Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

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Topic author
v8vendetta
Posts: 84
Joined: Tue May 09, 2017 2:09 pm
Location: Gillette, WY

Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by v8vendetta »

Hey guys, I bought my first Jeep this weekend! A 1976 Jeep J20 for $675! The VIN says that it is factory equipped with the 401 V8 and TH-400. I got it running yesterday, video below, and I'm excited to drive it! When I got the truck the brake fluid reservoir was bone dry, so the brakes will need bled. The fuel lines are not moving fuel, so I have a Fireball bottle acting as my fuel tank :-bd . Accelerator pump also leaks. I'm looking forward to learning more about these trucks and wrenching on it. I'm confused on how to engage and disengage the 4wd on it, as there is no transfer case shift lever or locking hubs. Pics and Video below!



http://imgur.com/a/TWhXV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxunX8WhPwc


Edit:

Forgot the picture of my fuel tank! http://imgur.com/a/2G2Vj
Last edited by v8vendetta on Mon May 15, 2017 10:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
1976 Jeep J-20
401 V8 w/ CRT HEI conversion
Blown TH-400
--------------------------------------
1989 Grand Wagoneer
360 V8
727

will e
Posts: 5096
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:21 am

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by will e »

Great find! Probably full time quadratrac transfer case. In the dash there will be an emergency drive switch. More details to follow from the experts.
81 Waggy 'WILL E' Retired
82 Cherokee WT - SOA/SF/high steer/Alcan springs/agr box/Borgeson steering shaft/AMC 401/performer/holley TA/HEI/BeCool/727/ALTAS (2.0/2.72/5.44)/D60 Snofighter(Yukon Zip,hubs,stubs,4.56)/14 Bolt (FF,BF shave, Discs, ARB,Artec Truss)/MTR 37X12.5/Corbeau XRS Baja & 5 point retractable harness/Hella Aux lights/tuffy console/killer32 sliders/Evil Twin bumpers, rack and roll cage/WARN 8000/TT Fabworks steering brace/dual batts/custom TC skid plate/ARB fridge
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derf
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Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:10 am
Location: Littleton, CO
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Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by derf »

Yeah, a 70's 401 came with the quadratrac. The "Emergency Drive" switch is in the glove box. Switches between AWD (OK to drive on dry pavement) and part time 4WD (not OK to drive on dry pavement for long periods of time).

If it has low range, the shifter will be on the transmission tunnel by the driver's seat. You have to engage "emergency drive" and then shift into low range. If there is no low range, the shifter won't be there.

Topic author
v8vendetta
Posts: 84
Joined: Tue May 09, 2017 2:09 pm
Location: Gillette, WY

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by v8vendetta »

Empty floor, so no low range. I'll have to break into the glove box, the previous owner lost the keys :cry:
1976 Jeep J-20
401 V8 w/ CRT HEI conversion
Blown TH-400
--------------------------------------
1989 Grand Wagoneer
360 V8
727
User avatar

derf
Posts: 1403
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:10 am
Location: Littleton, CO
Contact:

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by derf »

Glove box key should be the same as the door key.

letank
Posts: 4010
Joined: Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:16 pm
Location: SF bay area

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by letank »

Welcome, 76 may still have the prestolite... distributor with dual white vacuum unit... also called presto no lite for its failure rate... make sure that you have healthy grounds... otherwise time for HEI conversion, after swapping the distributor base gears...

http://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8413

Image

http://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12468

The low range was optional, but can be added... for 76 it is a lever on the floor by the driver's right side on the hump, or could be a T handle under the glovebox/dashboard

Image

http://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4482
Michel
74 wag (349 Kmiles... parked, next step is a rust free body)
85 Gwag (229 Kmiles... the running test lab)
User avatar

az chip
Posts: 1433
Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2015 8:59 pm
Location: Mesa, AZ

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by az chip »

Congrats and welcome. what are your plans for it?
'81 Cherokee Chief 81 WT Chief/MSD 6/Holley Sniper/ Rusty 4" Spring lift/ Bulltear oil adapter/K&P Engineering Oil Filter/ NP 208/ Serehill Light Harness/KC LED Headlights/ Evil Twin Fab Roof Rack and sliders/ Ross mirror mounts.
User avatar

MadMax78
Posts: 452
Joined: Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:40 pm
Location: Guin, AL

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by MadMax78 »

Welcome. Congrats on the new to you Jeep. If it is the QT check out Jubilee Jeeps. You'll find all the info you want on the QtT. Link below.

http://jubileejeeps.org/quadratrac/index.htm
MadMax78

78 Cherokee S, Wide Track, 360, TH400, Quadra Trac, TAD's SOA, 35" BFG KM2, Edelbrock Carb & Intake, MSD Coil & Ignition

will e
Posts: 5096
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:21 am

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by will e »

Oh and welcome! This is a great place for FSJ fans.
81 Waggy 'WILL E' Retired
82 Cherokee WT - SOA/SF/high steer/Alcan springs/agr box/Borgeson steering shaft/AMC 401/performer/holley TA/HEI/BeCool/727/ALTAS (2.0/2.72/5.44)/D60 Snofighter(Yukon Zip,hubs,stubs,4.56)/14 Bolt (FF,BF shave, Discs, ARB,Artec Truss)/MTR 37X12.5/Corbeau XRS Baja & 5 point retractable harness/Hella Aux lights/tuffy console/killer32 sliders/Evil Twin bumpers, rack and roll cage/WARN 8000/TT Fabworks steering brace/dual batts/custom TC skid plate/ARB fridge

Topic author
v8vendetta
Posts: 84
Joined: Tue May 09, 2017 2:09 pm
Location: Gillette, WY

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by v8vendetta »

Anymore info on how to do the HEI swaps? I've been fighting the spark on this thing since I got it
1976 Jeep J-20
401 V8 w/ CRT HEI conversion
Blown TH-400
--------------------------------------
1989 Grand Wagoneer
360 V8
727
User avatar

REDONE
Posts: 2678
Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2011 5:48 pm
Location: Lakewood and Bailey, CO

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by REDONE »

HEI is really simple, it'll come with instructions, but basically you use any 12volt hot-in-run lead to trigger a relay that powers it from the battery. HEI is a one wire distributor. That said, there may be slack in your timing chain or wear in the distributor drive gears causing your spark timing woes.

It may be worth you time to crawl under it with a flashlight and scraper. The engine displacement is cast into the block right under the motor mounts. At these vehicles age, engine swaps aren't uncommon.

Welcome to the madness!
79 J-10 (Honcho Mucho) KE0LSU
304/Performance Fuel Injection TBI/MTA1/SP2P/Magnum rockers
T18/D20/D44s&4.10s/33" Mud Claws
Grizzly Locker Rear
4" front spring drop, 5" rear shackle flip
Chevy style HEI (ECM controlled)
Dolphin "Shark" gauges in a fancy homemade oak bezel
3/4 resto, rotting faster than I've been fixing it.

Topic author
v8vendetta
Posts: 84
Joined: Tue May 09, 2017 2:09 pm
Location: Gillette, WY

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by v8vendetta »

Sorry I missed the link. do you still need the coil for HEI?
1976 Jeep J-20
401 V8 w/ CRT HEI conversion
Blown TH-400
--------------------------------------
1989 Grand Wagoneer
360 V8
727
User avatar

REDONE
Posts: 2678
Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2011 5:48 pm
Location: Lakewood and Bailey, CO

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by REDONE »

Nope, the HEI has its own coil inside the cap. ;)

EDIT>>> if you have more time than money, you can make a duraspark distributor with any capacitive discharge box (MSD, HiFire, Summit, etc) or use an HEI control module to get the same/better ignition than a drop in HEI, but it takes some learnin' which takes more time.
79 J-10 (Honcho Mucho) KE0LSU
304/Performance Fuel Injection TBI/MTA1/SP2P/Magnum rockers
T18/D20/D44s&4.10s/33" Mud Claws
Grizzly Locker Rear
4" front spring drop, 5" rear shackle flip
Chevy style HEI (ECM controlled)
Dolphin "Shark" gauges in a fancy homemade oak bezel
3/4 resto, rotting faster than I've been fixing it.

Topic author
v8vendetta
Posts: 84
Joined: Tue May 09, 2017 2:09 pm
Location: Gillette, WY

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by v8vendetta »

Awesome! Thanks for all the info guys. Right now I'm working on making sure everything has fluid and works. Plans for the future will be a 4 inch lift with 33's or 35's, maybe some Line-X for paint, and some custom fab bumpers and sliders
1976 Jeep J-20
401 V8 w/ CRT HEI conversion
Blown TH-400
--------------------------------------
1989 Grand Wagoneer
360 V8
727
User avatar

derf
Posts: 1403
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:10 am
Location: Littleton, CO
Contact:

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by derf »

REDONE wrote:HEI is really simple, it'll come with instructions, but basically you use any 12volt hot-in-run lead to trigger a relay that powers it from the battery. HEI is a one wire distributor. That said, there may be slack in your timing chain or wear in the distributor drive gears causing your spark timing woes.

It may be worth you time to crawl under it with a flashlight and scraper. The engine displacement is cast into the block right under the motor mounts. At these vehicles age, engine swaps aren't uncommon.

Welcome to the madness!
Just a bit of clarification. You want the power source to be hot-in-start-and-run, not just hot-in-run. Getting the right kind of power source will save you a bunch of :banghead: in the long run.
User avatar

REDONE
Posts: 2678
Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2011 5:48 pm
Location: Lakewood and Bailey, CO

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by REDONE »

Haha! Good catch Roy!
79 J-10 (Honcho Mucho) KE0LSU
304/Performance Fuel Injection TBI/MTA1/SP2P/Magnum rockers
T18/D20/D44s&4.10s/33" Mud Claws
Grizzly Locker Rear
4" front spring drop, 5" rear shackle flip
Chevy style HEI (ECM controlled)
Dolphin "Shark" gauges in a fancy homemade oak bezel
3/4 resto, rotting faster than I've been fixing it.

letank
Posts: 4010
Joined: Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:16 pm
Location: SF bay area

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by letank »

derf wrote:
REDONE wrote:HEI is really simple, it'll come with instructions, but basically you use any 12volt hot-in-run lead to trigger a relay that powers it from the battery. HEI is a one wire distributor. That said, there may be slack in your timing chain or wear in the distributor drive gears causing your spark timing woes.

It may be worth you time to crawl under it with a flashlight and scraper. The engine displacement is cast into the block right under the motor mounts. At these vehicles age, engine swaps aren't uncommon.

Welcome to the madness!
Just a bit of clarification. You want the power source to be hot-in-start-and-run, not just hot-in-run. Getting the right kind of power source will save you a bunch of :banghead: in the long run.
I used the wire that powers the idle stop solenoid on the 74 that has the HEI -it has power on all settings- From older post, it is recommended to get the fattest wire to the HEI at least 12 gauge... the solenoid wire is not that much, but it works for me.
Michel
74 wag (349 Kmiles... parked, next step is a rust free body)
85 Gwag (229 Kmiles... the running test lab)

Topic author
v8vendetta
Posts: 84
Joined: Tue May 09, 2017 2:09 pm
Location: Gillette, WY

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by v8vendetta »

Placed an order for the CRT HEI system, will post back when it's installed!
1976 Jeep J-20
401 V8 w/ CRT HEI conversion
Blown TH-400
--------------------------------------
1989 Grand Wagoneer
360 V8
727

Topic author
v8vendetta
Posts: 84
Joined: Tue May 09, 2017 2:09 pm
Location: Gillette, WY

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by v8vendetta »

Could I use the existing 12 V going to the coil?
1976 Jeep J-20
401 V8 w/ CRT HEI conversion
Blown TH-400
--------------------------------------
1989 Grand Wagoneer
360 V8
727

Topic author
v8vendetta
Posts: 84
Joined: Tue May 09, 2017 2:09 pm
Location: Gillette, WY

Re: Bought my first Jeep, 1976 J20

Post by v8vendetta »

Update!

The truck is now starting, running, driving, and even somewhat stopping through it's own resources. There is a low range! Thanks to Le Tank's info I was able to locate the shifter for it, awesome! The awd/4wd vacuum switch is present and, from what I can tell, still functional. The indicator is gone though, so I have no way of telling what mode it is in
1976 Jeep J-20
401 V8 w/ CRT HEI conversion
Blown TH-400
--------------------------------------
1989 Grand Wagoneer
360 V8
727
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