1970 Gladiator Restomod

[Yeller]

I'm new here and have posted a few things about this truck all ready but have reached the point its time to start a build thread and have all of my mods and information in one place. This will be a long term build for me, probably be a year before being fairly complete (they are never 100%... ).

I've always wanted a J truck, I was really looking for a 74-80, I like the brow and wanted the drive train upgrades that happened in 74 but this 70 was way too nice and priced right so I picked it up. The goal is to have a comfortable, dependable truck that I can drive daily that is nice but not so nice that I won't use it, I don't build show cars, I build stuff that gets used. Doesn't mean its beat up and ugly but if it get a ding or scratch it just adds character.

This build will have the following mods done:

33's on nice steel wheels and tires (Done)
Swap to open knuckle front (new housing acquired) (Done)
Front disc brakes with hydro boost (Done)
3 link with coils in the front (Done)
64" leaves in the rear (Done)
Locker in the rear, maybe a D60 as well... (D60 and Done:D)
6.0 and 4l80E (Done)
Heat and A/C
reworked interior designed around being comfortable
Winch (Done)
Rear bumper and hitch (Done)
Gooseneck for light towing and working around our place (own several GN trailers)

Details on the brakes - used 78 Ford F150 hubs and rotors, GM small bearing spindles, GM backing plates and GM calipers. Hydroboost is from a 2004 Chevy diesel pickup, master cylinder is 1-1/8" bore for a 72 Chevy C10 that I had new on the shelf from a past project.

Here's a few pics of where it started and where we are today.

[Yeller]

Look what followed me home last night! A running, driving, 2003, LQ4 6.0 and 4L80E

[Stuka]

I really dig the color. Truck looks pretty complete and mostly rust free.

[will e]

Good looking truck for sure!

[Yeller]

Thank you for the kind words guys, I believe I scored well too

Before I even got the truck home I found a new unissued 1970 Oklahoma license plate that I picked up for this truck. The green and white looks so much better than the blue thing they currently issue. My vintage plate application finally came back

[Yeller]

I swung by the Coop today and got a base weight, 4460#. I’ll be interested to see how portly she gets over the next year. My goal is to not exceed 5000#.

[Yeller]

Made some progress today. Got the van parted out

[Yeller]

Step closer, radiator wasn’t keeping the ol 350 very cool, in fact it would overheat with little effort. So I installed the radiator I picked up for the engine swap, nice and cool now. The hoses are a little hack but they are temporary so all good.

[TurboJ4000]

I love your lifting plan for the chevy van. I did a similar van part out and set the body back on the frame with a couple body bolts to hold it for the ride to the scrap yard. When the excavator unloaded it from the trailer with the giant claw the frame and axles etc all ripped out from under the body as it was being moved. Luckily it didn't land on anything but scrap metal.

I love the color of your truck, did the previous owner keep the TH400 when it was engine swapped? I would think that had a Buick 350 when it was new.

[Yeller]

I love your lifting plan for the chevy van. I did a similar van part out and set the body back on the frame with a couple body bolts to hold it for the ride to the scrap yard. When the excavator unloaded it from the trailer with the giant claw the frame and axles etc all ripped out from under the body as it was being moved. Luckily it didn't land on anything but scrap metal.

I love the color of your truck, did the previous owner keep the TH400 when it was engine swapped? I would think that had a Buick 350 when it was new.

Yes the backhoe is a spectacular heavy lifting device, sure takes the abuse with a smile and tackle things that I might otherwise pass on.

The truck still has the original (to the best of my knowledge) Buick 350, TH400 and Dana 20 I'm currently daily driving the truck. The 6.0 and 4l80e are patiently waiting their turn. If someone wants this drivetrain I can expedite its removal, its in fantastic condition, looks crusty but insides are great.

Thanks, I like the color too reminds me of my first car, 71 Plymouth Scamp in Sherwood Metallic Green.

[ArchitectJS]

Thank you for the kind words guys, I believe I scored well too

Before I even got the truck home I found a new unissued 1970 Oklahoma license plate that I picked up for this truck. The green and white looks so much better than the blue thing they currently issue. My vintage plate application finally came back

Congrats on this. I love it when State's permit this. My brother has a '64 Falcon. NY issued a special plate in 1964 commemorating the Worlds Fair. He was able to register with this plate.

[Yeller]

Getting parts gathered up. Transfer case needs a bath, oil fill and clocking ring to be install ready. The tcase is a remanent of my wife’s 91 suburban that we wheeled until the body and frame was falling apart. Due to her propensity to bend drive shafts we developed this full length slip yoke eliminator. The wheel base on the Jeep is long enough that it is still appropriate for this build. Need to cut the transmission output shaft off, it is a 2wd trans with the fully splined output shaft so no need to change it, just cut it to length. Up next will be putting together a D60 for the rear

[Stuka]

I have never seen a long fixed output like that. They tend to be stronger if shorter. In theory it should work the same as a slip yoke setup though, but without the slip falling out or axle droop causing it to crack.

[Yeller]

I have never seen a long fixed output like that. They tend to be stronger if shorter. In theory it should work the same as a slip yoke setup though, but without the slip falling out or axle droop causing it to crack.

You certainly aren’t running out and buying one LOL. I made that with help from a machinist friend over 20 years ago. That case has been sitting on the shelf since 2006 glad I didn’t toss it out when I moved

[Stuka]

I have never seen a long fixed output like that. They tend to be stronger if shorter. In theory it should work the same as a slip yoke setup though, but without the slip falling out or axle droop causing it to crack.

You certainly aren’t running out and buying one LOL. I made that with help from a machinist friend over 20 years ago. That case has been sitting on the shelf since 2006 glad I didn’t toss it out when I moved

Well, its great that you finally found a use for it then!

[Yeller]

Small update today. Removed the external chains on the tailgate. Didn’t get any pics but also ditched the pressure switch for the brake lights. The switch was dead again and I needed to move to a DPDT switch for the upcoming engine swap.

Seeing these pics reminds me…. Anyone know the year/model of available replacement tail light lenses? I’ve seen similar lights on a few years jeepsters but haven’t been able confirm that they are the same.

[tgreese]

Small update today. Removed the external chains on the tailgate. Didn’t get any pics but also ditched the pressure switch for the brake lights. The switch was dead again and I needed to move to a DPDT switch for the upcoming engine swap.

Seeing these pics reminds me…. Anyone know the year/model of available replacement tail light lenses? I’ve seen similar lights on a few years jeepsters but haven’t been able confirm that they are the same.

It's the same lens as used on the CJ-5 and CJ-6 mid-'68ish through 1975. Also used on J-trucks with the Thriftside bed. Jeep 8122928.

https://cj3b.info/Dating/Taillights.html - the "last round taillight."

Widely available. http://www.earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.ph ... es.142080/

[Yeller]

Thank you Tim! That is some great information. I ordered the Grote #9034 lenses, will be here in a few days. All I was finding was expensive and couldn’t verify they were correct. $8ea I’m in just to find out.

[tgreese]

That "beehive" backup light is a CJ item too:
https://www.4wd.com/p/1973-Jeep-CJ5-Omi ... F-12405.04

You can buy the lens by itself or the complete light with housing and lens. IME the complete light isn't an exact match to the original, having different mounting stud spacing and no plug and harness - just a wire. Also has terrible cheap plating that rusts after a couple of years.

Your stop/tail housing is J-truck early Townside only.

[Yeller]

Thanks Tim. I had found the beehive lights on a damaged package sale a while back. Haven’t investigated if they actually fit but the price was right.