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It's never gonna be done!

More J2008 setbacks

Posted February 5 2009 04:36 PM by Jp Tech Editor 
Filed under: Editorials, Jeep Enthusiast Culture, Christian Hazel

I've sunk a fair amount of time into the buildup of this stupid truck. Now I'm starting to figure out what I can do with the axles, tranny, and engine. I'll use the rest as kindling.


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Eh, I'm just venting. At least I think I am. But today I finished up the last of the wiring and fuel system on the J2000 and tried its first fire. I had already ripped out all the previous owner-botched stereo and HVAC wiring 'cause it was just scary.

Turns out I shouldn't have stopped shy of ripping all the factory wiring out. For some strange reason the fuel pump only comes on when the lights or directionals are turned on. Oh, or the wipers. Did I mention the lights, wipers, and engine management wiring are completely separate? The only common connection they all have together is the battery - and call me stupid, but I can't figure how to get 'em to run without some source of 12V power. Maybe I just need three separate batteries.

Long story short, I've gotta now rip out the rest of the wiring system because after removing the gauge panel it's clear that the lights and wiper system have been mangled beyond any comprehension. I don't know what retarded monkey they got to work on this thing, but he was a few bananas shy of a full bunch.

I dunno. Maybe my time would be better spent taking the Dana 44 axles out of it and running the NV3550 behind a Hemi or built 5.9L. I can find a home for the 4.0L pretty easy and then burn the rest. At least then my kid wouldn't have to ride their bikes around it anymore and my wife could once again park in front of the garage.

What do y'all say? Shoud I soldier on and finish it up or build some crazy 450hp Scrambler or CJ with the parts in this pig?
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Reader Comments:
1. Finish it! There arnt enough J trucks out there for you to abandon this rig now. Besides you bought it fully aware of the quirks associated with full size jeeps. BTW how did the T-90 shift with over 200k on it?

TheJeeper    - Posted February 5 2009 07:37 PM

 
2. Are you kidding? They're a dime a dozen.

It was a T-14 and it shifted like butter. Same with the Dana 20. I'm saving them for some buildup down the road. I think 3-speeds are underrated.

Jp Tech Editor    - Posted February 5 2009 07:52 PM

 
3. Another Evil Truck?? How about a Painless Wiring harness?

sduncan86    - Posted February 5 2009 08:07 PM

 
4. I mean you don't see many gladiators. Especially like mine, its a '65 with the 230ohc. I agree about 3-speeds. My only gripe with my T-90 is the high first gear. So the T-14 and D20 were in that good of shape? Well that certainly proves the durability of um.

TheJeeper    - Posted February 5 2009 08:09 PM

 
5. Burn this pile and get cooking on overkill.

frothy    - Posted February 5 2009 09:34 PM

 
6. You CAN finish this. Hang in there, and let me know when you are ready to part with it.

(heh, self serving encouragement is terrible, I know)

fjduesel    - Posted February 5 2009 10:14 PM

 
7. I feel your misery, it took me quite awhile to rewire my engine harness in my 86 j20,i have a cj factory repair manual compleate with wiring diagrams,schems from alldata and the msd ignition. Day after day id look at it and say everything was right then i put a 79 cent resistor on the alt wire and its been perfect ever after.
sometimes electricity can run backwards through ground wires, sounds wierd but ive seen it, if the device isn't grounded well it tries to get juice anywhere it can.i don't know if thats your problem just throwing stuff out there. that's a nice truck you are almost done don't stop now. why would i want to read your mag if you aren't more dedicated than me? IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SUFFERING!!

nourlmt    - Posted February 6 2009 03:37 AM

 
8. I know I'm whining like a little girl. It's not the end of the world, but when you've got this many projects on the hook you've got to prioritize. Like some of you hit on, I'd really rather be wrenching on cooler stuff like Overkill or stuffing a 550hp engine in my Wrangler or doing a head-to-head engine buildup shootout between a Chevy 350 and an AMC 360 or.....

Y'all get the ideal. I'll get it done, but it does pain me to be wasting so much time on a truck I bought simply to haul engines around with and make trips to the dump with. This sucker is a perfect example of not knowing when to say when.

Jp Tech Editor    - Posted February 6 2009 06:02 AM

 
9. You are really not that far from a quasi rehab/restore/completion...finish it and keep copious notes for the mag as there are a lot of folks out there who just might like to do the same thing and need a fearless leader to open some doors...I can't believe the wiring should be saved because of the microscopic cracks in line that you'll never find.

I did a quasi resto on an old truck (1970 f350 9'stepside wooden floor bed and 360 big block w/flr shift w/granny gear)that i bot from my dad who bot it new in 1970...76k miles and tons of michigan rust. went thru junkyards out here in nevada and got the supplies....fenders,doors,cab etc..saved the bed and moved all the inards to the new cab. I wasted so much time trying to fix electricals that i finally realized I needed new...but in those days (1991) didn't know about painless or even restoration etc. The majority of the wires had cracked copper/aluminum that you could never keep a full hot lead.
I would send the core engine out to a stroker and gt it back quick or trade it for like kind. Kiss...keep it simple and you will get done faster and always put new (always) were critical. cosmetic is good for nostalgia but new is for working hard. GOOD LUCK BUD!

regor    - Posted February 6 2009 11:31 AM

 
10. Well, checked all the simple stuff like fuel pump ground, relays, etc. Redid some grounds and the same problem persists, so it's gotta be something funky in the factory wiring. I really, really didn't want to get this involved with this truck. I'm wishing like hell I went with plan-B and just stabbed a Dodge 318 with a carburetor in front of the NV3550 like I knew I should.

I'll devote one more day to this stupid thing to try to get it running and then things may go sideways for this particular '68.

Jp Tech Editor    - Posted February 10 2009 08:24 AM

 
11. Make it run, let it wait. So what it's 2009?
That jeep probably needs a new wiring harness. And of course its not worth it in time, money or convenience. It's always worth it for satisfaction, which is hard thing to find in a jeep. I say make it run by your rules. The J2000 wanted die, so bring it back from the dead as a different beast.

Besides, a 4.0 FSJ is cool. Makes a reason to plant a stroker motor in there later! And it can do some hairy off-camber crawling with the fuel injected 6, that would make the carburated 318 spit flames.

92DripCherokee    - Posted March 17 2009 09:25 AM

 

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