Jeep J4000,open For Ideas.

[moos]

My hunting ground is Craigslist an well here's my story,Been wanting and looking for the mighty jeep gladiator  when I stumbled upon a ad that had a 1971 j4000 4x4 for 1,500.I was stoked thought wow killer price me and my pops can start a project and go halves,ad said motivated seller in my head I'm thinking 1k.So I called the ad and left a basic message,hey calling about your jeep have couple questions gimme a call back thanks. So I show my dad the ad and he said no,I was like what c'mon,still no he didn't want to stray from the mjs and xjs era of jeeps we have been accumulating these past years.I was bummed.trying to talk my dad into it the guy calls me.we talk on phone for a good 20-30mins, pops asking me to ask questions I already had planned asking. So towards the end I think I got my dad hooked,nope. I tell the guy hey I was thinkin I could get my dad to go halves with me but I can't and I don't want to insult you with a price he said shoot offer I said I could do like 700.He said sorry man he really wanted more for it,I said no biggie we bs'd for oil bit and wished him luck. This was month and half ago. That was End ......or so I thought. Got a call last week from the guy,he asked me hey you still want the truck I said yeah he said take it.I'm like what? He said yeah man if you want it come get it.I was shocked.he said yeah man out of everyone who called me your only guy who wasn't a douche, Everyone was trying to rip me off and low ball bad or flake which pissed him off. Then he told me he tried donating it to college but a tow would cost him and the tax right off he was trying to get wasn't gonna happen.I told him my dad out of town on vacation but I'll come down asap.set it up on Thursday but I get a call saying his work schedule got turn around so Saturday will work. Pops vacation was over and me and him drove my mj down hour an half to get it.

 

[moos]

So here it is

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Mj full of parts as well as the j4000

[moos]

So since this is new to me I'm open for ideas I'm thinking diesel swap. Idk,won't be for awhile I spent my project money on my house so mostly planning and idea bouncing and some cleaning will be this trucks future.

[dankicksass]

I'd sell that work body bed fast, you'll recoup at least your full initial investment just by getting rid of that. Or hit up 100dollarman for a M105 trailer and swap the mil box to the truck and build up the work box into an offroad trailer.

[moos]

Oh I forgot to mention I have to head back down with a trailer to pick up the original bed has few dings and spare tire carrier.

[Oddmodman]

Well hell, he's right! Sell that 9-5 bed and you'll probably get a good amount of your investment back, and you already have the real bed. Nice.

[COFFMAN]

That is a cool truck, made to work. Great score :thumbsup:

[moos]

Well here's the specs I know so far 360 v8, automatic t400? Guessing he switched it,Dana 44,Dana 60, posi limitited slip all around.4 barrel edlebrock carb. camper special so upgrade suspension,8lug so I'm guessing1ton,with the 4set of front lights. This project will be on back burner since I started a house project,and have other projects going. I'm on the fence on what I want,I'd like a diesel work truck,but who knows. Hit me up with ideas.

[ComancheKid45]

Awesome Truck and deal!  :thumbsup:

[moos]

Yeah can't beat a free jeep and truck full of parts. Well it cost me about 160miles in gas. So anyway, I have a chance to acquire a diesel motor but it's out of a Ford 7.3L.....yeah idk bout it still keeping an eye out for cummins 12 valve what's a decent price?Also I heard about a 4cylinder Toyota diesel not planning on putting it in my j4000truck, but is that rare motor?

[dankicksass]

A 4cyl Toyota diesel is either old, or non-USA-market (Mexico or Japan), or a Hino...

Ford diesels and Cummins 12v motors are easy to make power with. Really easy.

I hear AMC V8s fit easy in Comanches.

[moos]

For sure I'll know more on Sat about the yota motor he was telling me it was a 2stroke or 4stroke not sure guy was old and can hardly understand when he talks.

[Automan2164]

I would clean it up and rock it as is. That is one tough looking truck.

 

It's survived this long intact and in decent shape, don't cut it up or do some goofy engine swap. Get it running good and just enjoy the hell out of it.

 

Rob

[moos]

Might take that in consideration. Was doing some research and frame strength was a hot topic when swapping to deisel,being that my trucks a 71 and the  more desirable frames are later on  or even dodge frame but it was mentioned for the larger motors.so either I bore/rebuild the 360 or find a 5.9 12valve.

[JeepcoMJ]

Lose the rack from the brow forward at minimum, but I would drop it at the cab. Takes a lot away from the truck

[moos]

I agree the way it's mounted to the bumper is one bolt and moves if I hang on it so most likely I'll cut it back to the brow have it braced up better to protect the cab and if I ever need the rack to the front I'll sleeve it and bolt it to  like a temporary thing.went to see a guy today about his tractors, and some other  things,and he had  some screws loose really crazy I tell you.for some reason govt is after him and a plane that flew by is govt taking pics of his land.also me an  my brothers weren't allowed to look at the stuff he had for sale but he sure liked to talk and talk about it can't look though it's right there.

[86customanche]

That's one hell of a truck for the price. IMO Id rebuild or tune up the 360 and run it as is. Unless you want it to tow with, I wouldn't bother a swap, just more work than is necessary. Great find though.  :thumbsup:

[moos]

I thought 1500 was  a good price but I got it for free even better.

[Oddmodman]

There's no way if I owned your truck that I'd pervert it with a Ford engine. It all depends upon what you want the truck for in the end.

[moos]

If I can't get my motor to work out I'll look for another or do a cummins  swap. No Ford perverting my jeep here,maybe  a chevy.