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I picked up a J20 for a 4 speed swap this week. It's a '77, same as my waggy. It popped up on craigslist about 10 miles from my house and the guy was willing to trailer it over. From what I can tell from the vin and door jam sticker, it was a 360 4 barrel (currently has a 2 barrel carb on 4 barrel intake), 4 speed, 8400 lb gvw, factory midnight blue. Had some cool options like the cargo light, mud flaps, and CB radio. The tags are missing off the axle so I haven't determined if it has a 3.73 or 4.09 or a trac-lok yet. Also has an edelbrock manifold.

The story I got was it was originally owned by a blueberry farm, which seems appropriate given the blue exterior and interior. It still has the 1977 license plate from right here in Indiana. Shows 39k miles or so, might actually be true if it spent its life on a farm. It's set up for a dump bed and the lift mechanism works but theres no bed. It's waaayyy to mich fun moving it up and down.

Plan is to put the drivetrain under the waggy, pick a couple parts, then sell the rest.

Today I threw on some used tires, poured a gallon of fresh gas in, and with a squirt of starter fluid it fired up and I was blasting up and down the street. Wish I owned something camo and had a Budweiser in the fridge to complete the look. The transmission shifts well and theres actually some clutch left, but the tcase seems kinda stuck in 4 high. Take a gander at the blueberry:

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That thing is pretty bad a#@

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I have a hand full of questions about the suspension and axles. I'm curious how the front end and springs compare to my 7u waggy. It has the "HD44" front. The 77 manual indicates the front axle has a 3500# capacity compared to 3215 on the waggy. I understand it has slightly larger brakes, wider track width, and its 8 lug, but what else is different to increase the capacity? Tubes? Shafts?

Regarding the springs, I read somewhere and my measurements agreed that the front springs are the same length and width as the waggy so they could bolt in, but it seems the J20 sits higher. Are there stiffer/higher capacity springs? It looks like the rears are the same length too, just wider position. Are they bolt in to the waggy as well, but stiffer? Thanks for any insight.

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edit: *front springs

Cheapthrills wrote:That thing is pretty bad a#@

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I wish I had the room to just keep it as is. It could be allot of fun if I had a farm. Put a plow on it and find a pull-behind pto lawn mower.

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You going to eventually part it out?

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toothofwar wrote:You going to eventually part it out?

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Yup

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superdave wrote:

toothofwar wrote:You going to eventually part it out?

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Yup

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NICE! Isee a back window and a radio that interests me!

I see a grill that would look amazing in my 79 cherk

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I'll post a lists of items and prices in the sales area after I've gone through it, don't worry.

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I would like to be in line for the steering box . Now hurry I need a spare .TY

nice, I had a 77 j20 just like that same color and all, only it had a reg bed. looking at the pic.s reminded me of a q i had. on my 81 j10 i have the same chrome button by the left knee, lower dash, i don't think its hooked up, it does nothing, what is it supposed to go to? your looks to say snap on tools

BenD wrote:nice, I had a 77 j20 just like that same color and all, only it had a reg bed. looking at the pic.s reminded me of a q i had. on my 81 j10 i have the same chrome button by the left knee, lower dash, i don't think its hooked up, it does nothing, what is it supposed to go to? your looks to say snap on tools

That button and the red one next to it controlled the dump bed. One button for up, one button for down.