Learn me: Jeep J-10

Seriously considering one as a replacement for my hardbody truck that I crashed. There's 2 on craigslist, one for $900 and one for $1000. Seems like I can get that much money out of them when I resell when I'm done. Other than the potential for terminal rust and such things I need to look at on a 31 year old vehicle, what do I need to pay attention to?

Thanks in advance guys.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f57/

Referred to by Jeep guys as "FSJ"s : Full Size Jeep. Lots of info out there.

try to find it with a 401. They are rare but they do exist. the difference between the 360 and 401 feels a whole lot more than 41 cubes. Gas mileage is the same dismal figure. DAMHIK

For me, it'll probably be a 6 month vehicle until I can afford a nicer truck. If I get 8MPG out of it, I'd be happy. My truck is mostly used for geocaching and for trips to the dump, scrapper, and Lowe's. Geocaching is why I'm seeking a 4x4.

J-10 came with a few different engines. Not important as to what you are looking for, as long as it runs good.

www.ifsja.org

Shawn, happy owner of a 1967 Gladiator with single-digit fuel mileage.

I would rather have a nicer less desireable one than a tired(er) 401 with all the cool options. I miss my fsj dearly.

Keep in mind that all AMC's use the same basic block, so a 304, 360, and 401 all interchange. In fact, a 360 and a 401 share bores, so all you need is a 401 crank to make a cheater 360 ;)

really? Then why is their size cast into the side?

The size was cast into the side so assembly workers knew which engine was which . The Gen II AMC was the 290, 343, and 390 which became the 304, 360, and 401. All of the blocks are identical external dimensions, use identical bare heads, and use identical accessories/bolt patterns/mounts/etc. That's why it's so ridiculously easy to drop a 401 into a Gremlin. AMC was "poor" for a company, so all of it's stuff had to be integrated like that.

I think the 258 is a great engine for an FSJ truck. There is something about the torque curve of an inline six that is just right in a truck.

^^^ Heck yeah! The 232/258 were awesome engines! The "Jeep" 4.0 is the same motor with some modern stuff on it. Combine a 258 with a 4.0 and you can make a 282ci (4.6L) I-6 with all factory parts. Good stuff!

I like my Buick 350.

It'll pull a house down.

4:10 diff gears + Low range + 6.something:1 first gear = awesome.

Not so awesome on the highway though. It turns out that I CAN drive 55.

Shawn

Yep and yep. From a performance standpoint, 401s (and 390s) had all forged bottom ends--304 and 360s (290s and 343s) had cast. The heads on the AMC v8s were greatly improved as of 1970 model year--they are called "doglegs" because of the port design. Mid-year 71 was a redcuction in compression (from 10.5 to 9.5)...and then again over the next few years--down to 8.5 (in 1974??) as I recall. The 290s and 304s had small valve heads...343+ has big valve heads. Chevy 2.20/1.60 valves can be made to work on the bigger motor heads, and the 1.94/1.55s can be made to work in the smaller motor heads.

AMC V8s make a lot of torque for thier size...good for off-roading. The weakness is the oiling system...the 'fixes' are pretty well documented and not too difficult.

As for the 258 ( a stroked 232)...the pre '81s have the beefier bottom ends (cranks).

Yeah, they really didn't put a bad engine in these things. I would worry more about rot & other issues like that before which engine is in the truck as stock.

Kaiser-Willys built the first J series before AMC, and had their own 6 cyl engines and Buick V8's.

They used the Rambler 327 before the Buick 350 as well.

The OHC six was a Kaiser item.

Shawn

pres589 wrote: Yeah, they really didn't put a bad engine in these things. I would worry more about rot & other issues like that before which engine is in the truck as stock.

the ohc kaiser six was pretty lame.. cool for being early ohc tech, but a boat anchor now.

In the 80's the 258 six made the same power and torque as 304 and about the same torque as the 360.

Amc could build an engine, but could not, for the life of them, build an engine management system. Chrysler had to do that for them..

Igny,

AMC never built an engine management system. All of their stuff was carburetored when they merged with Renault.

I've been thinking a gm tbi system grafted to the top of a 360 would be hot.

Looks like I'll probably end up fixing the hardbody. Keep the conversation open, though, I am still interested in an FSJ.

P71 wrote: Igny, AMC never built an engine management system. All of their stuff was carburetored when they merged with Renault.

I consider a computer controlled carb to be an engine management system... but I guess that was after renault as well.

Oi oi mon senior! C'est la vive du Renault!