Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

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GladiatorGirl
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Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2019 9:41 am

Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by GladiatorGirl »

Well it's happening! Bought a 1971 Gladiator j2500 for $1500 and it's in the shop getting a new rear diff rebuild. Bought her for a work truck but she's the first auto I've ever loved...any tips or warnings? Thanks guys!
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tedlovesjeeps71
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Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by tedlovesjeeps71 »

Welcome to the madness! Pics are always appreciated 'round here.
Flesh out the specifics of what ya got and we can probably help with suggestions. What motor etc.
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Stuka
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Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by Stuka »

Welcome to the forum.

Tip or warnings when going from manual to auto, hmm. Don't go to instinctively push the clutch in when slowing, because you will probably hit the brake pedal instead :)
2017 JKU Rubicon
Pevious Jeeps: 1981 J10, 1975 Cherokee, 2008 JK, 2005 KJ, 1989 XJ
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lkmarsh
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Location: Modesto CA

Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by lkmarsh »

Welcome! Fifty-year old trucks aren't usually found in factory original condition. Pics might help show
what the previous owner(s) have changed over the years. And we really just like looking at Jeeps.
Lyle
69 1414x Buick350/Th400/D20
PDB, HEI, relays, rallyes, rhino, rust...
73 Wagoneer parts donor

bigun
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Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by bigun »

Watch out for the Skull Hook on the hood.
Knowing what state your in will help if you need help
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mud89
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Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by mud89 »

Welcome! What engine do you have ?
J10 81, J10 77, CJ7 80, Gladiator 64, Wagoneer 65, ZJ 5.9
parts vehicles : wagoneer 63, cherokee Golden eagle
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toothofwar
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Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by toothofwar »

bigun wrote:Watch out for the Skull Hook on the hood.
Knowing what state your in will help if you need help
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who has knocked themselves silly on this!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
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tedlovesjeeps71
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Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by tedlovesjeeps71 »

I think we scared her away... Haha

bigun
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Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by bigun »

toothofwar wrote:
bigun wrote:Watch out for the Skull Hook on the hood.
Knowing what state your in will help if you need help
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who has knocked themselves silly on this!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
Took it off of Crom and made hood pins out of stainless steel bolts instead.
Some used to take a tennis ball cut a slit in it and shove it over "The Skull Hook of Doom" to avoid it

bigun
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Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by bigun »

tedlovesjeeps71 wrote:I think we scared her away... Haha
LE Sigh Le really big Sigh! It always happens :-bd

letank
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Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by letank »

Welcome to the asylum, we are a very nice bunch of inmates.

What to look for ! fluids, all the fluid should be changed or a least checked for color and smell, too dark, too rusty or smelling like burnt toasts to be changed, especially the trans fluid and the neglected power steering fluid...

Wheel bearing grease on the front for lack of rust, in the rust, pop the carpetting and check for rust spots such as the notorious floor vent holes aka the flintstone's mobile.

Ammeter bypass is a good way to address the sudden loss of electric supply
Michel
74 wag (349 Kmiles... parked, next step is a rust free body)
85 Gwag (229 Kmiles... the running test lab)
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Crankyolman
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Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by Crankyolman »

If it's a V-8, the early '71s had Buick 350 engines, later models got AMC engines. If it has an original AMC v-8 engine it has 3 bolts holding the harmonic balancer on, later engines used 4 bolts. If it is late '71 it also has a shorter than normal water pump, the replacement pumps that are currently being made don't fit properly and can damage the harmonic balancer so if the pump goes bad it's best to send it to a person who will rebuild your pump. It's expensive but worth it. I sent mine to The Waterpump Man ( http://www.waterpumpman.com/index.html ) but Galvins Rambler parts might have rebuilt ones in stock ( http://www.ramblerparts.com/ ) The fan clutch is also a little shorter than later models but the one BJ's offroad sells is short enough. I think the power steering pump is another unique thing on the "71s. There are a few other unique things but those are the ones that get people in trouble.
'72 J4500

Topic author
GladiatorGirl
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Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2019 9:41 am

Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by GladiatorGirl »

Hi, sorry and nope, can't scare me away! It's a j2000, my mistake. It's a 4 speed manual with an amc 360 v8. So first specific question is: what's the pattern on the 4wd shifter? Mine is not factory and has nothing on it and it's out of the shop and I don't know this ride. At all. Going to be immediately going in the woods, alone, small , narrow roads already with snow cover to get firewood so I need to know. This beautiful jeep is nothing like I've owned and/or driven , love it but ....any help or info appreciated .

Oh yeah, it says my pics arw.to lrg of files to add?!

Topic author
GladiatorGirl
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Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2019 9:41 am

Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by GladiatorGirl »

Crankyolman wrote: Sat Apr 20, 2019 9:06 pm If it's a V-8, the early '71s had Buick 350 engines, later models got AMC engines. If it has an original AMC v-8 engine it has 3 bolts holding the harmonic balancer on, later engines used 4 bolts. If it is late '71 it also has a shorter than normal water pump, the replacement pumps that are currently being made don't fit properly and can damage the harmonic balancer so if the pump goes bad it's best to send it to a person who will rebuild your pump. It's expensive but worth it. I sent mine to The Waterpump Man ( http://www.waterpumpman.com/index.html ) but Galvins Rambler parts might have rebuilt ones in stock ( http://www.ramblerparts.com/ ) The fan clutch is also a little shorter than later models but the one BJ's offroad sells is short enough. I think the power steering pump is another unique thing on the "71s. There are a few other unique things but those are the ones that get people in trouble.


Great stuff! It has an amc 360, replaced fan clutch, brakes, wheel cylinders, .plug wires , rebuild carburetor and new ring and pinion in rear diff.

twisted frame
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Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by twisted frame »

Welcome aboard! Does your transmission shift into 4 spaces or 5? If it's just 4, you might have a 3-speed where Reverse is upper left, 1st is lower left, 2nd upper right, 3rd lower right. My truck has the T18(A) 4-speed where it's like this:

1 3 R
l____l___l
l____l
2 4
(My attempt at a diagram isn't working so well but you can see what I mean. :)

On the T18A 4-speed, 1st is non-synchronized, so you must come to a complete stop to engage 1st. You basically start out in 2nd unless starting on a steep grade, boat launching ramp or something where you need low gear.

Since anything could have been swapped in, it pays to check out the casting numbers: http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/tr ... al/t18-t19
73 J4000. 360, MC 2100, T18A, D20, stock closed knuckle Dana 44 front, 60-2 rear. Warn Lock-O-Matics, Warn/Belleview electric winch, true duals with glasspacks, old-school front diff skid plate, used 265 Toyos on 16" AR wheels.
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tgreese
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Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by tgreese »

Hi - these trucks could come with manual transmissions from the factory. What makes you think it's not the original transmission?
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
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tedlovesjeeps71
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Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by tedlovesjeeps71 »

I think she is asking about the t-case shifter, not the tranny. Probably a J pattern would be my guess.
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Stuka
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Re: Hi Everyone, tips for a gal new to the gladiator world?

Post by Stuka »

She means the t-case.

2H 4L
| |
4H—-N

It’s basically a big U pattern.
2017 JKU Rubicon
Pevious Jeeps: 1981 J10, 1975 Cherokee, 2008 JK, 2005 KJ, 1989 XJ
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