67 J3000 or 81 J20

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toxicwaste29
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Joined: Sun May 09, 2021 12:07 pm

67 J3000 or 81 J20

Post by toxicwaste29 »

Looking at getting a 67 j3000 or a 81 j20. Both are within driving distance to me and automatics.

the 67 has a 327 but smokes the 81 has a 360.

I have always toyed with vehicles so I can easily fix anything wrong with them. I got rid of all my 4x4's and bought a brand new mustang so I will use this as a DD during the winter and to haul building materials.

The 67 I have to check into how bad it smokes; if i do end up getting that one I will likely just put in a 4.8 ls.

Is there a specific one I should pick over the other and for what reason?
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fulsizjeep
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Re: 67 J3000 or 81 J20

Post by fulsizjeep »

Welcome to the madness! I would look hard at the J20 because of all the different upgrades that happened by 1976. It will be easier to get most parts you need. There are more stock spring and lift options supported by vendors.
Flint Boardman
88 GW, 401/727/208, 5" lift, D44s/4.10s/locked up, 35s
https://jubileejeeps.org/quadratrac
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tgreese
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Re: 67 J3000 or 81 J20

Post by tgreese »

The '81 J20 will be the better of the two if you just want a truck. As Flint mentions, the '67 has a lot of antiquated features like drum brakes and closed-knuckle front axle, and an uncommon 1st generation V8. You realize this is the AMC 327, not the Chevrolet? J3000 does not tell you the GVWR, which could be from 5000 to 8000. The '81 will be either 6800, 7600 or 8400 GVWR.

Really, unless you just have to have a Jeep truck, you'd be better off with a 15 or 20 yo Ford or Chevy than a Jeep truck that's twice as old. Ford makes something like a million light trucks a year, and Jeep made maybe 1/50th of that in a good year.
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
GTI without the badges: '95 VW Golf Sport 2000cc 2D
Dual Everything: '15 Chryco Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, ECO Green
Blockchain the vote.

Topic author
toxicwaste29
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Re: 67 J3000 or 81 J20

Post by toxicwaste29 »

Should I look for any J10 or J20 then and mostly stick to looking for those? Any specific off years to avoid?

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toxicwaste29
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Re: 67 J3000 or 81 J20

Post by toxicwaste29 »

I am okay with antiquated features. I fully restored my 69 firebird and have worked on countless older vehicles. I also have fabrication skills.

Im just simply new to J-trucks so dont know specifically what to look for and what to avoid.

Yes its an AMC 327. They make trans adapters so I can go from amc trans pattern to a chevy.
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tgreese
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Re: 67 J3000 or 81 J20

Post by tgreese »

The AMC 327 is a great engine; massive block, forged crank and rods. It's an excellent engine for a 1st-generation American V8. It will run and run and run if you keep oil in it, but it will cost a lot more than a Chevy to rebuild.

If you want to go Chevy, rather than buying an aftermarket adapter, find a Chevy case TH400 and swap cases. The Jeep engines prior to about 1974 used a Nailhead TH400 and a ring adapter for the specific engine. You have the opportunity to avoid the parts worries of the Jeep TH400 (flexplate and convertor may not even be available ... possible you'd need to send out to an antique car specialist for rebuild).

In 1974ish, Jeep switched to an AMC case TH400, then in 1980 changed to Chryco transmissions. 1980 is a watershed year, when lots of things are changed. Passenger drop switches to driver drop. New transmissions, new rear axle, new transfer cases. The Borg-Warner BW13xx (original Quadratrac) was gone, replaced by various New Process chain-driven transfer cases.

Lots of drive train changes over the years. Likely both related to the longevity of this platform and the corporate evolution of Jeep Corp, being passed from Willys to Kaiser to AMC to Chrysler. There is a drive train database here: http://www.ifsja.org/tech/figures/db.html

There are plenty of older threads, here and at IFSJA, that would answer your questions. Additionally, there are several TSMs available free for you to read and download. Probably can't get up to speed fast enough to evaluate either of these trucks, but you could go to look at them, and research the questions they generate. At some point, you may come across the ideal truck and be sufficiently knowledgeable to make a purchase.
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
GTI without the badges: '95 VW Golf Sport 2000cc 2D
Dual Everything: '15 Chryco Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, ECO Green
Blockchain the vote.

rocklaurence
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Re: 67 J3000 or 81 J20

Post by rocklaurence »

fulsizjeep wrote: Sun May 09, 2021 12:33 pm Welcome to the madness! I would look hard at the J20 because of all the different upgrades that happened by 1976. It will be easier to get most parts you need. There are more stock spring and lift options supported by vendors.
Agree, plus if you want it to look like the older Gladiator, swap a Gladiator grill on the J20.
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fulsizjeep
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Re: 67 J3000 or 81 J20

Post by fulsizjeep »

toxicwaste29 wrote: Sun May 09, 2021 2:55 pm Should I look for any J10 or J20 then and mostly stick to looking for those? Any specific off years to avoid?
I personally don't get into any FSJs older than 76 unless I am parting one out. I mean, there are folks who do and I salute them in having a good working older unit.
Flint Boardman
88 GW, 401/727/208, 5" lift, D44s/4.10s/locked up, 35s
https://jubileejeeps.org/quadratrac

Topic author
toxicwaste29
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Joined: Sun May 09, 2021 12:07 pm

Re: 67 J3000 or 81 J20

Post by toxicwaste29 »

The 81 was sold in a matter of hours. Here is a 79 I managed to find in Denver and drive back to Akron, Ohio. Took me two full days of driving and except for a leaking trans pump seal that started leaking like a sieve I had no issues.

Does anyone know if this is a special edition with the decals that are on it?
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tgreese
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Re: 67 J3000 or 81 J20

Post by tgreese »

Likely something the dealer applied. This was a common practice in the era. Plenty of such generic graphics were available.

I don't remember any such decals, and there is nothing like it in the parts book.

Has potential. Needs some paint! :-bd
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
GTI without the badges: '95 VW Golf Sport 2000cc 2D
Dual Everything: '15 Chryco Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, ECO Green
Blockchain the vote.

rocklaurence
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Re: 67 J3000 or 81 J20

Post by rocklaurence »

Looks like a good start and it is Sun Burnt :D Scuff it and then clear coat to keep the patina.
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tgreese
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Re: 67 J3000 or 81 J20

Post by tgreese »

Looking at the parts book, Jeep had a lot of colors for 1979. There were three different silver metallic colors, including "Smoke Gray" code 0B. I'd guess that's the original color. Could also be Federal Gray code FC which is a fleet color. Not listed for '79 but should have been available.

My impression is the silver metallic paints from this era weather very poorly when they get a lot of sun. That could account for the total paint failure on the hood and other horizontal surfaces.
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
GTI without the badges: '95 VW Golf Sport 2000cc 2D
Dual Everything: '15 Chryco Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, ECO Green
Blockchain the vote.
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