'79 J10 Resto-mod build

Area to show off your Custom Build threads.
Post Reply
User avatar

Topic author
91blaze
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:52 pm
Location: Pendleton, IN

'79 J10 Resto-mod build

Post by 91blaze »

Since the other site is apparently going down, I figured I should start a build thread here. I picked up this truck on August 12 this year to fix up. My plan is to build the 360, rebuild the T15 and D20, shorten the frame to use a SWB bed, 33" tires with 4" lift, winch, custom rear bumper, and some other little stuff here and there. Progress will be slow as I'm on a tight budget so I have no idea how long this will take to finish so bear with me. Here's what the truck looked like when I picked it up:

Image

And how it looks so far:

Image

Right now, I'm working on getting the bed off and maybe getting the engine running before it gets rebuilt. Once I get the bed off, I will be working on removing the cab and everything off the frame so I can start shortening it and fixing parts of the frame.

Already have a bed from HOOT:

Image

Also got a bunch of other parts sourced already like a new bench seat and grill. Here's some more pictures of the truck:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Got a winch, still need to test it:

Image
1979 J10- 360/ T15/ D20 rebuild, winch, lockers, 33" tires, 4" lift, and more.
http://fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=491
User avatar

carnuck
Posts: 3881
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2012 2:48 pm
Location: Lynnwood, WA
Contact:

Re: '79 J10 Resto-mod build

Post by carnuck »

Don't forget the wheel opening changed position from one wheelbase to the other. I'm doing a similar thing with a Comanche. I'm extending the cab back enough to put the doors from a 2dr XJ on it. and putting a shortbox on the frame. Originally I was going to just put the box on (centered over the wheels) and put a tool box behind the cab.
Then I got my Honcho and it's getting fixed as a daily driver instead.
Check my parts for sale near Seattle
User avatar

Topic author
91blaze
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:52 pm
Location: Pendleton, IN

Re: '79 J10 Resto-mod build

Post by 91blaze »

carnuck wrote:Don't forget the wheel opening changed position from one wheelbase to the other. I'm doing a similar thing with a Comanche. I'm extending the cab back enough to put the doors from a 2dr XJ on it. and putting a shortbox on the frame. Originally I was going to just put the box on (centered over the wheels) and put a tool box behind the cab.
Then I got my Honcho and it's getting fixed as a daily driver instead.
Don't worry, I plan on either shortening the frame or moving the axle forward and chopping off the back of the frame.
1979 J10- 360/ T15/ D20 rebuild, winch, lockers, 33" tires, 4" lift, and more.
http://fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=491
User avatar

Atla
Posts: 303
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:47 am
Location: North Carolina

Re: '79 J10 Resto-mod build

Post by Atla »

Good luck! Looks like ya picked a rough one to work with. Love seeing these things brought back to life though.
~Atla. (I'm just here for the pictures)
1983 J-10
2001 TJ

My Build Thread - http://fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2722
User avatar

Topic author
91blaze
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:52 pm
Location: Pendleton, IN

Re: '79 J10 Resto-mod build

Post by 91blaze »

Alright, I've been neglecting this site, so I need to update since I finally got something done. First, the bed is finally off. :-bd Also got the grill stripped and have black paint on it in preparation for spray paint chrome which actually looks pretty decent. Now all I need to do is get this thing to my friend's shop to start working on the frame. My plan is to make new spring and bed mounts and move everything up one foot, then just chop off the back and weld on a new cross member. I will be making my own bumper, so I won't have to worry about that for a while. The frame looks pretty bad, but that's just surface rust and is actually very solid underneath. There are a few places that need strengthened though.

The bed is off:

Image

Image

The old spring mounts:

Image

The grill:

Image

And just for fun:

Image

Wish me luck on getting this thing into the shop, I'll need it.
1979 J10- 360/ T15/ D20 rebuild, winch, lockers, 33" tires, 4" lift, and more.
http://fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=491
User avatar

Gumby
Posts: 1433
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:20 am
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: '79 J10 Resto-mod build

Post by Gumby »

That grill looks sweet... how did you strip it? Good luck in your rebuild and thank you for saving this one.
1984 GW 360/727/208.... 4"/ 31"
2004 CRD QC SRW 3500 4X4 (DD)
1983 "project Dubya" (long term)
User avatar

Topic author
91blaze
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:52 pm
Location: Pendleton, IN

Re: '79 J10 Resto-mod build

Post by 91blaze »

Gumby wrote:That grill looks sweet... how did you strip it? Good luck in your rebuild and thank you for saving this one.
Unfortunately, I couldn't strip all of the chrome off. Most of it peeled off, which is why I'm trying the chrome spray paint. What didn't come off I simply roughed up with sandpaper. Supposedly, chrome places can do it for cheap, but every place I tried would only do metal and not plastic. Also, there are chemicals you can get for it, but I didn't feel like messing with those.

Thanks for the support. :fsj:
1979 J10- 360/ T15/ D20 rebuild, winch, lockers, 33" tires, 4" lift, and more.
http://fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=491
User avatar

j20owner
Posts: 461
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:46 pm

Re: '79 J10 Resto-mod build

Post by j20owner »

Your rear spring hanger look exactly like the ones on my 79 j20.
Tatsadasayago wrote:And here i thought Capitalism was hitting the Shift Key...
User avatar

Topic author
91blaze
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:52 pm
Location: Pendleton, IN

Re: '79 J10 Resto-mod build

Post by 91blaze »

The grill is done:

Image

Image
1979 J10- 360/ T15/ D20 rebuild, winch, lockers, 33" tires, 4" lift, and more.
http://fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=491
User avatar

J-10
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:14 pm

Re: '79 J10 Resto-mod build

Post by J-10 »

That came out nice :-bd
User avatar

Topic author
91blaze
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:52 pm
Location: Pendleton, IN

Re: '79 J10 Resto-mod build

Post by 91blaze »

J-10 wrote:That came out nice :-bd
Thanks, the hardest part was all the masking :shock:
1979 J10- 360/ T15/ D20 rebuild, winch, lockers, 33" tires, 4" lift, and more.
http://fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=491
User avatar

Topic author
91blaze
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:52 pm
Location: Pendleton, IN

Re: '79 J10 Resto-mod build

Post by 91blaze »

Finally got some doors :mrgreen: Not much progress will be made until it warms up though.
1979 J10- 360/ T15/ D20 rebuild, winch, lockers, 33" tires, 4" lift, and more.
http://fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=491
Post Reply