Hello new, goodbye old...

[Jagged]

So I have been needing a pickup for parts hauling and firewood and the like. Obviously, I looked for a Jeep.

Recently I came across a 1978 J10 "Golden Eagle". It's rusty as it's been sitting for a while in the PNW, but everything works. Lights, cruise, 4wd, runs nicely. Purrs with that little 401 under the hood. I love it. And i am absolutely amazed at how well it drives.





When we brought the J10 home there was someone there to look at the Waggy. And they took it. I am sad to see it go, but we just couldn't keep 'em all.

[AwesomeJ10]

Very cool!

Any more pics?

[Stuka]

Is that your M715?

And its always sad to see an FSJ go. I still regret selling my Cherokee, but everything happens for a reason I suppose.

[Jagged]

Going to get a few more photos tomorrow. As well, I have the original window sticker and the production order, as well as a folder of receipts going back to '78. I like the fact that this entered assembly (if I am reading this correctly) on 7/1/77 and my birthday is the same month and year.

Stuka, yeah that's the beast. I am almost hoping the guy that is supposed to be trading me for the j20 backs out now. Ah well.

I am not one to sell a Jeep. The Waggy is the first Jeep I have ever sold.

[REDONE]

If you're ever in the vicinity of the Everett Mall let me know! I used to have a 78 J-10 Golden Eagle and I've been building my 79 J-10 as a running resto for a while now. I literally live right behind the Michaels arts&crafts store, in a really nice refrigerator box.


If you ever head this way let me know and you can check out the Money Badger, or if you're grabbing a drink at the Azteca or Red Robin I'll swing by and drool on your truck!

[jaber]

Beautiful GE. I had a '77 for a while, but it was too far gone with rust to salvage. I found another '77 and used all the good parts on, so it still lives on...

[Jagged]

If you're ever in the vicinity of the Everett Mall let me know! I used to have a 78 J-10 Golden Eagle and I've been building my 79 J-10 as a running resto for a while now. I literally live right behind the Michaels arts&crafts store, in a really nice refrigerator box.


If you ever head this way let me know and you can check out the Money Badger, or if you're grabbing a drink at the Azteca or Red Robin I'll swing by and drool on your truck!

Defintiely. Be nice to meet someone around here with an interest in FSJs. I don't get out that way that much at the moment. And if you're out on route 2 near Sultan, let me know and we'll meet up for a drink. There's a Red Robin in Monroe.

Beautiful GE. I had a '77 for a while, but it was too far gone with rust to salvage. I found another '77 and used all the good parts on, so it still lives on...

There's a bit more rust that I originally though, but I'm thinking that after winter I might start replacing the worst parts. Then I want to rebuild the 401, so since I want to keep running this thing I might drop in the spare 360 I have for a bit. We'll see.

I was staring at it today and thought: THIS is the truck Marty McFly should've wanted.

[REDONE]

Definitely. Be nice to meet someone around here with an interest in FSJs. I don't get out that way that much at the moment. And if you're out on route 2 near Sultan, let me know and we'll meet up for a drink. There's a Red Robin in Monroe.

Tripwire lives in Monroe too, he's got an uber clean GW resto his wife drives!

There's a bit more rust that I originally though, but I'm thinking that after winter I might start replacing the worst parts.

Yup, quite standard, really.

Then I want to rebuild the 401,

Well, seems you're running par for the course!

[Jagged]

Tripwire lives in Monroe too, he's got an uber clean GW resto his wife drives!

Funny you should say that. When I was selling my GW, Tripwire offered to take what was left over if I decided to just rip the axles out. At the moment, I have an open invitation to Tripwire to let me know if he's ever this way to stop to talk shop.

Yup, quite standard, really.

I am not as worried about the bed rust as I am about cab rust. I hope it's repairable. I'll get some shots of it later on.

Well, seems you're running par for the course!

NICE!

I have a 401 in my CJ-7 as well:



I'm also supposed to be getting a J20 today with a horribly done lift and a 401. In trade for the M-715 since too much needs to go into the M-715 and by the time I get to it, it'd be rusted away since I don't have any place it can fit and be covered. So I figured it was better deserved to go to a veteran who wants to restore it.

[Jagged]

So the M715 is gone and I am now in possession of the J20. I am unsure what to do with it yet. It will probably need wait as I need to fix our WK and there is a bit to do on the J10. I think someone was setting the J20 up to be a mud truck.

Either way, neither vehicle has a decent bed, and I am more and more concerned for the cab of the J10...

[The PIG Smith]

So the M715 is gone and I am now in possession of the J20.

I dunno to be sad or happy.
Getting rid of a M-715 is dramatic to me, but you had mentioned it need more love and care than you could provide.
Most of the M-715's I've seen that were priced to where I afford it were seriously trashed.
The nicer ones are always more expensive.
...but getting a 401 powered J-20 is a great thing

I've always longed after a M-715.
Clark Trucks, a local surplus military truck dealer, had many M-715 in the late 70's.
http://www.clarktruck.com/default.aspx
I always wanted one and I would have to say that M-715 was my first real first chance to fall in love with a FSJ.

[Jagged]

I'm really kind of down about. The M-715 was my dream truck, but I picked one that had way too much needed for it. I'm determined, if things go well, to get another one in a few years.

But as always with Jeeps and projects, we'll see.

[Jagged]

I just picked up a beat-to-crap J20 401-TH400-QT with no front ds. The ridiculous lift someone decided to slap on here with NO pinion angle change, as well as lack of any notching, apparently obliterated the stock one.

My goal is to get the 401 a carb and rad, and then eventually get this thing into the garage for the teardown and rebuild. I am going to remove the hacked lift, remove the bed, cut the fenders, put a more thought out lift on and run the 38s it came with as a fun truck. But one that still looks like a J20.

Here is a pic of it I have from before I got it.

[Stuka]

Love the hanging muffler

Always sad to see an otherwise good truck get rednecked. Glad you will be fixing it up .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jagged]

Love the hanging muffler

Always sad to see an otherwise good truck get rednecked. Glad you will be fixing it .

It even has a monster energy drink symbol on the rear window and mack truck mudflaps!

[carnuck]

Shackles at the front AND back of the front springs??????

[Jagged]

Shackles at the front AND back of the front springs??????

Apparently. I have my work cut out for me. I may decide to strip it down and start fresh.

[BEHEMOTH]

Just started working on my own J truck (69 J3000). Glad to see some others around Washington. Sounds like I am a bit south of everyone else (just across the river from Portland, Oregon).
I am hoping to remove my long bed and replace it with an M715 bed and swap out the front fenders for M715 front fenders.
Anyone know of a local source for M715 body/truck bed parts?

[Jagged]

Unfortunately, I don't. Like the idiot I am, I let my M715 go. If you do find anything, let me know.

[REDONE]

Unfortunately, I don't. Like the idiot I am, I let my M715 go. If you do find anything, let me know.

First off, you are NOT an idiot. [-x

It's a testament to your character that you knew when you bit off more than you could chew. People look at the M715 and see common FSJ sheetmetal that can be sourced from any junk yard combined with rough fabbed straight slab sheet metal that LOOKS easy to replicate. Combine this with completely proprietary running gear for which there is practically NO aftermarket support and it's an easy trap.

That rough fab sheet metal has breaks less than an inch apart and without a 100" break, you ain't replicating anything. Those fenders? Easy to make something that looks similar on your J-20 clone, but to match that curve bending 16ga. in your garage, you'll wind up with one wavy fender flare. 232 Tornado parts? Have fun! Dana 60 front and Dana 70 rear? The only person that would call them that is Dana, since no common Dana 60 or 70 parts will fit in them. Heck, the only vehicle that shares a lug pattern from what I've seen is old UPS trucks!

Don't get me wrong, my dream is to find a rolled 98ish Ram 2500 with the cummins 5.9 and 6 speed manual and an M715 with a rotten frame, no running gear and straight sheet metal. But right now it's not only out of my budget, it's out of my logistical support. If someone offered me both for free right now, it'd cost more to store them than I could afford to spare.

Right now I have a 1000 square foot apartment with half a 2 car garage and I can consistantly find an extra $100-200 a month to throw at my projects. If you're even in the same ballpark as me, that Golden Eagle is right up your alley.

I say good on you for letting that M715 go to someone who might have the resources to do justice by it.