Tell me your honest opinion

[danboone5]

http://gadsden.craigslist.org/cto/1853869305.html

[aemsee]

I had a 79 Chief widetrack. Great vehicle. Someday I would like to own another. What would your plans be for it? Restore, trail, drive train swap?

[CWLONGSHOT]

Exactly my question...

 

I'm not as "up" on these. But if wanting the drive train, be sure of axle widths, front axle drops and version of the D44. (Spline counts & disc brakes)

 

If wanted for a complete vehicle. (2DRs are Very cool) I would want to see the frame and body rust/rot.

 

Overall looks OK, but seems a bit rich to me. I would bring cash and offer less,

 

CW

[Incommando]

Around here, with a bad engine, I'd go $600-$700. IF they floors aren't rotted under the mats/carpet and the frame wasn't rusted out by the fuel tank.

 

The quadratrac transfer in that was fine for its day, but is really an outdated pile that is hard to get parts for and keep running correctly, realistically. The quit using them in '79. The D44's are a LP pass. drop front, decent enough if you need a pass. drop. The plus is that MOST widetracks had the thicker axle tubes of the D44HD and a 77 would be disc, basically a Chevy set-up. The rear D44 ( basic 30-spline jobby) will be offset to the pass side as the quadratrac rear output is off-set, not centered. Some people run them in swaps without issues, but most report driveline issues without a custom driveshaft. The axles would be 6 lug and are about as good as a lp d44 front gets. 3.54 is the most likely gear ratio. Wide track axles ( found under the pickups and Cherokees with the factory fender flares) are about 64" wide while the narrow tracks were around 59".

 

I have had several FSJ's: I traded a driveable '79 wide track with a 360/t18/D20 but major rust issues for the MJ. They are neat trucks and make great off-roaders, especially if equipped with a D20 or 208 transfer case. The 109" wheel base works well with 33-35" tires. You have to lift the crap out of the narrow tracks to get a decent size tire on them, or cut the fenders ( sound familiar?) You can honestly run a narrow 33" tire on the widetracks with NO lift: 33x10.5x 15 - 255/85/16 or even 285/75/16's work. I have done it. Most had no skids but if you see how far the drivetrain is tucked up into the frame rails, you will see that Jeep had the right idea there.

[terrawombat]

What would you be buying this vehicle for?