what are the differences between a 1974 J10

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yz400e
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what are the differences between a 1974 J10

Post by yz400e »

a 1974 J10 frame and a 1976 J10 frame ?

From reading threads, it seems the 1974 was an oddball year but how ?

are the springs still post mount ?
does the 1976 frame have better reinforcing.?
both are passenger side drop
anything else that would limit how many parts would interchange between a 74 and a 76 ?

I have a 1976 J10 but wouldn't mind getting a second truck for spares.

Anyway, a 1974 and a 1984 are for sale in my area. I can't tell but does the 74 look like it has a longer bed ?

https://kalispell.craigslist.org/cto/d/ ... 97418.html

A 69 gladiator was recently listed as well.
https://kalispell.craigslist.org/cto/d/ ... 65875.html

based on the photos, both of the 'listers' have a large assortment of vehicles. (I'm jealous)
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Re: what are the differences between a 1974 J10

Post by fulsizjeep »

The 74 will have post mount springs on rear axle. Yes, it has the longer 8' bed. The 84 has 7' bed with much more rust throughout.
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tgreese
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Re: what are the differences between a 1974 J10

Post by tgreese »

The '74 is the only realistic parts truck for your '76 among these 3, IMO. Ideally you'd want a '76-79 as a parts car, if you care about the frame design. Do you need a frame? You may be able to source a replacement frame without buying a parts car. The bodies rot away on these trucks much faster than the frames.

The body looks pretty good on that '74. If you want a long bed, it might be better/easier to start with the '74 depending on the condition of your '76.

Also, Montana Overland looks to have a pretty good inventory. http://montanaoverland.com/ Not far from Kalispel by western standards.
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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yz400e
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Re: what are the differences between a 1974 J10

Post by yz400e »

I have spoken to Montana Overland on the phone when I was home and while they aren't really open for walk in, they did say to come on down. Unfortunately, I didn't make it and now I"m back at work. Next Break I hope. They have a good looking 78 on their website.

The listings for FSJ's seems to run hot and cold. There can be months with nothing and then 3 or 4 show up.

I'm not looking for a long bed and I probably made an invalid assumption that a long bed would be on a frame with the longer wheelbase and hence a longer frame. I have been considering getting a frame with the longer wheelbase but staying with the short box. (Don't ask).

Based on what was said, I will stay away from the older frame and the 84. 78 - 79 seems like an ideal year as it would also get me drivers side drop..which may give me more options if I ever figure out what I want to do.
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tgreese
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Re: what are the differences between a 1974 J10

Post by tgreese »

yz400e wrote: a long bed would be on a frame with the longer wheelbase and hence a longer frame.
This is correct. The long bed adds about a foot of length in the bed in front of the wheelhouse. 7' bed and 8' bed. They are the same frame rails I recall; to make a SWB truck the additional foot is lopped off the rear of the rails and the axle mounts moved forward. The bed is shortened the same amount between the cab and the wheelhouses.
Based on what was said, I will stay away from the older frame and the 84. 78 - 79 seems like an ideal year as it would also get me drivers side drop..which may give me more options if I ever figure out what I want to do.
Somewhere in the late '60s the wheelbases (and resulting bed lengths) changed. Not sure about a '69, but it would be Buick powered (or AMC 232) and closed-knuckle front end, and I believe the front axle is also spring-over. AMC made steady changes in these vehicles between 1970 and 1974, so the list would be pretty long if you had to list every little thing that changes year to year.

These trucks switched to driver's drop in 1980. A '76-79 will be the same passenger drop as your '76 and the same type of spring mounting.

Regarding the '84, if you want to switch to driver drop, you could maybe switch the cab and bed from your '76. The floors change in 1980 to fit the changed drivetrain, so you'd likely have to modify them some. The '84 is pretty rusty, which should bring the price down a lot. With a bad engine and rust, I would expect to pay very little, like scrap prices plus? $2000 is fantasy. Both are missing a tailgate, which can be hard to source.
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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yz400e
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Re: what are the differences between a 1974 J10

Post by yz400e »

thanks for the correction and additional information. don't remember what I saw and where that made me think '1978 was the switch over year.

I kinda figured the '84 was overpriced..inline 6 plus it doesn't run and is badly rusted.

When I get home from this work trip and have time to work on the truck, I will have to start a 'build' thread. I have trouble calling it a build thread since I won't be doing much 'building'.. more like attempting to slow the rate at which it is rusting away. Hopefully I can replace the floorboards and get one running engine out of 2. If nothing else, my keystone cop approach to working on the beast should prove amusing.
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