GirsMJ86

Ah, so it's actually a Dodge just with a much better looking body. I can dig that. If I had the funds I know I'd swap a J-Truck body onto a Cummins rig. Would love to see some of the technical aspects of this thing in pics, but then again any pics would be great. J-Trucks just scream "ultimate truck" to me because of the styling (I just love the lines, older grilles, and the brow on the older trucks). Not fond of the square headlight grilles, but overall still awesome. Needs some better mirrors though IMO, some like my J10 had rather than those tiny things. So glad to see those awful chrome rims are gone.

PM sent :thumbsup:

Well, found yet another thing I need to add to my to do list. I HATE how inaccessible the alternator is on these things. Got some bigger/better pics though? Quick search on google was only turning up useless links on naxja and such where the pics are no longer active or it was meant for HO rigs. Also, is the a/c radiator hose required?

Dang, wish I had know about this. Just got myself a new WIX 51626, guess I'll make note for next time.

Is this it on e-bay? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jeep-Other-custom-1981-jeep-j-20-custom-extended-cab-4-x-4-401-engine-rare-make-offer-/111215620802?forcerrptr=true&hash=item19e4f7b2c2&item=111215620802&pt=US_Cars_Trucks Nope, that is a custom built rig. The one I was talking about was factory. I'll dig around for the link and see if I can find it, or at least the pics I had.

J-Trucks were last made in '87. If this is an '88 there are two possibilities. It actually is very rare and is a true '88, last off the line sort of deal. Or it's left over '87 that was sold in '88 and marked as one to move it. The year is what marks it as "rare" if it truly is an '88, kind of bet it's the other option though. Want to talk about super rare J-Truck? Go search for the factory extended cab prototype. Saw pics of it on IFSJA from the guy who owns it. No matter what though very cool (except the fact it doesn't have a brow =P), wish I still had my J10. Though by getting rid of it I was able to get back in an MJ which is more "me". I'll just find another J-Truck someday and make sure it's a '76-'79 J20 this time, no exceptions.

Thanks, those are the ones I'm thinking of, though I want the D-rings, and not the hooks...is the only way to do this is purchase both (the brackets from Rusty's and the above universal kit...?), Seems pricey ...might as well get a new bumper with d-ring mounts already there... Any other ideas...? :cheers: :idea: That's the only way to do it. Rusty's used to carry the universal D-ring mounts as well that would bolt onto those brackets, but they don't appear to anymore. And the D-ring mounts are separate pieces, very costly if you ask me but no other real choices if you don't want to replace the bumper. With the cost involved I decided to just save up for a JCR bumper and not waste the money on these, even with the fact my new rig has factory tow hooks.

Tow hook brackets.

Was going to say you could just grab one from an XJ, then I saw your second post so I guess that takes care of that since you need the bracket as well.

I plan on getting the JCR one in a year or so with all the options, or at least have the local fab shop clone it if they can do it for less. Wish I had the money right now to get it since it's $60 off and free shipping. Really like how it wraps around the corners mimicking the factory one. Not really armor for the corners (fine for me since I don't ever plan on being on rocks), but nice tow points and a built-in receiver in case I get stuck in snow or happen to get into a mud pit.

I would have rather seen a true extended cab MJ than just using the 2dr XJ as a base as something from the factory. Call me old fashioned, but I prefer my beds to be separate on my trucks and the thing to be of usable length. I'm a short and scrawny guy though, so the lack of room doesn't bother me too much. The Gladiator I had almost felt like too much after owning mostly just MJs, and don't get me started on how excessive something newer like my cousins '05 crew cab Ram feels. Since 99% of the time it's just me in my vehicles, bed space is more important to me than cab room. Unless it's a long frikkin road trip, then I'd prefer to have my '99 P71 back honestly. Back on topic though, nice trail toy like ftpierce said, but I'd rather turn the back of a Wrangler into a bed if I'm going that route. From that picture though it looks like some good work on the guys part.

That is true sadly, with pretty much every vehicle. Thanks for the reminder on that rear wheel shelf though, always forget about that spot unless I've been out mudding. Should see this truck compared to the other one I have that's been in Ohio all it's life, it's like night and day. The '88 practically looks new compared to the '86 as far as rust on all the components up front go. The rest of it is just about spotless, very solid, and the underside is still covered with undercoating and a spotless underside on the bed. Really only some minor surface rust to fix and behind the flare a bit on the patched bed side. I want to pull the gas tank skid and por-15 the tank and skid, but at least the skid has a nice gap between it and the tank so I don't think I'll find much trouble there.

Luckily this truck is originally from Long Island and is very minimal on rust. I plan on doing all I can to keep it that way until I can move out of this area, even if that means washing it every day during the winter. lol

Oh cool, thanks once again Don. :cheers: Think I'll just go through and replace each one I can get out then while I'm at it.

I already looked through the bolt thread in the DIY section and did not see these listed. I need to know what size bolts I need that hold the sway bar to the frame. The thing is currently off the truck and was like that when I bought it, would like to get it bolted back up before winter. I also need to know what size bolt is needed for the tow hook brackets, mainly the hole way at the back of the bracket that can be seen inside the wheel well IIRC. I'm sure they are probably all the same along there, but that is the one that is missing on both sides. Could get pics tomorrow when I'm in town where the truck is if needed.

The 5spd didn't come with the 4cyl so it sounds like there was some swapage going on at some point with this rig. You could get the 4spd or the Chrysler 3spd auto in '86 with the 4cyl. Since you say it is a 5spd, you need to figure out which one it is and then I'd be pulling the cover and counting gears or getting it in the air and counting rotations since the tag is more than likely gone. Maybe it originally had a V6 and someone swapped that for the I4 since it's more reliable with the same power basically? Did you ever run the VIN? Of course this was at the time of AMC, so anything is possible to happen from the factory if it was ordered. Though I'd place my chips on things being swapped later on because of specs. Pics of components will ultimately confirm at least what the parts are anyways.

Left out if it's manual or auto. The springs are also not so much of an indication as the axle, my old '86 had 4 springs plus the helper but a D35. If it truly is the AMC20, then it is a MT or it was swapped in at some point. I doubt the latter though since it's a somewhat rare and not too sought after axle when there are easier to find stronger stuff out there that most go after instead.

Upload them to Photobucket, super easy to post them from there if you take the time to examine the links they provide you for each pic. The "IMG" or "IMG thumb" links work great around here. Really? The actual question was posted back in May, take a look at dates/the recent posts made rather than just hop into a topic and make a post based off the title that shows you didn't read any of the posts.

Never seen a set with the chrome still on there. Not even a trace of it on mine, just the silver paint. Learn something new all the time on these things. So basically unless you stumble upon some NOS ones or some extremely well maintained ones, I'd bet finding some like that would be kind of hard eh? I think the silver would have looked better black with the chrome on the raised parts, not that it would change the fact that the chrome came off after time.

You could easily make your own lights. The chrome on them isn't chrome, more like just silver paint. I'm going to be where my '86 is parked tomorrow, I could snap some closeup pics of the ones on it if you wanted (for now you could see some shoddy pics of them in the for sale link in my sig, back when they were filthy when I got the truck in May). In my experience it doesn't look much different from the fake wanna be "chrome" from a spray can. Regular old bright silver would be a close match as well.

I just paid $1000 for an '88 4.0 4x4 5spd. High miles (not something I care about on a 4.0), needs tires and shocks. Already has a 4.5" lift, factory roll bar, skid plates, many other options, and it came with an entire Ford Escape full of parts, including: fel pro gasket kit, custom tube steps, daystar bushing kit, motor mounts, tranny mounts, factory MJ mud flaps, whole bunch of other stuff. Only rust on it is surface and the underside is still spotless coated with the factory undercoating (cab floors are the only exception but that's excepted). IMO $3000 is much too much unless the thing is mint, low miles, and already semi built with at least a completed lift and such. Most I've ever paid for an MJ was $2500 which included delivery from Chicago to central Ohio, it was a 1991 Eliminator 4x4 that was in very good shape with a Jasper motor that only had I think 60k on it and needed no real work done to it at all except the floors fixed and a dented cab corner.

If that's collectible, I've got something in my sig you may be interested in. Just give me two minutes to go readjust the price...

If that is the case that work was done recently that caused the issue to pop up, I'd be taking it back there and having a chat. Could just be something as simple as it's loose or something though.

I'm assuming your rig is an '87 because of your name (on my phone so can't see sig or anything). Cable could be bad. Did it just give up the go or did it start acting up before hand? The gear could be stripped as well at the end of the cable.

Since I'm now linking to this in my signature because I bought this truck last month, I figured I should make a bit of an update here for those that click the link. I have plans to start my own thread with updates on what I do to the truck, but current health concerns are going to keep me from doing much until next summer probably. So rather than start a topic now that will just stay dormant for awhile, I'll just make this short update here. The thing runs great for the mileage that is on it. Had the rear main give out 60 miles down the road from where I bought it though on the drive home... out of an almost 500 mile trip one way. It would have been fine to keep going, but because of how much was leaking onto the exhaust I was starting to get pretty lightheaded even with all windows and sunroof open. Ended up renting a uhaul truck and trailer to tow it home. While I was driving it though the BA-10 shifted smooth as butter and the 4.0 seems to run just fine, if a bit noisy. I figure it's just the common "diesel" 4.0 everyone talks about because of the mileage. I've never had one this high so I've never had one this noisy. When the rear main gets fixed some thicker oil is going to be going in (Delo 400) that I hope will quiet it some. Don't honestly have too much planned for it since it's sitting basically where I like it with the lift and such. I do plan on having it painted professionally down the road, until then though I'll probably rattle can it flat black to take care of rust. Want to change the wheels to some alloys, and I'm really debating if I want to get rid of the bull bar or not. Also debating JCR bumpers. Came with a ton of parts, new, used, originals that were replaced (like the mirrors), and a bunch of other odds and ends. The custom tube steps are going to look great on the thing as soon as I paint them. It has a ton of options like the factory tow hooks, lighted vanity mirror, underhood light, etc. All the stickers are even still on it like the one for the jack, the 4x4 instructions on the visor, tire pressure in the glove box, etc. In the end, so glad to be back in a running, lifted, 4.0 rig. If you happen to hop on here, thanks again Erik. And keep in touch man. :cheers: