1980 J-10 Sportside Conversion

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Greenmachine
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Maryville TN

Re: 1980 J-10

Post by Greenmachine »

Got the driver side done. I'm cutting these out with a plasma, using a marker through the hole on the new metal and then cutting out the patch.ImageImageImage

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1975 Cherokee S factory 360,t-18, 4" hellcreek, slot mags 33" bfg's, performer intake, and Fitech fuel injection.
1980 J10 304, 5 spd, 4" Superlift, 4.88 Gears, 35" Maxxis Big Horns
1961 fc-150 fishing truck (on hold)

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Greenmachine
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Maryville TN

Re: 1980 J-10

Post by Greenmachine »

Used my stud gun to fix a few dents. Trying to get back to doing something everyday no matter how small.ImageImageImageImageImageImage

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1975 Cherokee S factory 360,t-18, 4" hellcreek, slot mags 33" bfg's, performer intake, and Fitech fuel injection.
1980 J10 304, 5 spd, 4" Superlift, 4.88 Gears, 35" Maxxis Big Horns
1961 fc-150 fishing truck (on hold)

Former Air Cav
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Topic author
Greenmachine
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Maryville TN

Re: 1980 J-10

Post by Greenmachine »

Actually spent some time working on getting things ready for a big push on the bodywork and paint for the J10. I started by removing all the shelving from the walls of my narrow detached garage. Everything that's left rolls or can be moved easily. I'm going to hang 4 4' led shop lights on the walls on both sides. It has led can lights in the cieling and some of them are blocked by the garage door. ImageImage

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1975 Cherokee S factory 360,t-18, 4" hellcreek, slot mags 33" bfg's, performer intake, and Fitech fuel injection.
1980 J10 304, 5 spd, 4" Superlift, 4.88 Gears, 35" Maxxis Big Horns
1961 fc-150 fishing truck (on hold)

Former Air Cav
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Topic author
Greenmachine
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Maryville TN

Re: 1980 J-10

Post by Greenmachine »

I built a cart for my welder and plasma cutter out of an old craftsman tool chest I had. Wired plugs on the side so i wouldn't have to swap plugs everytime I change (gets annoying doing body work where i cut something out and weld something back in immediately after).ImageImageImage

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk
1975 Cherokee S factory 360,t-18, 4" hellcreek, slot mags 33" bfg's, performer intake, and Fitech fuel injection.
1980 J10 304, 5 spd, 4" Superlift, 4.88 Gears, 35" Maxxis Big Horns
1961 fc-150 fishing truck (on hold)

Former Air Cav
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Topic author
Greenmachine
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Maryville TN

Re: 1980 J-10

Post by Greenmachine »

Ordered some "replacement parts" from walks. These are meant to fit the side of the original willys pickups. As you can see they are different than the sportside center stake pockets. I just need the tops however... I got the first one cut and welded on and was working on grinding, when I noticed my compressor wasn't kicking off. It had blown the copper line that goes from the compressor to the tank. I am dead in the water until the replacement pipe comes.ImageImageImageImageImage

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk
1975 Cherokee S factory 360,t-18, 4" hellcreek, slot mags 33" bfg's, performer intake, and Fitech fuel injection.
1980 J10 304, 5 spd, 4" Superlift, 4.88 Gears, 35" Maxxis Big Horns
1961 fc-150 fishing truck (on hold)

Former Air Cav
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FLeetFox
Posts: 243
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Location: Blue Ridge Mtns

Re: 1980 J-10

Post by FLeetFox »

welcome back sir.

Fleet Fox
I do things my way, and I pay a high price.... JCM
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Topic author
Greenmachine
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Maryville TN

Re: 1980 J-10

Post by Greenmachine »

I’m so bad about updating this build thread.. I am actually still working on the truck. Just busy with kids life etc. the bed is such a basket case I have hours and hours in it and it still needs hours and hours.. I’m trying to get back to doing one thing a day no matter how small to get back in the groove of working on it. I have the bed in my detached garage and I’m on the hunt for a PTAC unit so I can heat it... I bought a Tig machine and hoping to Tig the rest of the sheet metal on the body to save a little grinding.
1975 Cherokee S factory 360,t-18, 4" hellcreek, slot mags 33" bfg's, performer intake, and Fitech fuel injection.
1980 J10 304, 5 spd, 4" Superlift, 4.88 Gears, 35" Maxxis Big Horns
1961 fc-150 fishing truck (on hold)

Former Air Cav
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Topic author
Greenmachine
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Maryville TN

1980 J-10

Post by Greenmachine »

Temps were decent got some work done.
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1975 Cherokee S factory 360,t-18, 4" hellcreek, slot mags 33" bfg's, performer intake, and Fitech fuel injection.
1980 J10 304, 5 spd, 4" Superlift, 4.88 Gears, 35" Maxxis Big Horns
1961 fc-150 fishing truck (on hold)

Former Air Cav
User avatar

Topic author
Greenmachine
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Maryville TN

Re: 1980 J-10

Post by Greenmachine »

Using wife’s desire to have her car back in the garage as motivation to work on the truck. I have 95% of the patch work done on the bed. I have to grind the welds and prime it and do a little filler work and I can spray it. Highs have been in the 40’s though and I still haven’t found a used PTAC for the detached. Image
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1975 Cherokee S factory 360,t-18, 4" hellcreek, slot mags 33" bfg's, performer intake, and Fitech fuel injection.
1980 J10 304, 5 spd, 4" Superlift, 4.88 Gears, 35" Maxxis Big Horns
1961 fc-150 fishing truck (on hold)

Former Air Cav
User avatar

Topic author
Greenmachine
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Maryville TN

Re: 1980 J-10

Post by Greenmachine »

I thought I had the tailgate brackets figured out and was going to weld these weld on nuts to the back stake pockets as the original captured nuts were garbage. Now I am considering cutting out and welding these to the backside and then welding the piece back in as the lip on these weld in nuts is like .25” thick. Really hate to cut good metal out but I’m not sure of an alternative... Image
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
1975 Cherokee S factory 360,t-18, 4" hellcreek, slot mags 33" bfg's, performer intake, and Fitech fuel injection.
1980 J10 304, 5 spd, 4" Superlift, 4.88 Gears, 35" Maxxis Big Horns
1961 fc-150 fishing truck (on hold)

Former Air Cav
User avatar

Topic author
Greenmachine
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Maryville TN

Re: 1980 J-10

Post by Greenmachine »

I mocked up the tailgate to get an idea if the original holes were dead on or not. Originally the tailgate was bolted on with “floating” cage nuts so you had a little bit of wiggle room. If I go with these weld in nuts I will have to hog the holes out in the tailgate hinge to make it adjustable. The passenger side fit like a glove and has a smaller gap. The driver side has a wider gap and has to be tapped in with a mallet. I can see the paint being destroyed the first time I close the tailgate. Anyone else with a sport side mind seeing if these gaps look like yours? I think I can jack the top of the bed apart and “fix “ the issue but I am curious if this reproduction tailgate is square or my 40 yr old rusty junkyard bed is straight lol.Image
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
1975 Cherokee S factory 360,t-18, 4" hellcreek, slot mags 33" bfg's, performer intake, and Fitech fuel injection.
1980 J10 304, 5 spd, 4" Superlift, 4.88 Gears, 35" Maxxis Big Horns
1961 fc-150 fishing truck (on hold)

Former Air Cav
User avatar

Topic author
Greenmachine
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Maryville TN

1980 J-10 Sportside Conversion

Post by Greenmachine »

Last hole in the bed welded up. My junkyard bed has some heavy pitting in it mostly concentrated on the driver’s side. I plan to use a high build primer and will probably slick it up even more with a skim coat of filler. I’m still debating on whether I will line x the bed or just paint it and maybe get a rubber liner. I’m leaning towards the line x as this is going to be a driver and not a show truck.Image
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
1975 Cherokee S factory 360,t-18, 4" hellcreek, slot mags 33" bfg's, performer intake, and Fitech fuel injection.
1980 J10 304, 5 spd, 4" Superlift, 4.88 Gears, 35" Maxxis Big Horns
1961 fc-150 fishing truck (on hold)

Former Air Cav
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66stepside
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Location: Spokane Valley, WA.

Re: 1980 J-10 Sportside Conversion

Post by 66stepside »

Slow and steady wins the race- you have done a great job working those dents out and scouring every inch to make sure she’s perfect- bravo!

I also really like what you did with the welding cart. Keep plugging away!


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Topic author
Greenmachine
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Maryville TN

Re: 1980 J-10 Sportside Conversion

Post by Greenmachine »

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Wasted the last few evenings playing with this. I traded a Dana 60 for this bender probably close to 20 years ago. I got three dies in the deal 1.5”, 1.75”, and 2”. I have never used it. I finally broke down and converted it to air/hydraulic. Reason I never used it was because as a manual bender you pretty much have to bolt it down. Now it should work without having to do that. I may still build a cart for it (I’m thinking old engine stand). Just to get it out of the way. I am planning to make some rock sliders for my Cherokee and JKU (eventually).

I did get some truck parts in as well. Going to effort to get those mounted today.Image


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1975 Cherokee S factory 360,t-18, 4" hellcreek, slot mags 33" bfg's, performer intake, and Fitech fuel injection.
1980 J10 304, 5 spd, 4" Superlift, 4.88 Gears, 35" Maxxis Big Horns
1961 fc-150 fishing truck (on hold)

Former Air Cav
User avatar

FLeetFox
Posts: 243
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2018 7:05 am
Location: Blue Ridge Mtns

Re: 1980 J-10 Sportside Conversion

Post by FLeetFox »

Looking good, making progress! Might want to put a little glob on each one of those cage nut clips when installing.

Fleet Fox
I do things my way, and I pay a high price.... JCM
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Topic author
Greenmachine
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Maryville TN

Re: 1980 J-10 Sportside Conversion

Post by Greenmachine »

Gratuitous Cherokee picture doing truck work.
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Picked up 96’ of 1.75” tube.


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1975 Cherokee S factory 360,t-18, 4" hellcreek, slot mags 33" bfg's, performer intake, and Fitech fuel injection.
1980 J10 304, 5 spd, 4" Superlift, 4.88 Gears, 35" Maxxis Big Horns
1961 fc-150 fishing truck (on hold)

Former Air Cav
User avatar

Topic author
Greenmachine
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Maryville TN

Re: 1980 J-10 Sportside Conversion

Post by Greenmachine »

After scuffing till my arms were about to fall off, I sprayed a coat of high build urethane primer. Wishing I had bought a different color to see where my second coat goes. Have to skim some filler on the driver side. Truck must have sat that way in the junkyard full of water. It’s pitting the worst and has the most patches.
Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
1975 Cherokee S factory 360,t-18, 4" hellcreek, slot mags 33" bfg's, performer intake, and Fitech fuel injection.
1980 J10 304, 5 spd, 4" Superlift, 4.88 Gears, 35" Maxxis Big Horns
1961 fc-150 fishing truck (on hold)

Former Air Cav
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