What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

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Grand_Wag_85
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What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by Grand_Wag_85 »

Been keeping an eye out for a future trail rig and ended up rescuing a pair of career snow fighting Gladiators.

Image

One is going to wind up with GhostMedic and the other is this sparkling gem:

Image

Not really sure what year it is but the VIN decodes to a 5000GVW 4WD cab&chassis small window truck with a 327. It definitely has the 327 and a 4spd but the 327 hasn't run in a couple of years and won't turn over.

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The VIN is 2406W-50***

Any idea as to the year?

At some point somebody painted over everything on the dash and by the looks of the instrument cluster I'm wondering if it hasn't been flooded
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4WD indicator lights?
Image

Gotta get rid of that dash paint.

So for now the plan is to see if it will run and go from there...Maybe flatbed, or wrecker?

It's old, rusty and downright scary but I guess you could say it's got character...LOL!
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by KJ Ryu »

Throw some 1-tons with lockers, roll-cage, and a newer drive-train in it; and make it a trail rig.
Ron

2005 KJ, Hit-n-Run, 2am 6-17-2012, Totaled. :mad:
1977 SJ J10, 4v360, T18, D20, 37x14s, SOA & SF on tons, still ugly.
1978 SJ Wagoneer, 4v360, QT, 33x12.5s, lift by Sawzall :-bd NOT Running :(
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nc wagoneer
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by nc wagoneer »

Yep, those are 4wd indicator lights. Green is for neutral and red/orange is for 4wd or 4wd low

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Grand_Wag_85
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by Grand_Wag_85 »

KJ Ryu wrote:Throw some 1-tons with lockers, roll-cage, and a newer drive-train in it; and make it a trail rig.
That's the eventual plan, maybe. If I had that kind of coin to throw down right now I wouldn't need to be pulling a truck out of a farm field eh? ;)
nc wagoneer wrote:Yep, those are 4wd indicator lights. Green is for neutral and red/orange is for 4wd or 4wd low
Thanks! Unfortunately for the time being they're both green.

Any suggestions as to what to use to remove that paint without destroying the lenses?
82 J10
77 J10 Golden Eagle 401
88 GW

You know it's bad when your car is on the EPA's 10 most wanted list!
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Stuka
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by Stuka »

If you want to restore, its going to be a ton of work. Looks like a good start for a trail rig though. Those plow trucks were typically beat on pretty hard.
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by AwesomeJ10 »

My '78 J10 Honcho was a snow plow truck for 20 years. Now it's a trail rig built up pretty well and driving to Moab this weekend.

Nice looking J trucks!
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Grand_Wag_85
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by Grand_Wag_85 »

Stuka wrote:If you want to restore, its going to be a ton of work. Looks like a good start for a trail rig though. Those plow trucks were typically beat on pretty hard.
Definitely not going to go the resto route. My 82 is already 99% there and I want something I won't lose sleep over if it gets scratched let alone dented up. This one has definitely been rode hard but I've sure seen worse.
Blake wrote:My '78 J10 Honcho was a snow plow truck for 20 years. Now it's a trail rig built up pretty well and driving to Moab this weekend.

Nice looking J trucks!
Your rig kinda popped into mind when I saw this one. Have fun in Moab. :-bd
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77 J10 Golden Eagle 401
88 GW

You know it's bad when your car is on the EPA's 10 most wanted list!
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by rstep »

Make a great trail rig. Congrats.
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mud89
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by mud89 »

Congrats !
It's a 65, first year for the 327
J10 81, J10 77, CJ7 80, Gladiator 64, Wagoneer 65, ZJ 5.9
parts vehicles : wagoneer 63, cherokee Golden eagle

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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by serehill »

:-bd :-bd lots sa work between now & the trails but kewel deal
1980 Honcho 258 4 speed mostly stock with 4 " lift.

WIP

You know the rude dude from IFSJA


1980 Cherokee wrangled & mangled
MSD complete system
Eddy intake
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208
Built to drive not sit in the garage.


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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by Grand_Wag_85 »

Thanks guys.

What options are out there for the suspension since it's already sprung over? Would the 4" BJ's kit be enough to comfortably run 34x9.50 TSL's? Anyone running that kit?
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by carnuck »

It is solid front axle and not IFS, right?

Not thrilled with Born Tirds myself, but they should fit without a lift if it's not sagging.
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Stuka
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by Stuka »

carnuck wrote:It is solid front axle and not IFS, right?

Not thrilled with Born Tirds myself, but they should fit without a lift if it's not sagging.
Who said anything about thorn birds??

34x9.50 TSL's are not thorn birds. But they will fit on a narrower wheel just fine. Just need to be sure BJ's lift fits that year. I think Hell Creeks would.


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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by Grand_Wag_85 »

Solid front axle on this one.

Just realized the BJ's kit is the Hell Creek kit and $111 cheaper.

http://www.bjsoffroad.com/prod-887.htm

Hell Creek # HC-JT63

Looks like that kit is only the springs.
82 J10
77 J10 Golden Eagle 401
88 GW

You know it's bad when your car is on the EPA's 10 most wanted list!

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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by hadaz »

You might want to check with BJ's. Several months ago I went to order the lift for my 66 Gladiator and BJ's said that they did no deal with Hell Creek anymore that they were going to be dealing with Alcan. So I ordered my lift kit directly from Hell Creek since I did not want to wait for several months while BJ's settled things out.
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by Stuka »

Grand_Wag_85 wrote:Solid front axle on this one.

Just realized the BJ's kit is the Hell Creek kit and $111 cheaper.

http://www.bjsoffroad.com/prod-887.htm

Hell Creek # HC-JT63

Looks like that kit is only the springs.
Hell Creek will give you an FSJN discount. BJ 'a does too, but it does not apply to lift kits.


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carnuck
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by carnuck »

Stuka wrote:
carnuck wrote:It is solid front axle and not IFS, right?

Not thrilled with Born Tirds myself, but they should fit without a lift if it's not sagging.
Who said anything about thorn birds??

34x9.50 TSL's are not thorn birds. But they will fit on a narrower wheel just fine. Just need to be sure BJ's lift fits that year. I think Hell Creeks would.


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My bad. Super Swampers are OK I guess.
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by Grand_Wag_85 »

I've never had an issue with Super Swampers and I've run them on various DD's, this truck will NOT be a DD.

Can the dash be pulled without removing the windshield? If it's not too hard I might just sandblast the dash and repaint it.

Got a chance to play with the truck a little bit and discovered why there's about 3/4 of a steering wheel revolution worth of play...The wheel is loose. That's DEFINITELY gotta be fixed. lol

Thinking about going to a smaller wheel if it has to be replaced and if I go to a smaller wheel I'll need power steering. What can I snatch a power steering box from for this truck?
82 J10
77 J10 Golden Eagle 401
88 GW

You know it's bad when your car is on the EPA's 10 most wanted list!

nc wagoneer
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by nc wagoneer »

The rubber strip on the inside between the windshield and dash can be cut or you can pry it up. Should be a bunch of Phillips head screws in there to remove the dash.

Sent from my Motorola Moto X
77 J20 flatbed FOR SALE
"old blue" 79 waggy-sitting in Jake's full size jeep junkyard, traded for j20 parts
Also:
1986 Isuzu Trooper Factory Diesel/5 Speed
1999 Arctic Cat 400 4x4 (weekend toy)
1984 GMC Suburban K10 6.2 Diesel/700r4/np208
Originally Posted by fulsizjeep
"Truth is FSJs are crack on wheels. One taste and you are addicted. Then you just want more. Anyone who does not see this is in denial"
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Re: What did I get myself into? Got a Gladiator

Post by jaber »

Grand_Wag_85 wrote: Can the dash be pulled without removing the windshield? If it's not too hard I might just sandblast the dash and repaint it.
Out is easy, but you'll want the windshield out to reinstall. ;)
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