1972 Jeep J2000
 

Possible purchase:
I will be looking at a 1972 Jeep J2000 tomorrow morning.

304, manual, 4wd. All original, 2nd owner, 58k miles on it. Needs brake work as well as floor pans replaced, truck bed needs some sheet metal, two flares have a few holes in them. Cab is in tact, rockers, cab corners, doors and glass, all good. Frame is solid.

Anyone here know of any known problems with this vintage of the J Trucks?

And what are these trucks worth, when they are restored?

PLEASE ADVISE!

Honestly youll have better luck on http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/ and http://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/

Did you buy it?

Those forums are good. Also, the "Full Size Jeep (FSJ) Enthusiasts" group on Facebook is very active and has a lot of knowledgeable people on it. If you ask questions there, you'll get quick answers.

If you like that Jeep, don't dither. It took me fifteen seconds to find the CL listing. What he's asking isn't unreasonable. If you post those pics on the Facebook page or one of the FSJ sites and don't buy it, someone else will. Hell, I'd be interested myself if it were closer.

You asked about issues. That gauge panel has an ammeter in it that likes to catch fire. Disconnect it or replace it with a modern voltmeter.

As with other Jeeps, the killer on these things is rust. Get on your back with a flashlight and look underneath. Make sure you're not buying something that's going to come apart on you.

That truck should have Dana 44s front and rear, but note that they are the 5x5.5 bolt pattern and not the 6-lug D44s on the later FSJs. All the cool FSJ-specific rims you see for sale won't fit. It wasn't a deal breaker for me.

Most parts are readily available, with the exception of a few odd things from certain years. Most of us end up buying something from BJ's Off-Road (http://www.bjsoffroad.com/) sooner or later. Ryan Hart is one of the owners. He's very active on the Facebook groups and responds to questions. BJ's is one of those businesses where they're in it for the love of these old Jeeps more than just to make money.

The ad specifically mentions brake problems. You can get all the parts from BJ's to fix the stock brakes, but if it's going to be a big job, consider upgrading. BJ's sells a disc brake kit for the front axle. They also sell a hydroboost kit that replaces the brake booster with a hydroboost unit running off your power steering pump. BJ's doesn't currently have a rear disc kit for your five lug rear axle, but there's a small family-owned brake company called TSM Disc Brakes that does (http://www.tsmmfg.com/index.html). Outfit that thing with four wheel discs and hydroboost, and it'll stop like a brand new truck.

If you don't want to pay those prices or just like fabricating your own mods, everything in those kits can be sourced in junk yards and/or local auto parts stores. The disc brake conversion gets even easier if you can weld. There are numerous articles and forum posts on both homemade disc brake upgrades and hydroboost. (I opted for the kits, but haven't found time to install it all.)

In the pics, it looks like the cat-eye lenses on the turn signals are broken. You can't get factory replacements any more, but a Swiss guy named Frossard Dominique made a set for his own Jeep and then started selling them as reproductions. I have a set, and they are damned near perfect. He is also getting close to selling reproduction bumper corners as well.

https://www.jeepcherokeechief.com/je...ar-lens-cover/

If you bought it, good luck, and let us know how it works out!

Thank you, for the info!

Wow, very informative... awesomesauce!!!

UPDATE:

It is going to require quite a bit of body work. Front bumper valance rotted. Drivers fender and inner well shot. Windshield lower pillar (terminus to the floor pan / both sides) rotted vertically, about 1 inch from the floor. Floor pans, rotted. Bench seat, needs upholstered. Bed sides, rotted at lower body line. Wheel wells rotted, at seams. Bed floor rotted, near wheel wells. Lower tail gate, rotted.

The blue paint, has been repainted by a backyard auto body shop. Serious orange peeling.

Overall, the frame is solid, the drive train seems to be good too. Doors, rockers and cab corners are good. I will offer $500 less than what he is asking for it, lets see if he bites.

From what I understand, CarID offers fenders and wells, along with the associated flares.
The bed, will likely be pulled and as time and money is afforded, the bed will be fully restored. In the meantime, I will install a flat bed, for running it.

It looks like my MIG will be put to the task, this winter (if I buy it)!!!

I may apply for Antique Plates too, that way I wont have to have it inspected and I can at least drive it (within limits), while I am restoring it.

I am a firm believer of, if it is meant to be - it will be...
 

He sold it at 4 p.m. yesterday... it wasn't meant to be.

So, onward and upward! At least, this was a learning experience, in case I find another one, I will act on it, asap!

They usually don't last that long at that price, even with the rust you mentioned.

If you have the bug, join the groups mentioned above. If you search on Facebook, you'll also find some FSJ parts/vehicles for sale groups and some regional and state groups that are fairly active. There may be one that covers your area.

I monitor all the Craigslists within 500 miles using Search Tempest (https://www.searchtempest.com/) and choosing "Open Direct Results in popup windows." When I was actively looking for my truck, I would search even further out for J10, J20, J200, J300, J2000, J4000, FSJ, Gladiator and M715 on a daily basis. I saw a lot of great deals on them come and go that were just too far away before mine popped up close enough for me to go take a look and haul it back.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Oh yeah :yes: I have got the bug... I was about to jump off of a very high bridge, when I learned that he had sold it! :blink:

My dearly departed Dad, owned a 1953 Hudson Hornet which is part of the family tree of a Jeep... so yes this is important to me!

He also owned an 1965 AMC Ambassador convertible too.

He was a purest, me - not so much. I want something that I can keep 'mostly pure' but also modern day!