AZ based - New J20 Owner

[brucej20]

Just joined the network. Just getting started on a new project truck, which is a 1984 J10. Started with the replacement of a starter motor, starter relay, and battery cables. Now it can start and move on its own. Next is to tackle the steady transmission fluid leak and install a dual exhaust system. Also, the rear bumper needs to be sorted out. Planning a fresh new paint job and interior remake. I have set a personal goal of March 2024 for everything, as I am hoping to make it to Moab Utah with the J20.

IMG_20230512_125209838_HDR.jpg

IMG_20230502_115939687_HDR.jpg

IMG_20230502_114227083_HDR.jpg

[Yeller]

Welcome aboard!

Very nice looking truck!

I had my 70’ in Moab in March

[brucej20]

Thank you for sharing the picture! Looking forward to being in that picture next year.

[Stuka]

Welcome to the forum!

[will e]

Welcome from Mesa Arizona! There is a decent number of us hanging out here in the valley and in Tucson. Where abouts are you located? Make sure to post up if you need any parts in the parts wanted section too. It's getting a bit warm for a wrench-o-thon but if you want some help with any major stuff we might be able to make a weekend out of it when the weather cools..

Also, make sure to watch for the annual Thanksgiving in the Desert (TITD). The weekend before Thanksgiving we have a pot luck out by Florence. It's been an annual tradition for over a decade. You don't need to bring your FSJ! Heck, you don't even have to own one. But there is usually a half dozen to dozen FSJ's there and it might give you some ideas. Do a search on TITD to see how it works.

[brucej20]

Thank you for the welcome to FSJN. I have been in the "smaller" Jeep world for quite a while. My main drive is an '86 Jeep Comanche. I am located in southeast Phoenix, near South Mountain. I am been hanging out at the 2nd Saturday Desert Rat parking lot event in Mesa.

IMG_20230513_083714257_HDR.jpg

[will e]

That's me in the red Jeep parked next to you. I really likeyour Comanche and was checking it out. It's very very clean. Hard to find them in that kind of shape.

[brucej20]

IMG_20230513_082414473_HDR.jpg

[will e]

Nice! We should go wheeling sometime.

[Srdayflyer]

reach out to me im finishing my daughters 83 cherokee its in mesa with your contact info check out my minion hauler pics

[fulsizjeep]

Congrats on your new project and welcome to the forum. Lots of potential there. I see the wheels are 6 lug, not 8. That would make it a J10. J10s are 1/2 ton truck and were available with a 7' or 8' bed while the J20 is 3/4 ton with 8' bed only.

[brucej20]

It is a J20 - the badges, VIN, title, and owner's manual in the glove box. So the 6 lug hubs have also confused me.

[tgreese]

Huh. You have a mystery to solve. A J20 has a higher GVWR than a J10, notably with a full-floating Dana 60 rear axle. These are always 8-lug, not available in 6-lug. The 6-lug axles the J10 came with are "semi-full-floating" with a flanged axle and a single bearing at the outboard end of each axle.

J20rearwheel.jpg

The sequential serial number part of the VIN is stamped into the right-front-top of the frame. I would compare that with the title VIN, and with the VIN plate.

[sierrablue]

Maybe it's just a really light duty J20? Like the bottom GVW so it got 1/2 ton outers but heavy duty D44s? Just a thought.

Could also be that somebody wrecked it or something and they swapped the vin and stuff with another truck to keep it clean. Swapped the badges and stuff while they were at it.

What's the steering look like? How many rails are in the bottom of the bed? What do the springs/axles/etc. look like?

[akguy09]

There were not light duty J-20's. Either the truck has different axles, or someone used a title/VIN they had laying around...not uncommon in some places they do not check hard for reg purposes

[HeavyMetalThunder_81]

I'm betting someone harvested the axles at some point and swapped their J-10 axles in and then flipped it.

[brucej20]

Yes, the PO did an axle swap, traded the original for a rebuild pair of 6 lugs D44s