Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

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Topic author
rangrbob
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri May 06, 2022 6:03 pm
Location: Colorado

Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by rangrbob »

I found this truck posted for sale on jeeptruck.com last year and purchased it to use as a beater to haul stuff around. It is a 1978 J10 SWB Golden Eagle with a 360, 4 speed, Dana 20, and 4:10 axles. It wasn't running all that great, and needed some work.
GE1 (1).JPG
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The engine, transmission, and transfer case have all been rebuilt, after which, it very quickly turned into a full frame off restoration. Sorry, I know it had great patina, but it has been fully brought back to bare metal, and will be re-painted in the factory Golden Ginger Metallic.

I've done a lot of work since purchasing it and will try to bring you all up to speed as time allows.
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akguy09
Posts: 301
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2021 6:11 am
Location: Ellicott, Colorado

Re: Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by akguy09 »

Welcome from another Colorado J-10 owner
1979 Jeep J-10 304/T-18
2017 Jeep JK 2DR
2021 PowerWagon

Topic author
rangrbob
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri May 06, 2022 6:03 pm
Location: Colorado

Re: Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by rangrbob »

Here are some earlier progress pictures.
GE1 (18)a.jpg
GE1 (17)a.jpg
GE1 (19)a.jpg
GE1 (20)a.jpg
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Topic author
rangrbob
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri May 06, 2022 6:03 pm
Location: Colorado

Re: Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by rangrbob »

I ended up buying two more as donors. Another 78 and a 77. The white one is the 78, and it turned out to be a Golden Eagle as well. The brown one is the 77 and was at some point in its life a U.S. Government Interagency Motor Pool vehicle. I might try to keep the 77 intact as much as possible and get it road worthy.
Donor1.jpg
Donor1a.jpg
IMG_0640a.jpg
Donor2.jpg
Donor2a.jpg
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Last edited by rangrbob on Thu Dec 29, 2022 5:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Topic author
rangrbob
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri May 06, 2022 6:03 pm
Location: Colorado

Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by rangrbob »

While the drivetrain was out, I stripped the the frame cleaned it up, treated it with POR15, and painted it satin black. A new Rough Country 3" lift, shocks, and Dutchman axles where also installed, as well as, new stainless steel brake lines and new brake components.
FDMF6928a.jpg
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akguy09
Posts: 301
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2021 6:11 am
Location: Ellicott, Colorado

Re: Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by akguy09 »

If you have a rear bumper floating around and you not too far from me, I would love to have a J-10 bumper
1979 Jeep J-10 304/T-18
2017 Jeep JK 2DR
2021 PowerWagon

Topic author
rangrbob
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri May 06, 2022 6:03 pm
Location: Colorado

Re: Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by rangrbob »

akguy09 wrote: Thu Dec 29, 2022 2:37 pm If you have a rear bumper floating around and you not too far from me, I would love to have a J-10 bumper
I do have one that's on the Brown truck. It's pretty rusted out on the underside though. I just spent quite a bit of time working on the one off the white truck. Cut a lot of rust out and patched in new metal, which is going on my current restoration.
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I'll keep you in mind if I decide to sell the one off the brown truck. I tried to reply to your PM, but do not have that ability yet. I'm up in Loveland.
IMG_0189a.jpg
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fsjcowboy
Posts: 25
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:27 pm
Location: Senoia, GA

Re: Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by fsjcowboy »

That's the way to do it! What a great build.
1978 J10 401 w/ Sniper
1987 GW 360 w/ Howell TBI
1988 GW 360 factory
1989 GW 360 factory, 3" lift and front locker
1989 GW 360 Holley 600, Chopped (Convertawaggy)

will e
Posts: 5096
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:21 am

Re: Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by will e »

Thanks for saving it. That's going to be an awesome truck.
81 Waggy 'WILL E' Retired
82 Cherokee WT - SOA/SF/high steer/Alcan springs/agr box/Borgeson steering shaft/AMC 401/performer/holley TA/HEI/BeCool/727/ALTAS (2.0/2.72/5.44)/D60 Snofighter(Yukon Zip,hubs,stubs,4.56)/14 Bolt (FF,BF shave, Discs, ARB,Artec Truss)/MTR 37X12.5/Corbeau XRS Baja & 5 point retractable harness/Hella Aux lights/tuffy console/killer32 sliders/Evil Twin bumpers, rack and roll cage/WARN 8000/TT Fabworks steering brace/dual batts/custom TC skid plate/ARB fridge

rocklaurence
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Re: Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by rocklaurence »

Awesome! I had a '76 Levi addition but it was so far gone that I salvaged it. These trucks are so COOL. Post more pictures

Topic author
rangrbob
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri May 06, 2022 6:03 pm
Location: Colorado

Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by rangrbob »

While going through the truck after I started the tear down, I came upon some butchery of the wiring harness. I ended up ripping out the entire thing and painstakingly rebuilt it from end to end.
GE1 (59)a.jpg
GE1 (63)a.jpg
GE1 (64)a.jpg
GE1 (65)a.jpg
GE1 (77)a.jpg
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Topic author
rangrbob
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri May 06, 2022 6:03 pm
Location: Colorado

Re: Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by rangrbob »

One of the front bumper bolts snapped off in the frame, and I broke off a drill bit while trying to extract it. So, I had to cut it out and try my hand at welding in a new nut. I think it turned out ok.
GE1 (50)a.jpg
GE1 (52)a.jpg
GE1 (53)a.jpg
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GE1 (57)a.jpg
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Topic author
rangrbob
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri May 06, 2022 6:03 pm
Location: Colorado

Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by rangrbob »

The best condition body parts were separated from two of the trucks, stripped down, and then sent off for body work and paint.
GE1 (141)a.jpg
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Notice the Eagle is still visible after media blasting. (The spot in the center of the hood was left by the Dustless blaster to avoid "tin canning" of the area).
IMG_0775a.jpg
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Last edited by rangrbob on Fri Dec 30, 2022 9:58 am, edited 1 time in total.

Topic author
rangrbob
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri May 06, 2022 6:03 pm
Location: Colorado

Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by rangrbob »

Here are a few progress pictures of drive train install:
NWDN6387a.jpg
IMG_0274a.jpg
BLWD4316a.jpg
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Topic author
rangrbob
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri May 06, 2022 6:03 pm
Location: Colorado

Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by rangrbob »

Some body work pictures.
IMG_3194a.jpg
IMG_3199a.jpg
IMG_3205a.jpg
IMG_3477a.jpg
IMG_3481a.jpg
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Topic author
rangrbob
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri May 06, 2022 6:03 pm
Location: Colorado

Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by rangrbob »

Some body work pictures (CONT)
Second primer after etch primer.
IMG_3521a.jpg
Third coat in high build primer.
PVRPE4608a.jpg
Tailgate looking very straight.
XTZK9696a.jpg
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Topic author
rangrbob
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri May 06, 2022 6:03 pm
Location: Colorado

Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by rangrbob »

Earlier last year I reproduced the air cleaner decals and a door jamb vin tag. I'm also going to try to replicate the little AMC Jeep sticker that was on the rear bumper manufactured by Flex-N-Gate.
78GE1 (169)a.jpg
78GE1 (168)a.jpg
IMG_1164a.jpg
78GE1 (3)DRAFT.jpg
IMG_0189b.jpg
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Topic author
rangrbob
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri May 06, 2022 6:03 pm
Location: Colorado

Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by rangrbob »

The truck was also a Levi's edition, but the only remaining part was a ratty door panel. The seats were replaced with a bench by a previous owner. I tracked down a pair of buckets out of a Cherokee Chief in Grand Lake, and a armrest that was up in Casper WY, and recently had them reupholstered to pay homage to the way they would have looked. The door panels will resemble the original design.
GE1 (31)a.jpg
IMG_1161a.jpg
IMG_1426a.jpg
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Last edited by rangrbob on Sat Jan 14, 2023 8:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

akguy09
Posts: 301
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2021 6:11 am
Location: Ellicott, Colorado

Re: Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by akguy09 »

looking good
1979 Jeep J-10 304/T-18
2017 Jeep JK 2DR
2021 PowerWagon
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Saving Luther a 78 J10 Golden Eagle

Post by Yeller »

Thank you for saving this one. I was watching it and had committed that if it was still there when I could get the 800 miles away to look at it, it was probably coming home, and was gone by the time I could get that accomplished. Its great seeing it not only saved but brought back with a high level of detail that will be better than it was when new.
The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
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