As I have been working on rebuilding my old beater J truck into hopefully a nice truck, I realized I should just create a post of the build in hopes it can collect good pointers and tips along the way. I read a lot of useful tidbits on this forum, and hoped I could add something along my way that someone else may find useful in 12 years.
History of it; When I purchased the truck about 10 years ago, it had no bed (I understand now it was probably rusted out) no fuel routings, no brakes, no grill, no interior besides a seat... Just a cheap $700 pickup. I welded a bed and a bumper, fitted a fuel cell and got it running so I could use it for hunting and was fully content.
then I ran a log through the radiator, and by the time I could get back up to the farm to fix it, the battery was dead, buy the time I got there with jumper cables... long story short it didn't want to start and had set up for several years. Since we had the truck in our wedding as the beer stop, and wedding pictures, my wife is attached to it and is allowing me to revive it!
His name is Earl.
Earl.jpg
Now, current day. I have the body completely off the frame. I created a document of sorts that I could track my disassembly process to make sure I had a clue how to reassemble. I bagged and tagged every bolt and clip and clamp, so feeling confident it will return to assembled condition.
I have painted the frame with POR-15 and top coat. I was impressed with that product honestly, pleased with the turnout.
New Centerforce clutch and pressure plate is in, transmission married backup and motor is back in the frame sitting on new mounts. Funny note, from sitting up a family of field mice chewed through the fork boot and made a cozy nest in the bell housing. Spent a while containing that mess when we cracked the transmission free of the engine.
I formed new brake lines all around. and have replaced all hoses, lines, and belts along with plugs and wires.
I have swapped the BBD for an MC2100 and am anxious to get the wires all hooked up to see if I did that properly.
I am currently waiting my 4" lift, 35 x 12.5' ProComp MT2's, and 4.09 gears to arrive next week. At that point I do intend to go at the re-gear job myself as the local shops wanted to charge $1500 to set them up. I have the G2 clamshell bearing puller kit, and a fair amount of patience with a decent understanding of the setup process... stay tuned to see how this goes.
This guy does a great job of explaining the setup, and I get that it will likely be torn apart several times until the new shim-stack is determined. Old bearings as setup bearings and leave the oil seal out until its dialed in...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAqAqODmcj4
I did find a new bed from a guy in Birmingham for about $300 with a tailgate in good shape. Straightened a few dents on the flair and it is looking as good as I can make it look. Still need the latch plate and latch for the tailgate. George up at Montana Jeep ranch has one for me, but I believe they don't get much time to focus on Jeeps in the Montana winters as it has been a couple month process so far to get that.
I found some 3 pc bumpers, but now have seen where the front frame tabs may prevent me from using them.
That is the basic status of my build project, I am sure I have forgotten a lot of what I set out to say. But I put this up here in hopes someone may read this and offer advice through experience at any point of the build. I know very little, and am willing to take any advice...
Also, last weekend I saw a post on marketplace for a '65 gladiator, "65 Wagoneer, and an '86 CJ7 for sale as a bundle. I couldn't help but ride up to look at them, and wound up loading them up for the ride back home. So there is that... Pretty excited to get the Wagoneer buttoned up and running. They came with an extra Rhino grill and facia which I may very well install on the 79 truck. Which reminds me, I also picked up a front end off a '78 (Razor Grill, lights, trim Facia...) So whichever one I don't end up using will probably get sold along with the bumpers if I can't use them.
New Trucks.jpg
That is enough for now, I am doubting anyone has followed my ramblings to this point. If so, thank you.
My J10 teardown document is too large to add here... but if anyone would like to see it, send me a message. It isn't that great, but it is probably humorous for you to read how far behind I am on things...
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