1970 Gladiator Restomod

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Phils67
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Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by Phils67 »

Yeller wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 4:07 pm Once the sun can up today I was able to get a few mostly finished pics. Still needs painted and shocks changed but functionally complete for this week. Drove it more today, wow was the old rear tired. It’s much quieter, vibrations are gone along with a bad shake that felt like a bent wheel that I had been chasing. The new springs ride unbelievably better.

Oh and we still got to that planned work for today :D
Looks good! What wheels are those on there with the dog dishes? Are they 8 lug and 16"?
1967 Gladiator J2000, 1998 4.0L OBD2, T18, D20 twin sticks, D44HD/D60, Detroit lockers, 3.73s, 4wheel disc brake, FSSR, Dakota digital, etc.
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by Yeller »

No they are 15x8 and 5 on 5-1/2. I wish they were 16” and 8 lug would have made my life much easier. Last I checked they don’t offer them in 8 lug…..

Here’s a link
https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/681218/10002/-1
The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by Yeller »

Been a busy couple of days. Found the fan a tad close to the radiator. Easy fix, unbolted the motor mounts and moved them to the next set of holes effectively moving the engine back. I also fabbed up this offset riser mount for the transmission that bolts into the original crossmember.

It fired up :D loaded and headed to the exhaust shop tomorrow.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by Yeller »

It’s a lot quieter now :D

2x2-1/2 into a single 3 through an 18” oval case Magnaflow. Sounds really good and is mellow enough to not be annoying
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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BaldBeardedBastard
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Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2016 2:52 pm

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by BaldBeardedBastard »

Gotta give us an exhaust sound clip to hear how it purrs!

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'86 GW Cummins 2.8/4l60E. Hopefully bouncing down a dusty road somewhere.
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by Yeller »

BaldBeardedBastard wrote: Sat Dec 18, 2021 6:45 pm Gotta give us an exhaust sound clip to hear how it purrs!

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Patients…..lol

I do want to point out a detail that I put on everything I build that might get put on a trailer. I weld 2 tie down rings on each axle. Makes tying down much faster, simpler and with proper tie down equipment, safer.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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BaldBeardedBastard
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Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2016 2:52 pm

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by BaldBeardedBastard »

That's properly clever. Do you use a specific weld-on bracket or just fab something up?

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'86 GW Cummins 2.8/4l60E. Hopefully bouncing down a dusty road somewhere.
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by Yeller »

I usually use these or fab something similar.

https://www.ballisticfabrication.com/p ... -down-tabs
The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Yeller
Posts: 1521
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by Yeller »

Small update. Cruise control :D

OEM cruise module with a Dakota Digital dash switch.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909

AccrateDelivery
Posts: 25
Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2021 7:27 am

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by AccrateDelivery »

I like that cruise setup!

5jeepsaz
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Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 10:07 am

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by 5jeepsaz »

Congratulations on the starting it up! Always wondered what the enging bay looks like all filled up. Now we know... love the tires and it is looking great
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by Yeller »

Progress is being made. These parts are going in this weekend :D

With coils in the front and the 63” springs in the rear this should be a really nice Cadillac riding machine, about to find out!
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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BaldBeardedBastard
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Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2016 2:52 pm

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by BaldBeardedBastard »

Oh now this is going to be interesting. Looking forward to hearing how wrenching went and seeing progress!

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'86 GW Cummins 2.8/4l60E. Hopefully bouncing down a dusty road somewhere.
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Yeller
Posts: 1521
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by Yeller »

Documenting more parts for inquiring minds:D

The lower control arms are replacement stock Jeep JK front lower arms. The upper uses 2 Johnny Joints that I pulled from my inventory of spare parts for the bronco. The link is a recycled piece that’s seen use a few times before, it’s just shorter now.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Yeller
Posts: 1521
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by Yeller »

Had a good day! Have it back on its feet and rolling. Have the track bar, shocks and bump stops left. Coming together really clean and simple. Ride height came out right on target.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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BaldBeardedBastard
Posts: 168
Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2016 2:52 pm

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by BaldBeardedBastard »

Oh man that looks amazing! The ride height looks great (& the wheels look killer).

I am going to be bothering you for a full parts list some point in the future if that's ok- coils are the promise land for making these trucks ride comfortably. Adding it to the list.



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'86 GW Cummins 2.8/4l60E. Hopefully bouncing down a dusty road somewhere.
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by Yeller »

Thanks for the compliments. You are correct, it is impossible to get the ride and drive quality with leaves that you get with coils. Coils really modernize and improve the driving experience. A vehicle that is visually inspiring, comfortable, that creates a relaxed, confidence building experience is fun and gets driven, which is why we mess with old vehicles unless your purely in for the nostalgia. I really try to make it look like it came that way. If I was paying myself by the hour I’d clean the old brackets up and will eventually, it’s just not on the agenda now.

Be glad too share and help, I always say I can’t build them all, and if I can help someone build a safe, comfortable and robust vehicle 2 things happen. 1 they use it when it’s finished. 2 if we meet up somewhere we can spend time enjoying them and enjoying where we are instead of wrenching.

The front coil buckets are from James Duff and the springs are some stock 66-77 bronco springs that I picked up from a buddies scrap pile. The track bar is custom by me along with the frame bracket. Most of the brackets I had in stock, either purchased or pieces I had produced when I was doing 6-10 coil conversions per year and still have parts. This is only the second FSJ that I’ve done a conversion on. This one is pretty mild, the builds I usually work on get 40+” tires and all 1ton+ running gear.

Link for the buckets and towers
https://dufftuff.com/product/heavy-dut ... wers-tall/
The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Topic author
Yeller
Posts: 1521
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by Yeller »

More progress! Transfer case shifter done. Reused the original boot the position near the floor is 2H and up is 4L, it’s a straight pattern, 2H - 4H - N - 4L. The patch panel is the original shifter location, completely up under the dash. Great for being out of the way, not so great for using it. I like the new location much better, was easier to make too the shift rod that was on the tcase reaches perfectly.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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BaldBeardedBastard
Posts: 168
Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2016 2:52 pm

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by BaldBeardedBastard »

That looks much better positioned- like being able to reach it while driving. Nicely done!

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'86 GW Cummins 2.8/4l60E. Hopefully bouncing down a dusty road somewhere.
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Yeller
Posts: 1521
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: 1970 Gladiator Restomod

Post by Yeller »

Ok confession time now that everything is done. Truck has been running for 8 weeks, running was generous. It sounded fine at idle but had no power and the trans was in limp. My harness and computer guy was being helpful but he’s 3 hours away and life was always in the way for one of us so it took us 2 months to get together. Wound up being a simple issue and took about 10 minutes to fix but it needed to be at his shop. Basically he put a Drive by wire program in for my drive by cable motor, Reflashed the ECM with the correct program and bam, runs like a scalded dog! Now to put some miles on it. Sounds great, rides like a cloud and does burnouts what more could a fella ask for! I’m a happy camper :D
The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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