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71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 5:18 pm
by Mudbull
It will be a bit of a slow start, but our new project fell into our lap (I'm also pretty sure we swept in right before Rocklaurance got to the seller!). To make a long story short we bought this truck to use as a clean VIN to claim that it's sheetmetal was used on our salvage titled 68 cummins Kaiser. All paperwork has been straightened out so it is clear to begin restoring this truck. It's my dad's project, but I think it will keep the original Buick engine and 4spd.
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 5:42 pm
by twisted frame
Nice start. If that truck was in Fla. its whole life I'd be interested in seeing how the rust is. In the northeast, we get plenty of rust but I guess I'm surprised sometimes at how southern and western vehicles can still have serious rust issues even if it's not as bad as something that drove on salted roads every winter.
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 5:15 am
by Mudbull
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 6:34 am
by rocklaurence
Wow! You guys are at it again? Where did you find it and are you going to use the independent front suspension?
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 11:26 am
by Mudbull
At it again with no end in sight (I think I have a wagoneer lined up for my next project too)!
We got the J4000 up in Ocala area, the seller was telling us that there was another guy trying to get it and his 'parts collection' but didn't react quick enough, you came to mind first for who it might've been rocky, must not have been though. I'll have to get with you sometime with a parts list; my dad likes the rhino grille more than this one (razor?) so I think he's going back with that front end. the Chevy was over in Sanford.
The plan is pretty much like the last one: to drop the cab and bed onto the frame and use everything from the donor that can be used; were intending to retain the IFS and all the rest of the Chevy drivetrain.
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 4:09 pm
by rocklaurence
Hey Tim, do you have any 8 lug 16x7 steel wheels that you want to sell?
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 5:18 pm
by Mudbull
Hey rocky, I do not personally, but I have a friend in Tampa who has a 2nd gen cummins and some dodge parts who might. I'll give you a text of a call this weekend when I find out
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 7:37 am
by rocklaurence
Nope, I wasn't aware of that one in Ocala. However, Im interested in the Drive Train and we can work out some trade for parts etc. Any word on the steel wheels?
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 6:09 am
by Mudbull
Hey rocky, sorry, my friend is still using the steel wheels as roll arounds for his project. Let me know when your want to talk about the drivetrain, its not in our way where it is now and is covered up though so no rush.
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 8:45 pm
by Mudbull
My dad has the bodywork done on the cab of the truck, I think he's ready to start looking at the Chevys now.
If you looked closely at the red truck you can see the frame had broken in the middle from rust, the drivetrain is in great running shape though. My dad got another donor truck that is just a rolling chassis to use the frame only. I think the plan is to start pulling Chevy cabs off over Christmas and see how far we get
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 6:53 am
by rocklaurence
Wow, surprised to see that a new vehicle can still rust in half. By any chance do you have a good NP229 laying around? I broke my rear Tcase output last week.
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 8:03 am
by Mudbull
I as surprised too, the axles and front IRS seems to be relatively corrosion free, the engine and engine compartment look great to me. The cab and frame definitely have a lot of rust though (I guess where the wheels would wip the salt up onto them.
The only tcase we have around is on the drivetrain from the 71, don't think that that can help you out of this but let me know. I'll be down there for christmas and can try to figure out how to bring stuff up here if you want.
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2016 10:38 am
by rocklaurence
Keep me in mind if you wqant to sell the old drive train
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2017 5:59 pm
by Mudbull
Hey Rocklaurance, havnt forgotten about you, been meaning to get a hold of you for some things too...
I went home for Easter and helped my dad move some things around, test the bed figment on the Chevy frame (he has a lot of cutting to do to make it fit).
Drivetrain out of one donor, before it went into another's frame
Trial fits
Turning around to test fit bed (...68 cummins in the background)
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 9:37 am
by TurboJ4000
Any update on this truck? It looks like it will be awesome when its done.
Re: 71 J4000 4x4 rebuild
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2018 6:33 am
by rocklaurence
Did you already repair the GM frame? Im finally in a working shop... Yay