1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

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440sixpack
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1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by 440sixpack »

attachment=0]DSC01073.JPG[/attachment]
DSC01071.JPG
This rig has been around my town for years and I finally talked the owner into selling it. it's a rust free original paint central Oregon 360 4V auto with A/C Levis Golden Eagle. my high school dream pick up, I looked at one in 1979 just like it and it was $8100 and might as well have been 81 million. .

As the pictures show it needs about everything restored or rebuilt. I plan on making it as nice and original as possible with no expense spared. which means I'll be upside down in it big time I'm well aware.

These are the before pictures, now I have it stripped down to bare metal and ready to go in for paint I'll post those soon.
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440sixpack
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by 440sixpack »

Sorry about the pictures. I tried to put more on and one is out of focus. I don't know how to fix it because I'm not sure how I got them on in the first place. computers are not my thing.

Adventure_Wagon88
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by Adventure_Wagon88 »

Looks like a great project! Love the stance of that truck and the wheels. I'm sure it will be beautiful once you're done!

Reposting the photos so others can see more easily:

Image

Image

twisted frame
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by twisted frame »

Definitely a dream truck for me too. That's great that you were able to find one right in your town, from the original(?) owner.
73 J4000. 360, MC 2100, T18A, D20, stock closed knuckle Dana 44 front, 60-2 rear. Warn Lock-O-Matics, Warn/Belleview electric winch, true duals with glasspacks, old-school front diff skid plate, used 265 Toyos on 16" AR wheels.

Topic author
440sixpack
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by 440sixpack »

Not the original owner but We're pretty sure the 3rd owner. the guy I bought it from had it for the last 26 years.

I'm painting it 2015 Dodge Western Brown, close to the original Mocha Brown but in a base/clear which will be much better looking. kind of like radial tires there are some things I consider acceptable upgrades. as luck would have it the decals are all reproduced today so that makes restoration on one of these much easier.

The seats in it now are from a newer wagoneer but I have the original buckets and enough original Levis material to recover them.
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Stuka
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by Stuka »

wow, an OEM tire that holds air.

Great looking truck, looks to have no bed rust, which is awesome.
2017 JKU Rubicon
Pevious Jeeps: 1981 J10, 1975 Cherokee, 2008 JK, 2005 KJ, 1989 XJ
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yz400e
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by yz400e »

You don't live in Bigfork MT do you ? I just saw a Golden eagle on CL.

http://kalispell.craigslist.org/cto/5809946078.html

Image

I guess not, yours doesn't have dents on the passenger side.

BRUTUS
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by BRUTUS »

Nice truck! Can't wait to see it redone!
'74 J30 with some upgrades

Adventure_Wagon88
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by Adventure_Wagon88 »

yz400e wrote:You don't live in Bigfork MT do you ? I just saw a Golden eagle on CL.

http://kalispell.craigslist.org/cto/5809946078.html

I guess not, yours doesn't have dents on the passenger side.
Haha that ad says "original patina" is that what the hipster kids call rust holes these days? Sounds pretty trendy and cool to me, I wish mine had that.

Topic author
440sixpack
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by 440sixpack »

Wow that is an exact twin, I think it has less dents than mine, but I see some rust and I have none. that's what I paid too, kind of funny.

That original tire is the spare off my 79 golden eagle cherokee parts rig. I don't think it's ever been off the rim. not usable but kind of cool.
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msh227
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by msh227 »

Nice looking rig. I'll be watching.


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Matt

1978 J10 5.3L/700r4/QT swap in progress.....

37x14.50R15 TOYO Open Country MT
4.56 Gears
6" BJs springs w/ BJs offroad shackles in front & 2" blocks in rear to level.
3" body lift

Build Thread:
http://fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2300

78J_10
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by 78J_10 »

Good looking '78 GE! I was fortunate enough to find a rust free one too.
I'll be following this thread!


Image

Image

Topic author
440sixpack
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by 440sixpack »

Wow, that is in nice shape. can't say the canopy works for me though. you going to restore it or keep it a survivor?
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tedlovesjeeps71
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Re: RE: Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by tedlovesjeeps71 »

440sixpack wrote:Wow, that is in nice shape. can't say the canopy works for me though. you going to restore it or keep it a survivor?
Wood sideboards aka scrambler? :)

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78J_10
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by 78J_10 »

Thanks OP. The body is in great shape, rust free and straight as can be, so is the bed. I recently pulled the carpet out, it was shot. Floorboards look absolutely new. A true Az survivor.
I'm not a big fan of the canopy either, it was on it when I bought it. Might come in handy for sleeping in the back when camping though.
I put a rhino grille on it, had thoughts of painting it. Not sure, might just put a new carpet kit in, throw on a lift, tires and wheels and drive it for a while.

Adventure_Wagon88
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by Adventure_Wagon88 »

78J_10 wrote:Thanks OP. The body is in great shape, rust free and straight as can be, so is the bed. I recently pulled the carpet out, it was shot. Floorboards look absolutely new. A true Az survivor.
I'm not a big fan of the canopy either, it was on it when I bought it. Might come in handy for sleeping in the back when camping though.
I put a rhino grille on it, had thoughts of painting it. Not sure, might just put a new carpet kit in, throw on a lift, tires and wheels and drive it for a while.
I would so do a few needed mods and drive that as is. Love the patina.

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440sixpack
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by 440sixpack »

I little update. pretty much stripped down to bare metal with the heavy body work done. engine and trans rebuilt and back in.

Color will be 2015 Dodge Western Brown. pretty close to the original mocha brown but much better looking.

I'm having a tough time with the pictures so if they don't come through sorry.

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440sixpack
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by 440sixpack »

Back from the painter today. changed from the original Mocha brown to 2015 Dodge Western Brown pearl. beautiful color and he did a really nice job.

I tried the pictures but I give up.
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DustinLangston
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by DustinLangston »

440sixpack I can't wait to see the mocha brown on that thing. I have become a connoisseur of browns :) and am excited to see this one. I just finished this exact truck minus the push/roll bars. I went with sable brown metallic. Lights up like Christmas in the sun. Heritage brown is another good option. Really anything is better than that original drab UPS brown. I'm excited to see yours come together. Mind if I ask how much you paid for it from the local?
http://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtop ... 12&t=13269
1982 Wagoneer Limited 5.3L Vortec 4L60E swap - finished/restored - sold - bought back - sold again
1979 Wagoneer 360 TH400 1339 QT - built into perfect daily driver - sold
1981 J10 Sportside Honcho - finished/restored - sold
1979 Cherokee Golden Eagle - 5.3L Vortec 6L80E swap - finished/restored - sold
1967 Super Wagoneer - sold, too much work
1978 J10 Golden Eagle - finished/restored - sold
1962 Rambler Classic Cross Country Wagon - current project, wife's daily driver - she'll never let me sell it

Topic author
440sixpack
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Re: 1978 J10 Golden Eagle Restoration

Post by 440sixpack »

I'm down to the interior and getting the pinstripe on the wheels so I can mount the tires. oh and the decals too I have to get those on. it looks nice though, I'm really happy with it so far.

I paid the guy 4k for it. it needed about everything but it was 100% rust free and complete.

I cannot get pictures on here. but if someone wants to I can email them to be put on. lucky for me my mechanical ability exceeds my tech skills.
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