74 J20 Build

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Topic author
Graniteguy
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2014 6:22 pm

74 J20 Build

Post by Graniteguy »

Hello:
I have been lurking around here for a couple of months. When it started becoming obvious that IFSJA may not be around forever, I started coming here. It has been nice to see that the same relaxed helpful attitude prevails here.

Anyway, I started into FSJs about 6 years ago. I have traditionally been a Toyota man.

My club was asked by the Jeep Jamboree Group to lead trails at their new Wyoming event. Needless to say, if I wanted to participate I needed a Jeep. I didn’t really want a CJ, YJ, TJ, or JK, and FSJs in Montana are plentyfull and cheap.

First I found a 79 Cherokee for $200.00. It ran but it was about as worn out as a vehicle can be and still move under its own power. I decided to part it out and move on. Next I found a 77 J20 for $250.00. It had not run in 15 years. Again I parted it out. Now I was committed, I had a very large pile of spare FSJ parts and nowhere to use them. Luckily a friend of a friend decided to sell his 74 J20. It was his garbage hauling rig, but clean straight and running.

Image

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It was a 74 J20 with a refreshed 401. How could I not buy it?

I used it as my Home Depot hauler and Jeep Jamboree vehicle for 4 years. It was fun guiding smaller and more modern jeeps through the mountains in a bone stock full size pickup.

For those 4 years I could not find a clear vision of how I wanted to build the truck. At one point I even bought a Dodge Cummins doner to do a diesel conversion.

Coming off the mountain a year and a half ago the Quadratrac leaked itself dry and wasn’t happy. Luckily I made it back to base camp and trailered it home.

Then it sat for a year. I had to borrow a YJ for last year’s jamboree. Time constraints meant that the diesel conversion would be a 3+ year project. So, I decided to go a little less complex.

Here is where I am at right now with the project:
Keep the 401 (Still deciding on fuel injection)
Spring of over and shackle reversal front suspension
Cross over Steering
63” Chevy rear springs
t-18A Transmission
Hydraulic Clutch
Hydro boost Brakes
Dana 20 Transfer Case
Dodge Dana 60 Centered diff rear end
35” tires
Custom bumpers
Floor Board metal repair
Custom Seats
Blast, strengthen, and paint the frame

Here are the photos of where I am now

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I only get about 8 to 12 hours a month to work on it. Those tend to be late at night and into the early morning.

I need to have it back together by mid July. That may seem like a long way off but time flies when you are having fun.

I will start updating as I make progress. Thanks for giving me a place to come for support and ideas.

Tory
Tory

74 J20
Diesel Conversion In Progress
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jaber
Vendor
Posts: 3066
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 5:24 pm
Location: Chino Valley, Az.

Re: 74 J20 Build

Post by jaber »

Hey Tory, welcome to the Network. Image

Looks like its coming right along...
Last edited by jaber on Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Jeff

'46 cj3a
'51 Willys p/u
'51 Willys Parkway Conversion
'74 CJ5
'75 J-20 Wrecker
'75 J-20 Cummins service truck
'77 J-10 p/u
'79 Cherokee
'88 Grand Wagoneer
http://s252.photobucket.com/albums/hh14/jeffaber/
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Stuka
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Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 5:53 pm
Location: CA
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Re: 74 J20 Build

Post by Stuka »

Welcome! Truck looks like a pretty solid starting point!
2017 JKU Rubicon
Pevious Jeeps: 1981 J10, 1975 Cherokee, 2008 JK, 2005 KJ, 1989 XJ

Topic author
Graniteguy
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2014 6:22 pm

Re: 74 J20 Build

Post by Graniteguy »

I am resurrecting my old build thread. I can't believe it has been four and half years since I worked on on my truck. Time flies when life happens. I lost my original shop space a couple of months ago and had to move everything. What a pain, but it does give one the opportunity to inventory everything.

I have also had a change of heart on the build plans. I am going 12 valve diesel.

Now that I have renewed ambition to work on this again I will update more often.

Tory
Tory

74 J20
Diesel Conversion In Progress
User avatar

jaber
Vendor
Posts: 3066
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 5:24 pm
Location: Chino Valley, Az.

Re: 74 J20 Build

Post by jaber »

I just put a 24v into my j20, if you still off road it, you might look into a 4bt. Mine is a service bed and i use it for work. I have the 5 spd and average 17 mpg, granted, i weight in around 8500#s.

Just some food for thought. :-bd
Jeff

'46 cj3a
'51 Willys p/u
'51 Willys Parkway Conversion
'74 CJ5
'75 J-20 Wrecker
'75 J-20 Cummins service truck
'77 J-10 p/u
'79 Cherokee
'88 Grand Wagoneer
http://s252.photobucket.com/albums/hh14/jeffaber/
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Stuka
Site Admin
Posts: 11789
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 5:53 pm
Location: CA
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Re: 74 J20 Build

Post by Stuka »

Yeah, you don't want a 6BT if you plan on offroading. It raises your center of gravity way up. Had at least one guy roll his FSJ because of the weight of the cummins.
2017 JKU Rubicon
Pevious Jeeps: 1981 J10, 1975 Cherokee, 2008 JK, 2005 KJ, 1989 XJ

Topic author
Graniteguy
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2014 6:22 pm

Re: 74 J20 Build

Post by Graniteguy »

This will see some off road, but mostly it will be a toy. I have a 4Runner and a YJ to do harder trails. It will also do some duty as tow rig.
Tory

74 J20
Diesel Conversion In Progress

Topic author
Graniteguy
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2014 6:22 pm

Re: 74 J20 Build

Post by Graniteguy »

Forgot to mention I already own the donor truck.
Tory

74 J20
Diesel Conversion In Progress

SJTD
Posts: 1924
Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 12:02 pm
Location: Lompoc, Sunland or somewhere between

Re: 74 J20 Build

Post by SJTD »

For a while it looked like IFSJA outlasted you. :lol:
Sic friatur crustulum

'84 GW with Nissan SD33T, early Chev NV4500, 300, narrowed Ford reverse 44, narrowed Ford 60, SOA/reversed shackle in fornt, lowered mount/flipped shackle in rear.
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jpswapmohn
Posts: 656
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 6:08 pm
Location: CO

Re: 74 J20 Build

Post by jpswapmohn »

Is that 401 still in good shape? Lots of folks will be interested in it if you go diesel. It would also do well for ya with a TBI conversion, but it’s your rig to do with as you wish. Diesels are great for towing..which is why i sold my J10 and bought a duramax. Towing my YJ with the short box J10 was down right scary!

Is the Dodge 60 stronger than the stock 60 in the J20? I don’t know the axle specifics very well.
You have the donor, so you are set. I understand about long-term projects. I finally tossed in the towel and took my rig to a shop to have it finished..I started on it in ‘04..
One day I will wake up and realize that my jeep is complete...one day, I just know it.
88Wag, LT1/4L60E/NP242, J20 axles, etc. http://imgbox.com/g/rNuIasKYrS
95YJ, STaK, D44's, SOA, ARB's, Bilstein 5150s, 35" KM2's
50 CJ3A
77 J-10 (sold)
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