68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

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44bz
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by 44bz »

michaelw0814 wrote:hey man were did you find the brake conversion kit and the Seal kit too. how much did it cost. i and trying to do that to my jeep. if you have the wed site or part number. i am putting a D44 on Front and back. thanks you
I got the disc brake kit here: http://www.the-jeep-guy.com/. He has the best price for a complete kit that I could find and he'll buy your 11" backing plates from you. I think I paid $500. His kit doesn't come with new wheel bearings but I traded my backing plates for them so it worked out.

The knuckle seals I found on eBay, they're pretty easy to come by. The kit I bought had 2 inner seals, 2 felt seals, 2 metal rings, and all new locking fasteners for $20.


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1968 J2000 - AMC 327/T18/D20 (twin stick), stock D44s, 3" body lift, 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs w/ Kevlar
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44bz
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by 44bz »

I'm waiting on a timing cover gasket set which is apparently lost in the mail so while I'm stuck waiting I decided to replace my door locks since the truck didn't come with keys for the doors.
Image

I found these oem style locks on eBay. The u-shaped pin holds the lock cylinder in place. Pop that out and the lock slides right out. I cut the shaft on the new lock to the same length as the old and slid it into place. The only tricky part is getting the shaft to lineup with the locking mechanism inside the door but even that was pretty easy. Then slide the pin back in and done. Works great and I can finally lock my jeep:)


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1968 J2000 - AMC 327/T18/D20 (twin stick), stock D44s, 3" body lift, 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs w/ Kevlar

twisted frame
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by twisted frame »

Nice job. These kind of small projects are the only thing I have time for lately! Maybe I'll do this too.
73 J4000. 360, MC 2100, T18A, D20, stock closed knuckle Dana 44 front, 60-2 rear. Warn Lock-O-Matics, Warn/Belleview electric winch, true duals with glasspacks, old-school front diff skid plate, used 265 Toyos on 16" AR wheels.
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44bz
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

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Thanks twisted frame, it really was simple and I should've done it sooner. My timing cover reseal project has evolved. Now I'm swapping in a Holley red fuel pump and adding an nos 6 blade fan for the 327, I hope anyway. I've also got a rambler fan clutch, I'm waiting on a spacer to go between the clutch and the pump pulley. The fuel pump is also in the mail. I just can't leave well enough alone:)

Image


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1968 J2000 - AMC 327/T18/D20 (twin stick), stock D44s, 3" body lift, 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs w/ Kevlar
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44bz
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by 44bz »

Got some parts painted today and the mail lady happened to bring my holley pump and block off plate. The block off plate is for a second gen amc v8 but fits the 327 timing cover perfectly.

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1968 J2000 - AMC 327/T18/D20 (twin stick), stock D44s, 3" body lift, 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs w/ Kevlar
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44bz
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by 44bz »

Swapped in a reman'd 75 J20 steering gear.
Image

It was completely bolt in. My old pitman arm fit perfectly and the borgeson Ujoint also slipped on with no trouble. So far I'm loving the improved steering!


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1968 J2000 - AMC 327/T18/D20 (twin stick), stock D44s, 3" body lift, 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs w/ Kevlar
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44bz
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68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

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Yesterday I decided to install the carpet kit and sound deadener I had stored in the attic. My floors are solid, both sides previously replaced, and I had put down herculiner 4 or 5 years ago.

I picked up 50 sq ft of GTmat from Amazon. It's 50mil thickness. I put it on the roof, back wall, and floor. Image

The carpet kit is from ACC I think. I ordered it through eBay. This kit was designated for 74+ J10 because its cut pile, which is what I wanted. Earlier years were listed as having loop.
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It took me all day yesterday, start to finish. I'm really happy with the look but haven't gone for a drive yet to see how much the noise is lessened. I still have some final trimming to do around the shifters, the twin stick is a bit more complicated.


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Herk
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by Herk »

I would suspect it's a LOT quieter. And a LOT cooler in the summer. Bare floors are brutal on a hot day.
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44bz
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68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by 44bz »

Herk wrote:I would suspect it's a LOT quieter. And a LOT cooler in the summer. Bare floors are brutal on a hot day.
I finished up some final touches around the shifters this morning and took it for a short drive through the neighborhood. First impressions are AMAZING! No more squeaks, rattles, pops, or creaks from the cab and the exhaust is far less abrasive. I have about $200 into it and 8hours of work, I'd say the best bang for my buck so far :)


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twisted frame
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by twisted frame »

Looking very good. My floors have been bare ever since I replaced them but I won't be able to do carpet or a mat until I fix the windshield leaks!
73 J4000. 360, MC 2100, T18A, D20, stock closed knuckle Dana 44 front, 60-2 rear. Warn Lock-O-Matics, Warn/Belleview electric winch, true duals with glasspacks, old-school front diff skid plate, used 265 Toyos on 16" AR wheels.
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44bz
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68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by 44bz »

twisted frame wrote:Looking very good. My floors have been bare ever since I replaced them but I won't be able to do carpet or a mat until I fix the windshield leaks!
I told myself the same thing! I still need a new windshield and gasket, until then it gets tarpped in the rain...


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66stepside
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68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by 66stepside »

How's the engine search coming along?
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44bz
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68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by 44bz »

66stepside wrote:How's the engine search coming along?
I had a lead on a good running 327 but that fell through. Also considered a 360/T18/D20 combo for $500 but not sure I wanna dive into a swap like that right now. Still looking at rebuilding one of the two 327s I have, still in the planning stages though.


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44bz
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by 44bz »

I'm picking up a freshly ground cam tomorrow from Oregon Cam Grinders. It should have similar specs to the Comp Cams 260h. They're also setting me up with a set of lifters and break-in oil. I'll probably save these for my rebuild. I've decided to replace the lifters in my current motor and ordered a set through ebay. I figure it's $50 and an afternoon of work, but I don't really have much else to lose. That lifter tick is driving me crazy :banghead:

I'm also looking at a 73 J4000 - running and driving with 5 lug axels and a 258 4spd for $500. I'd like to sling those axles under my J2000 if the axle ratio is better than my 3.92s. Hopefully checking it out this weekend.
1968 J2000 - AMC 327/T18/D20 (twin stick), stock D44s, 3" body lift, 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs w/ Kevlar
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44bz
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by 44bz »

Haven't updated this in awhile as I've been driving it more than wrenching on it. The motor rebuild is on hold for now. I have a different thread discussing my engine tick issue, which ended up being a hogged out rocker so after swapping rocker assemblies from my spare motor it's been running strong and smooth.

Right now I'm looking at replacing the front ubolts and spring plates. My ubolts have already been flipped. The driver side plate is just a flat piece of steel and the passenger side looks like a more traditional plate with the ends folded upward. I've also noticed a popping sound under my feet when I turn the wheel close to lock and there's evidence of the springs shifting in the pack. I found a company (Barnes 4x4) out of North Carolina that sells plates for 2" springs http://www.barnes4wd.com/U-Bolt-Plates- ... _p_99.html

I'm wondering about how to select ubolts though. My Dana 44 axle tube measures 2.75" in diameter and the currently installed ubolts measure 3" apart (inside measure). So do I buy ubolts based on the axle diameter or the needed opening of the ubolt?
For example:
Dana 44, 2.75" opening: http://www.barnes4wd.com/U-Bolt-58-x-2- ... p_104.html
or
3" opening: http://www.barnes4wd.com/U-bolt-58-X-3-X-10_p_108.html
1968 J2000 - AMC 327/T18/D20 (twin stick), stock D44s, 3" body lift, 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs w/ Kevlar
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44bz
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by 44bz »

I received my ubolts today. I ordered from Rubicon Express PN1220.
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Test fit on the axle is perfect.

I've ordered spring plates but went with some I found on eBay. They're made for 2" springs and the bolt holes lined up exactly with what I have already so they should work. I'll update when I get them.


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1968 J2000 - AMC 327/T18/D20 (twin stick), stock D44s, 3" body lift, 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs w/ Kevlar
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wewillsurvive
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by wewillsurvive »

Thanks for the links to Barnes, I like what I've seen so far and have them saved for future use and it will help with shipping time since they are my side of the Mississippi


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1972 Dodge Demon with a 451" stroker Big Block
1986 Jeep Grand Wagoneer AMC 360" AKA Golddigger- SOLD
2003 Dodge Crewcab 2500 Cummins longbed 4x4
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee V-6 full time 4x4


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44bz
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by 44bz »

I got my spring plates today. I ended up going with a set from barnes4x4 that I linked above. $40 with free two day shipping isn't bad. These things are beefy!
Image


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1968 J2000 - AMC 327/T18/D20 (twin stick), stock D44s, 3" body lift, 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs w/ Kevlar
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by 44bz »

Old vs new:Image

I got the driver side done before it started raining again
Image

So the Barnes spring plates seem like a worthy alternative since hellcreek is no longer making them for the post mount FSJs.


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1968 J2000 - AMC 327/T18/D20 (twin stick), stock D44s, 3" body lift, 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs w/ Kevlar
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44bz
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Re: 68 J2000, gettin back on the road...

Post by 44bz »

I had some weird handling issues with the shocks mounted upside down, kinda squirrelly. So I cut the corner off each spring plate and turned the shocks back over, re-tightened everything and its handling great. I'm still very pleased with the upgraded plates and ubolts.


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1968 J2000 - AMC 327/T18/D20 (twin stick), stock D44s, 3" body lift, 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs w/ Kevlar
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