1973 J4000 worth?

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79CCPathKiller
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Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2014 6:16 am

1973 J4000 worth?

Post by 79CCPathKiller »

So I'm looking at a 1970 J4000 pick up. The body has zero rust and no real dings. The seats and door panels have been recovered and look decent. One issue that I'm having is that at some point it was converted from an automatic to a four-speed manual. It still has column shifter. Before I actually go and do a once over on the truck in person I've noticed a few small things like The heater core has been disconnected, does not have an air filter, it has the 360 which matches the vin, it does not have a horn, the radiator has been changed out to a aluminum radiator and removing the stock overflow, The windshield washer reservoir is missing, and they claim the 4 x 4 still works. It has five lug front rear axles and I'm running into some confusion as to what the front rear axles might be and I have yet to put eyes on them. They claim the truck has 44,000 original miles but as we all know the 1xx,xxx position is nonexistent on the odometer. Any idea what somebody would pay for something similar I'm curious what a good offer would be considering they claim it to be running and driving but what concerns me is the transmission swap. The engine appears to be all stock minus possible exhaust work. It appears they have the original carb and intake. Any help would be great! Thanks in advance!
79 CC aka PathKiller. 6" lift, 36" TSL's, 360 AT QT, Edlebrock intake a 4 bbl, stainless headers, one off stainless exhaust.
01 XJ 7.5" lift, 33" Dunlop Mudrovers, steering box upgrade and PS cooler.
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Kaiserman
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Re: 1973 J4000 worth?

Post by Kaiserman »

Sounds like about $2000 range? If it's rust free, has a good interior and runs well and drives all the other stuff should be easily and cheaply fixed.

A 73 J4000 with five lug axles will have a Dana 44 front. The rear can be either a Dana 44 if a 5000lb GVW, or a Dana 60-2 semi floating axle if a 6 or 7000lb GVW.

Tranny swap shouldn't be a big deal as long as it was done well. Stick shift columns aren't that hard to find.
1971 J2500 Gladiator Custom-Cab Platform Stake on 126" wb. B350/T18A/D20 D60/D60-3 w/locker 4.10's Ramsey 8klb PTO winch, Day-brook dump. 225/95R16's
1969 J3800 Gladiator 3407Z Camper Truck. B350/T18A/D20 D44/D60-3 w/4.10's
1968 Wagoneer Custom 327/TH400 Mostly Stock
1987 Cherokee Laredo 2-Door 4.0L/AW4 4" lift OEM swing out tire carrier and brushguard
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79CCPathKiller
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Re: 1973 J4000 worth?

Post by 79CCPathKiller »

Good info thank you! It was actually converted to 4 on the floor. These people are going to freak out at a 2k offer lol
79 CC aka PathKiller. 6" lift, 36" TSL's, 360 AT QT, Edlebrock intake a 4 bbl, stainless headers, one off stainless exhaust.
01 XJ 7.5" lift, 33" Dunlop Mudrovers, steering box upgrade and PS cooler.
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Kaiserman
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Location: Huntington, MA

Re: 1973 J4000 worth?

Post by Kaiserman »

Do they think it's worth gold?

A guy I know recently bought a basically rust free '73 J4800 with new tires, running, driving, one owner, nice paint and interior with a '73 CaveMan slide in camper that has been on it since new for $3500. That was out in Washington state. Truck didn't really need anything to be a driver.
1971 J2500 Gladiator Custom-Cab Platform Stake on 126" wb. B350/T18A/D20 D60/D60-3 w/locker 4.10's Ramsey 8klb PTO winch, Day-brook dump. 225/95R16's
1969 J3800 Gladiator 3407Z Camper Truck. B350/T18A/D20 D44/D60-3 w/4.10's
1968 Wagoneer Custom 327/TH400 Mostly Stock
1987 Cherokee Laredo 2-Door 4.0L/AW4 4" lift OEM swing out tire carrier and brushguard
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79CCPathKiller
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Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2014 6:16 am

Re: 1973 J4000 worth?

Post by 79CCPathKiller »

Yeah they are asking crack prices for it. It won't turn out well. I'm sure I won't be buying it because they probably think they can get a mini fortune out of it. Appreciate all the information. I'll let ya know how bad it tanks if I don't get shot lol :banghead:
79 CC aka PathKiller. 6" lift, 36" TSL's, 360 AT QT, Edlebrock intake a 4 bbl, stainless headers, one off stainless exhaust.
01 XJ 7.5" lift, 33" Dunlop Mudrovers, steering box upgrade and PS cooler.
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tgreese
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Location: Medford MA USA

Re: 1973 J4000 worth?

Post by tgreese »

We talked about a 1981 in this thread - http://fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=12897 You can see my response there. There was some dissent about this particular truck on IFSJA, because it's a Sport Side.

Is this a 1970 or a 1973? A '70 will have a Buick 350 V8 and a '73 will be an AMC 360. Realize that these trucks changed in 1974 to the much superior open-knuckle Dana 44 front axle, and most had front disk brakes after 1973. 1973 will be the last year for the closed-knuckle Dana 44 front axle with 11"x2" Bendix drum brakes. The closed knuckle axles require a lot more maintenance and repair than the open knuckle axle, and have a larger turning radius.

From this description, I would probably not be interested for more than several hundred dollars (if I needed another J-truck!) $2000 seems really generous. These trucks don't sell for wild money like the Wagoneers do.

Suggest that the seller list on eBay with what they think is a reasonable reserve and see if it sells. I got my CJ-6 after the seller listed it with an unrealistic reserve ... it did not sell. I offered the high bid price and he said ok if he got to keep the hubcaps.
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
GTI without the badges: '95 VW Golf Sport 2000cc 2D
Dual Everything: '15 Chryco Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, ECO Green
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Kaiserman
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Re: 1973 J4000 worth?

Post by Kaiserman »

No offense Tim, but I think you and a few others REALLY low ball these trucks when people ask for values. If you watch what Gladiators/J-Trucks sell for on ebay and the Jeep Trucks website they are starting to command higher prices.

I mean really, you wouldn't pay more more than several hundred bucks for a rust free J4000 that runs and drives?
1971 J2500 Gladiator Custom-Cab Platform Stake on 126" wb. B350/T18A/D20 D60/D60-3 w/locker 4.10's Ramsey 8klb PTO winch, Day-brook dump. 225/95R16's
1969 J3800 Gladiator 3407Z Camper Truck. B350/T18A/D20 D44/D60-3 w/4.10's
1968 Wagoneer Custom 327/TH400 Mostly Stock
1987 Cherokee Laredo 2-Door 4.0L/AW4 4" lift OEM swing out tire carrier and brushguard
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tgreese
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Re: 1973 J4000 worth?

Post by tgreese »

Thomas, I would be happy if my trucks were appreciating like you say. Your point about eBay is well taken - I have not watched eBay in a long time, and I have not been in the market for a Jeep in several years. My perspective may be out of date. However, looking at eBay would be good advice for the OP and the seller - eBay works really well for price discovery.

My impression - about pickup trucks in general - they don't come near to the prices of cars of the same era. The most valuable pickups are 1/2 ton from Ford and Chevy, with short wheelbase or even better, step-side short bed. Then when you change anything - long bed, 3/4 ton, other brands - the desirability falls off quite a lot. When I had my '65 F100 step side - a bondo-laden beater I bought off a vacant lot in CA for $200, that I fixed up and drove to MA - I would get notes on the windshield regularly, asking if I wanted to sell it. Today, I don't get any interest like that with the Jeep trucks.

If I were in the market for another J-truck, probably yeah, I would pay up for rust-free and the equipment that I wanted. But the description of this one kinda puts me off... typical old pickup neglect ... and I would want a truck with the open 44 and disk brakes. So this one isn't really in my sweet spot.

Your '71 is way cool by the way. I occasionally drove a shop truck like that back in the day ...
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
GTI without the badges: '95 VW Golf Sport 2000cc 2D
Dual Everything: '15 Chryco Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, ECO Green
Blockchain the vote.
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79CCPathKiller
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Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2014 6:16 am

Re: 1973 J4000 worth?

Post by 79CCPathKiller »

I appreciate all the information guys! My issue with it is that it probably would've cost less to get the original transmission fixed rather than completely converted over to manual. Granted it is very very clean and isn't all beat up but still it's a 73 j4000 and is got the closed knuckle and drum brakes and it still has the column shifter but has a four speed stick coming out of the floor. I still have yet to actually see it simply because it's an hour and a half away and I really don't believe that they are going to come down to a reasonable price considering what it is. I definitely think it's a $2500 truck only because I have looked up a lot of other ones and have found other ones that are in the $3000 range that are in decent shape. The plus side is is they still have the original transmission. But the downside is is the front axle.... it's cool because it's original but....
79 CC aka PathKiller. 6" lift, 36" TSL's, 360 AT QT, Edlebrock intake a 4 bbl, stainless headers, one off stainless exhaust.
01 XJ 7.5" lift, 33" Dunlop Mudrovers, steering box upgrade and PS cooler.

candymancan
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Re: 1973 J4000 worth?

Post by candymancan »

is this the green one with the security yellow light on top ive seen on cl ?

i wanted to buy it too but i think its a 6 cylinder engine. Id rather have a 8 ina pickup
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited 219k
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 I6 laredo 430k
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 155k
1976 Jeep J10.. 85k(repaired)
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79CCPathKiller
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Re: 1973 J4000 worth?

Post by 79CCPathKiller »

No it's not. The one im looking at has the v8 360 but they just want too much for it.
79 CC aka PathKiller. 6" lift, 36" TSL's, 360 AT QT, Edlebrock intake a 4 bbl, stainless headers, one off stainless exhaust.
01 XJ 7.5" lift, 33" Dunlop Mudrovers, steering box upgrade and PS cooler.
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Kaiserman
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Location: Huntington, MA

Re: 1973 J4000 worth?

Post by Kaiserman »

79CCPathKiller wrote: But the downside is is the front axle.... it's cool because it's original but....
The front axle isn't really a downside. If your keeping it stock or mild there is nothing wrong with them. The king pins last longer than ball joints and are easier to replace, u-joints last just about forever. I've never pulled a shaft and found bad one yet. And the drum brakes if in good shape stop just fine.

The turning radius isn't as good as an open knuckle axle, but it's never been an issue for me.
1971 J2500 Gladiator Custom-Cab Platform Stake on 126" wb. B350/T18A/D20 D60/D60-3 w/locker 4.10's Ramsey 8klb PTO winch, Day-brook dump. 225/95R16's
1969 J3800 Gladiator 3407Z Camper Truck. B350/T18A/D20 D44/D60-3 w/4.10's
1968 Wagoneer Custom 327/TH400 Mostly Stock
1987 Cherokee Laredo 2-Door 4.0L/AW4 4" lift OEM swing out tire carrier and brushguard
User avatar

Topic author
79CCPathKiller
Posts: 49
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2014 6:16 am

Re: 1973 J4000 worth?

Post by 79CCPathKiller »

Well won't be able to experience it either way she won't go less than 6k for it so it's a no go sadly.
79 CC aka PathKiller. 6" lift, 36" TSL's, 360 AT QT, Edlebrock intake a 4 bbl, stainless headers, one off stainless exhaust.
01 XJ 7.5" lift, 33" Dunlop Mudrovers, steering box upgrade and PS cooler.
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