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1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 2:04 am
by Z-240071
Hello all :)

New to the forum and first time Jeep owner .
Just got me a 1979 J20 firetruck that i plan to bring back to how it started life - as a pickup.
I live in Norway , and this truck has spent its life as a small-town fire-truck , way north in the country .
It has just over 14000 original miles on the road . never driven on salted winter roads , and has been kept stored
in a heated and dry fire station garage until this summer. Seem to have been maintained properly all the years since
1980 , when it was built into a firetruck.
Have not seen many J-trucks in Norway , and could not find any other for sale to compare price with.
But i fell in love , and paid about 5000 usd for it . dont know if i over paid , but i had to have it :D

Hope to get usefull info , tips & tricks from all you members with knowledge of J-trucks :)

I will try to post some pictures . please correct me if i am doing it wrong.

https://imgur.com/a/sOc1e

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 5:35 am
by rocklaurence
Wow! That is a nice truck and complete. I think you paid a reasonable price for what you got. Will the bed Topper un bolt or will it need cut off? IMO, I'd get rid if the Train Horns on the hood and remove the pump from the front bumper :mrgreen:

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 6:49 am
by Z-240071
Nice to know the price was reasonable :) It was an auction with starting price at 300usd , and i got a bit carried away :mrgreen:
Yes the topper will bolt off. Not sure how big holes it will leave , but the plan is to make something nice in stainless steel
or aluminium to cover them up . maybe a profile around the bed top of some sort.
The big horns and pump of course have to go !
It has an "special vehicle" title , that has limitations on top speed among other things (49mph) .
In order to get title as a pickup , the pump must be removed. Also the big search light need to be removed.

It starts and runs , but i am told it runs rough .
I think i would like to replace the carb with somthing new .
Any good replacement available ? maybe somthing with a bit more preformance ?
Also thinking on a 2" lift and a bit bigger tires .

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 6:45 pm
by 63J300
I would let the top speed be 49mph and leave it that truck is way too cool

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 8:47 am
by fulsizjeep
Congrats on your score. The Holley 2300 (350 or 500 CFM) is a good replacement for the stock Motorcraft 2100 unless it has been changed up already. You have more pictures available?

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 2:55 am
by az chip
Nice project! Yours to do as you wish. But searchlights and fire hoses? That would be a blast!

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 2:23 pm
by Z-240071
fulsizjeep wrote:Congrats on your score. The Holley 2300 (350 or 500 CFM) is a good replacement for the stock Motorcraft 2100 unless it has been changed up already. You have more pictures available?
Thanks , i will look into the Holley carbs :)
I dont have more pictures right now . I havent got the truck home yet .
The arctic winter has contributed to two failed attempts to get it .
New try on monday :D i will post more pictures when i get it home :-bd

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 2:26 pm
by Z-240071
az chip wrote:Nice project! Yours to do as you wish. But searchlights and fire hoses? That would be a blast!
Im sure every boys dreams at some point to have his own fire-truck :D
But it will be quite useless as a truck , and i would not have much use for it .

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2017 5:42 am
by Z-240071
Finally got the truck delivered :)
unfortunately i am away working for a few weeks :(
cant wait to get home and get started !
A few new pics taken at delivery : https://imgur.com/a/5Izl1

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:00 pm
by az chip
Looks like fun. Once all the stuff is off she will be 2 feet higher!

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 4:34 pm
by Z-240071
:) OK , so i finaly got to start on my J20 today.
After getting it started in 0˚F and snow , i started removing the pump. It´s a bit more messed with then i anticipated . But nothing major . The grill is pretty messed up , to fit a waterpipe throuh . The radiator has been raised to fit a driveshaft between the crankshaft belt pulley and the pump. They have also put spacers on the hood locks , and made some panels to narrow the gap between the hood and the side fenders.
Also cut some pieces out of the panel under the grill.
It will take some effort , but i luckely NO rust to repair is found :D
Todays pictures
https://imgur.com/a/CFIQY

So now starts the fun part for a J-truck noobie : getting parts.

I would much appreciate tips and links if anyone know where to get what i need.

My shoppinglist so far

New grille
Interior floor carpet
Spark plugs
Spark plug leads
Engine gasket kit
Distributor cap & rotor
Points & kondensator ( or electronic ignotion ? )
Fluid for quadra-track (dont know what to use)
Air filter
Oil filter

Is the corner panels in front of the front wheel fender flair possible to new?

Kristian

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 2:56 pm
by az chip
New Grille- Ask the guy in France. Froussard I think?
Spark plug leads- Source from MSD 8.5mm wires
Engine Gaskets- Fel Pro
Distributor cap and rotor MSD
Should not have points
Unsure of fluid
AC oil filter
Hard to find new panels. Used in good shape is possible

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2017 7:55 pm
by FSJ Guy
Nice to see it again. I remember seeing it on the web several years ago. Cool!!!

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 9:48 am
by fulsizjeep
I like that truck from way back too. :-bd

The stock grille is available at BJs:
http://www.bjsoffroad.com/Grille-Front- ... p_165.html
I have not seen one first hand myself, but is an option.

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 2:12 pm
by Z-240071
az chip wrote: Distributor cap and rotor MSD
Should not have points

I found out , as soon as i lifted the distributer cap :D
Did not know they have electronic ignition.
gusess i was fooled by by the condensator mounted on the distributer .
i have converted some cars before to aftermarket electronic ignition , and always removed the condensator.

I have removed the pump and "reverse engeneered" the front of the truck .
no big issues but , will need some welding to get the front looking nice .

some pics :
https://imgur.com/a/CFIQY

https://imgur.com/a/XkKle

By the look of things , the engine , have not been much wrenched on , or even cleaned .
https://imgur.com/1FSuCMF

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 2:17 pm
by fulsizjeep
Z-240071 wrote:By the look of things , the engine , have not been much wrenched on , or even cleaned .
https://imgur.com/1FSuCMF
Oh Man. Looks like original hoses and clamps on the fuel filter.

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 8:45 am
by 66stepside
Wow, you have a nice start to a great truck! Welcome to the forum.

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 8:29 pm
by twisted frame
I dig those air horns mounted on the hood! Nice progress on the transformation.

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 2:00 pm
by Z-240071
Long time no progress..
Finaly moving forward after a cold winter.
Almost ready to remove the topper and the water tank .
Pics : https://imgur.com/a/9ASpvRJ .

I have a big lot of parts on the way over the pond :)
Cant wait to get it running as it suppose to !

Got me a set og 16`(X-7 i think) wheels for next to nothing , from a lady that could
not tell me anything about them. Not even what car they sat on . So i took a chance.
They came with good tires in 245/70-16.
I would like a bit bigger and more «offroadish» tires , but i am not sure what to do.
The offset on the rims makes them fill out the wheel arch about as far as i can go.
pics of wheels on truck https://imgur.com/a/rg8ONfY
Pics of stamps on rims backside https://imgur.com/a/8Lqprrc

I would like to ask the crowd for tips and opinions on what to do with the wheel/tire issue.
I have found a cheap set of 16x10 rims with et -38 , off an old Dodge ram powerwagon.
Anyone who know how they will fit the j-20 , and what kind of tires i can fit ?

All advice and opinions are greatly valued :)

Re: 1979 J20 Fire-truck to truck conversion

Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2021 5:11 pm
by Z-240071
Time goes by and life gets in the way .
Relocated , got a kid and more projects even.
J20 stil not done , but during the years since last post some progress has been made and it is close to getting
Back on the road. Som old progress and some new.
Turned out engine needed almost everything despite only 14000 miles. Did a grille swap . Holly sniper kit waiting for engine to be fitted .
Anyway , pictures : https://imgur.com/a/89OICcn
https://imgur.com/a/MvRxDU5