altrocker1
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Iowa
Well...since Tyler suggested it, imma gonna do it. That way I don't have to cloud up the "IMPORTANT" thread with un important business :nono:
SO...here is the back story. I have daily driven an xj for the last 10 years and my current rig for 8. Recently, I've become very aware that a lifted xj isn't the most stable/efficient towing vehicle out there. I tow a boat a lot in fall and summer for fishing and duck hunting, and an enclosed 12 ft aluminum enclosed trailer in the winter and spring for goose hunting. On rare occasions I will tow a vehicle and I would love to start doing wheeling trips where I don't have to worry about having to drive my xj home at the end of the trip, so I decided that i need a truck of some sort. So my options with my budget were 1.) buy a used pickup gasser or 2.) build a truck to my liking. Personally, I LOVE j trucks so I had been looking for an okay one for a while.
Sometime this winter Collin (bigslvrxj) rescued a J10 from the scrapper...and I tried to get him to give it to me, but he didn't go for it
However I knew he really wanted a waggy or a full size cherokee...and it just so happened that I knew where I could get one fairly cheap. so here is the J10 when Collin picked it up...
the truck is a 1983 j10 LONG box (which i found out is rare) with a 258 6cyl, tf999 tranny and an NP208 t case. the truck has about 149k on the clock and the pictures make it look a little better than it is. box has a good amount of cancer, but its definitely salvageable. the floorpans are bad, BUT the truck came with a replacement passenger side and i just picked up a cheap one from a guy on IFSJA. There is also damage on the front drivers fender and front clip that needs to be repaired. The frame is rusty, but super solid. Just as you would expect for any 30 year old rust belt truck...
I knew the gasser wouldn't be enough, so I quickly decided to turn this truck into a full restore/diesel conversion. Its going to be a slow build, but I am beyond pumped about it. I'll explain some things as I go along and why I chose to do them the way I did...
Here is the "unofficial" build plan...subject to changes at the drop of a hat.
BODY:
I made buddies with a guy who works at a body shop repairing trucks and buses and he was actually excited about helping out on the project...I offered to trade him some xj wrench time for some body work, so it will hopefully all balance out in the end. here is the short list of body work:
-repair box with new bed side panels
-fix/fill small dents on top and sides of the box
-repair cab floors
-replace hood, front fender and clip
-add either a 60's or 70's wagoneer or cherokee grille (front grille is toast)
-fill/fix dents on cab and front
-sand and repaint all body parts (color will be the dark xj 97+ purple color and black)
-bedline box interior, cab under body, inner fenders, and bottom of the box
-new door seals/window seals
FRAME
should be simple enough...
-strip and sandblast (im buying a sandblaster next week
-reinforce any thin spots with new steel
-i may do some frame strengthening in spots to make it better suited for towing
-re-coat frame with chassis saver or similar product...possibly paint on top as well
AXLES:
the current axles are strong enough to take the additional torque of the small diesel motor. currently the truck has an amc 20 rear and d44 front with lockouts. fsj amc 20's are A LOT stronger than CJ amc 20's so i've been told it will be fine still will have to:
-regear axles to 3.73 (though j20 axles were 3.73 factory so part of me wants to upgrade. there is currently a set at a local pick n pull)
-re seal, clean and paint axles
-eventually install auto locker in front and rear for pulling a trailer in and out of snow covered/chisel plowed corn fields
TIRES/WHEELS:
-I bought a set of outlaw 2's for it, but i've already changed my mind...will probably do 15x8 black steels of some sort and 33" at's of some variety
DRIVETRAIN:
I knew i wanted to go diesel...but after searching a while for a cummins motor, i decided to do the Isuzu instead. Both motors are 3.9L, and have similar output ratings...the cummins has more aftermarket support and can be turned up a lot farther with some of the "p-pump" inline pumps, but the isuzu will be PLENTY of motor for me and ultimately should make about 225 hp and well over 400 ft/lb torque with an upgraded turbo and a small pump tweak. i just so happened to find a complete drivetrain that was already previously installed in a 1970's cherokee which has the exact same frame as a j truck...so it will be mostly a bolt in operation....here is what i have coming to me:
-isuzu 4bd1t motor, chevy nv3500 5 speed tranny, np241 transfer case along with this list of goodies
1989 Isuzu 4BD1T in running condition.
Holset HE341 turbo
Isuzu accessories (alt & ac compressor)
409 stainless steel downpipe, partially fabricated.
Home made Isuzu to GM adapter
New GM flywheel
New GM clutch (2001 4.8L)
NV3500 used w/ Hurst Shifter
Clutch master & slave cylinders, used (slave: '89 Chevy truck, master: '90 Corvette)
Modified Jeep clutch pedal to match
Isuzu Starter
NP241C, driver's drop
PS/Brake booster hard lines
PS reservoir (BMW)
here are some pics of the motor and drivetrain:
custom BOLT IN motor mounts for fsj:
installed motor in his cherokee
with turbo installed
so that is the current plan...so far for the drivetrain, i will be paying $2500 (most used 4bds sell for around 2k with no accessories, or tranny)...for that money with the fab done, i will spend most of my cash on new accessories for the motor and a some other tubing and goodies...this also comes with a custom bolt on crossmember for an fsj frame im excited to get started, and im going to post pics as i go...more are shown below of what i've done so far.
SO...here is the back story. I have daily driven an xj for the last 10 years and my current rig for 8. Recently, I've become very aware that a lifted xj isn't the most stable/efficient towing vehicle out there. I tow a boat a lot in fall and summer for fishing and duck hunting, and an enclosed 12 ft aluminum enclosed trailer in the winter and spring for goose hunting. On rare occasions I will tow a vehicle and I would love to start doing wheeling trips where I don't have to worry about having to drive my xj home at the end of the trip, so I decided that i need a truck of some sort. So my options with my budget were 1.) buy a used pickup gasser or 2.) build a truck to my liking. Personally, I LOVE j trucks so I had been looking for an okay one for a while.
Sometime this winter Collin (bigslvrxj) rescued a J10 from the scrapper...and I tried to get him to give it to me, but he didn't go for it
However I knew he really wanted a waggy or a full size cherokee...and it just so happened that I knew where I could get one fairly cheap. so here is the J10 when Collin picked it up...
the truck is a 1983 j10 LONG box (which i found out is rare) with a 258 6cyl, tf999 tranny and an NP208 t case. the truck has about 149k on the clock and the pictures make it look a little better than it is. box has a good amount of cancer, but its definitely salvageable. the floorpans are bad, BUT the truck came with a replacement passenger side and i just picked up a cheap one from a guy on IFSJA. There is also damage on the front drivers fender and front clip that needs to be repaired. The frame is rusty, but super solid. Just as you would expect for any 30 year old rust belt truck...
I knew the gasser wouldn't be enough, so I quickly decided to turn this truck into a full restore/diesel conversion. Its going to be a slow build, but I am beyond pumped about it. I'll explain some things as I go along and why I chose to do them the way I did...
Here is the "unofficial" build plan...subject to changes at the drop of a hat.
BODY:
I made buddies with a guy who works at a body shop repairing trucks and buses and he was actually excited about helping out on the project...I offered to trade him some xj wrench time for some body work, so it will hopefully all balance out in the end. here is the short list of body work:
-repair box with new bed side panels
-fix/fill small dents on top and sides of the box
-repair cab floors
-replace hood, front fender and clip
-add either a 60's or 70's wagoneer or cherokee grille (front grille is toast)
-fill/fix dents on cab and front
-sand and repaint all body parts (color will be the dark xj 97+ purple color and black)
-bedline box interior, cab under body, inner fenders, and bottom of the box
-new door seals/window seals
FRAME
should be simple enough...
-strip and sandblast (im buying a sandblaster next week
-reinforce any thin spots with new steel
-i may do some frame strengthening in spots to make it better suited for towing
-re-coat frame with chassis saver or similar product...possibly paint on top as well
AXLES:
the current axles are strong enough to take the additional torque of the small diesel motor. currently the truck has an amc 20 rear and d44 front with lockouts. fsj amc 20's are A LOT stronger than CJ amc 20's so i've been told it will be fine still will have to:
-regear axles to 3.73 (though j20 axles were 3.73 factory so part of me wants to upgrade. there is currently a set at a local pick n pull)
-re seal, clean and paint axles
-eventually install auto locker in front and rear for pulling a trailer in and out of snow covered/chisel plowed corn fields
TIRES/WHEELS:
-I bought a set of outlaw 2's for it, but i've already changed my mind...will probably do 15x8 black steels of some sort and 33" at's of some variety
DRIVETRAIN:
I knew i wanted to go diesel...but after searching a while for a cummins motor, i decided to do the Isuzu instead. Both motors are 3.9L, and have similar output ratings...the cummins has more aftermarket support and can be turned up a lot farther with some of the "p-pump" inline pumps, but the isuzu will be PLENTY of motor for me and ultimately should make about 225 hp and well over 400 ft/lb torque with an upgraded turbo and a small pump tweak. i just so happened to find a complete drivetrain that was already previously installed in a 1970's cherokee which has the exact same frame as a j truck...so it will be mostly a bolt in operation....here is what i have coming to me:
-isuzu 4bd1t motor, chevy nv3500 5 speed tranny, np241 transfer case along with this list of goodies
1989 Isuzu 4BD1T in running condition.
Holset HE341 turbo
Isuzu accessories (alt & ac compressor)
409 stainless steel downpipe, partially fabricated.
Home made Isuzu to GM adapter
New GM flywheel
New GM clutch (2001 4.8L)
NV3500 used w/ Hurst Shifter
Clutch master & slave cylinders, used (slave: '89 Chevy truck, master: '90 Corvette)
Modified Jeep clutch pedal to match
Isuzu Starter
NP241C, driver's drop
PS/Brake booster hard lines
PS reservoir (BMW)
here are some pics of the motor and drivetrain:
custom BOLT IN motor mounts for fsj:
installed motor in his cherokee
with turbo installed
so that is the current plan...so far for the drivetrain, i will be paying $2500 (most used 4bds sell for around 2k with no accessories, or tranny)...for that money with the fab done, i will spend most of my cash on new accessories for the motor and a some other tubing and goodies...this also comes with a custom bolt on crossmember for an fsj frame
im excited to get started, and im going to post pics as i go...more are shown below of what i've done so far.
but still safe to drive out on the back roads...so i registered her up and went for the maiden voyage...
so he couldn't really help me lift it much. i think i pulled a muscle in my arm trying to load it...but they are in the shop now while i decide what to do with them. im also kind of thinking im going to keep my 44 and amc 20 around from this truck. they are 65" wide and with a few minor upgrades can hold some pretty beefy tires on an xj. 
