Putting a 16 Year Old Engine in a 42 Year Old Truck, what could possibly go wrong?

[TAFKALVS]

I've been working on an old Jeep J10 truck for a long time - and I figured since I'm getting into some of the more interesting stuff, I may as well get a build thread going.



Bought this truck 6 years ago, drove it for a while stock and found that it had several issues. The 401 V8 had low-end knock (and got terrible mileage), the transmission was going out and the truck left piles of rust in the driveway. (seriously.)



One of the last trips I took before I started to pull it apart.

A plan was soon hatched to build my dream truck.

Primary objectives:
Reliable and efficient Motor and Transmission.
Cheap and easy to fix.
Capable of moderate rock crawling and off-roading, mainly focused on snow wheeling.
Overbuilt for long term reliability.
Short Distance Daily Driveable, with speeds up to 65 mph.

With that in mind, I started hatching up a plan.

The first order of business was deciding on the motor/transmission/transfer case combo. I knew that I didn't want to keep the AMC 401 V8 (which would need a rebuild) and really wanted to move away from carburetion and vacuum lines to something more modern and reliable.

I looked at several different engine swap options:
Cummins 4BT Diesel (Cool, but the cost of the engine and lack of the availability was prohibitive. Basically the 4 cylinder version of the popular Cummins Diesel available in the 3/4 and 1 ton Dodge Rams.)
Gen 1 Chevy Small Block - either a 327 or 350 cu in.
Gen III Chevy Small Block - either a 5.3l or 6.0l.

It was a toss-up between the Gen I and Gen III small block, but I ultimately decided that going with the more modern Gen III was a good call due to the more advanced engine design, better fuel injection system and higher horsepower stock with a larger powerband compared to the Gen I stuff. Lots of aftermarket support for engine swaps with this motor family.

I pulled the 401, TH400 and Quadratrac Transfer Case and sold them for $1000. I paid $700 for a wrecked GMC Yukon with 88,000 miles on it. It had a 5.3L Vortec V8, a 4L60E transmission and lots of other parts to scavenge.

First order of business before putting the motor in the truck was to repair the rust in the floors.


My FIL taking his turn on the welding. We ended up cutting out most of the driverside floor and part of the passenger. This was a huge project.

Next up was dropping the engine/transmission in the truck:



Since putting the engine in the truck, lack of time/funds has put the project on a slow crawl for the last few years. I don't have pictures but I did make some custom engine and transmission brackets, pulled the rusty truck bed, and slowly sanded and painted the frame with rust preventative treatment, primer and paint.

But now I finally have time and money so I'm going to get this thing built and running.

Started working on it this spring:


Sand and prime:


New Radiator and Air Intake:


Decided that I'll be running 37" tires. Bought a set of Maxxis Treppadors.



They are much bigger than the stock tires:



Currently in the middle of removing all the stock suspension, steering and axle components.

I will be swapping the truck over to 1 Ton Axles (Dana 60 front /14 Bolt rear), lifting it about 8", installing high steer, lockers, 5.13 gears, build a custom truck bed, bumpers etc. I also need to wire the engine, install a new fuel tank, plumb the fuel lines and finish the exhaust. Plus lots of little stuff to chase like gauges, carpet and seats.

Stay tuned, I will post in here as things progress. I'm hoping to have it driving down the road this spring, but will probably at least start it and hear it run by fall.

[Bobby Stainless]

Really nice rig man. Thing will be a beast.

[sb]

giggle, play this rite and it may go over two pages

I always luvd the look of the Gladiator trucks.

[TAFKALVS]

giggle, play this rite and it may go over two pages

I always luvd the look of the Gladiator trucks.

Who doesn't love an old Jeep on 1 ton axles with fuel injection?

Technically the Gladiator was the early 1960s - 1972 version of this truck, which was made by Kaiser/Willys. AMC bought Kaiser and kept producing the same truck into the mid-80s with very few changes, biggest being cosmetic plus some minor frame and suspension changes. The pre-1970 trucks have some super odd-ball stuff, like independent front axles, all kinds of weird engines and a post-mount suspension.

[sb]

[sb]

[sb]

[TAFKALVS]

The M715s are freaking sweet. Factory 1.5 ton axles!

That's about the stance/height my truck will have when it's done.

[TAFKALVS]

This Gladiator is a major inspiration for my J10 build:


I hope to build a bed like this one:

[BmillsSkier]

Sweet build. What's your plan for the bed? Are you going to keep the same lines that go from the quarter panels through the door (and the stock bed)?

EDIT: Nevermind, your last post just showed up.

[TAFKALVS]

Sweet build. What's your plan for the bed? Are you going to keep the same lines that go from the quarter panels through the door (and the stock bed)?

EDIT: Nevermind, your last post just showed up.

I plan on chopping the frame behind the axle shorter for better angles when off road, but otherwise something like that last picture.

[iceman]

I like it. Keep us posted.

[TAFKALVS]

Really nice rig man. Thing will be a beast.

Thanks man! The project has been an even bigger beast... and not even close to being done yet.

I like it. Keep us posted.

This is my only build thread on the interwebs, so I'll do my best!

[Mazderati]

This project would be a lot cooler if it wasn't run by a hick with a hard-on for shooting things. But it's still pretty cool.

[TAFKALVS]

This project would be a lot cooler if it wasn't run by a hick with a hard-on for shooting things. But it's still pretty cool.

I prefer the term "hill person", "survivalist" or "redneck". Hick is more flatland wheat fielder like NW_skier or Kopi_red.

[Timberridge]

Good luck and don't paint it matte *anything*

[2FUNKY]

FKNA man! Love the J10. My dad had a stock one, fucking tank.

[TAFKALVS]

Good luck and don't paint it matte *anything*

Agreed. Probably will primer it and then have a it plastidipped for now, and then get it painted professionally when I have the money.

[digitaldeath]

ENGINE SWAPPING

get that escalade engine or and ls9 maybe

[TAFKALVS]

ENGINE SWAPPING

get that escalade engine or and ls9 maybe

Not needed for a wheeler. Would like to swap a 6.2 into something fast someday, maybe a C3 corvette.

[mud]

Great project, I've always loved those old Jeeps but don't have the time or patience to tackle something this big. Good luck bringing it all together.

[abraham]

Not needed for a wheeler. Would like to swap a 6.2 into something fast someday, maybe a C3 corvette.

I think he means you should mount a sonata as a winch

Cool project

Great project, I've always loved those old Jeeps but don't have the time or patience to tackle something this big. Good luck bringing it all together.

Were you the poster with that renegade project?

[BmillsSkier]

Good luck and don't paint it matte *anything*

Does keeping it primer grey count?

[sb]

I prefer the term "hill person", "survivalist" or "redneck". Hick is more flatland wheat fielder like NW_skier or Kopi_red.

I prefer Appalachian American

Thats gonna be a sweet rig, mandatory rifle rack in the rear window.

[TAFKALVS]

I prefer Appalachian American

Thats gonna be a sweet rig, mandatory rifle rack in the rear window.

East Cascadian.

I was planning on at least one hidden lockable rifle compartment. Not big on the open display of weapons.