-390-401). After 1970-71, the 232 appeared in the CJ and the little AMC passenger cars but it was gone from the trucks.

I know the later 258 has the starter on the passenger side like the V8s, and the Rambler 232 has the starter on the driver's side. I'm not sure about the '71 258. I know it's an oddball regarding the crank flange, but it may also retain the Rambler bell pattern and the driver side starter.

The transmission is a T-14 3-speed, or a T-18 truck 4-speed.

Member Carnuck knows something about these transition 258s, and maybe he will reply.

[mud89]

Your VIN corresponds to a J2000 with a 258
As Tgreese said in the previous post, You can check the engine date code on a pad, passenger side, just below the head : If it's still the 258, the date code fourth digit is "A" or "B"
Would you mind sending by PM the VIN without the last digit ? That would give me an idea of the '71 production figure, those very first 258 jtrucks are so rare