Jeep Gladiator

[Wrench]

What do you guys think of this:

http://yakima.craigslist.org/cto/3419548628.html

Looks to have a bunch of the parts I need. PTO winch would be cool if I could make it work.

Good deal! If you get it, I'll buy the clutch/brake pedal assembly from you to convert my auto to stick. And I may need the drive shafts, since I dont know if my current ones will work with that combo.

[mattawajeep]

Good deal! If you get it, I'll buy the clutch/brake pedal assembly from you to convert my auto to stick. And I may need the drive shafts, since I dont know if my current ones will work with that combo.

Cool! Sent the guy a message last night. Hopefully I'll hear back from him.

[mattawajeep]

Looks like I got the truck. Gonna try and pick it up with the tow-truck tomorrow and then start ripping stuff out.

[mattawajeep]

This could take more fabrication than I was originally thinking....



Apparently the old Kaiser Gladiators are a bit different than any of the newer j-trucks. Might need new steering and spring mounts in addition to the new springs I was already planning for. Oh well.


At least there's lots of easy stuff that also needs doing....

Got me some vinyl and fabric paint. Ran out, but it shows the difference.



Almost like new.

[Don]

I didn't get to see what the parts truck was that you bought, but if you happen to end up with an extra J truck steering box, I'll buy it from you

[mattawajeep]

I didn't get to see what the parts truck was that you bought, but if you happen to end up with an extra J truck steering box, I'll buy it from you

Nope, sorry, it's a chevy. If the steering box in it will work for you, and my brother or wrench doesn't claim it (they called dibs on parts I don't need) you can have it.

Got it home this evening. Ran for about 30 seconds, not long enough to get it parked, but I got to clean up my winch cable on the TJ.




Here's the winch. Gonna do some research tonight and figure out what I've got.

[bobracing]

...Nope, sorry, it's a chevy. If the steering box in it will work for you...

4x4s turn the wrong way.

[mattawajeep]

With a small amount of cutting, and a bit of metal added for supports I should have some pretty nice electric seats. They've even got some really nice seat covers for these out there.

Pay no attention to the floor "boards"....

[TJDave]

Floor-boards.

Bwahahahaha!

Looks good.

[mattawajeep]

Got more paint. Gloss this time, I think it will be alot easier to maintain than the matte stuff I used earlier.




Working on the ceiling. The previous owner used some kind of bed liner matieral from the 80's. Some of it was coming off in sheets (where the rusty spots are), and the rest is really on there.



Picked up a quart of Chassis Saver (POR15 Copy) and a gallon of black Monstaliner cheap from magnet paints. The floor is going to get the liner, and the rest of the interior will be getting hit with the chassis saver.


If I'm impressed with the black, I may end up doing the entire exterior with one of the colored versions as seen here:

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f59/mons ... s-1376308/

[SquirrelCrusher]

Those full exterior one looks pretty sweet. Love the "floor boards" is that a mattawa special?

[mattawajeep]

Those full exterior one looks pretty sweet. Love the "floor boards" is that a mattawa special?

Yup, just gotta add the underglow, giant rims, blown subwoofer blasting full power, and poorly aimed purple headlights.

[Wrench]

Last time I did the research on the bedliners, it seemed the top two were Monstaliner and Als Liner. All others seemed to be susceptible to sun fade (little to no UV protection).

Between the two:
-Prices are comparable in application, prep, and supplies required.
-Both are tinted and/or custom tint-able.
-Both can be brushed or sprayed, texture spray will require purchase of a gun (can be purchased from Harbor Freight for $20)
-Als liner was reported to stay more flexible, IE, more rubbery and bond extremely well.
-Monstaliner was reported to be harder, more plastic-like.

I am soon to be connected with the Northwest distributor for Als Liner, and will be testing it myself.

[mattawajeep]

Huh, havn't heard of Als Liner. Sounds like it might be a better matieral for undercoating.

[Wrench]

The NAPA here in Richland stocks Als Liner in black. I believe you can find it a bit cheaper online, though.

The thing that I really liked when I did the research is that it seems to bond to itself extremely well, which means easy repairs.

I have used the Herculiner and Duplicolor, and they are pretty pathetic.

One other option is SEM Chip Guard. The best way I can describe it is "ABS glue in a spray-can". It is very tough and is easy to learn to spray a nice textured surface. Comes in a rattle-can, and provides very durable, decently thick coverage. You can find it at nearly any automotive paint store. I dont think it will be as thick as the Als Liner or Monstaliner, though.

[mattawajeep]

Just brainstorming here....

Anyone have opinions on 16.5" wheels? I think I would be best off running 35" tires to keep the RPM's in a good spot for towing. Unfortunately the tires I would like to get:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... all=Raised White Letters&partnum=525R65ATAKORWLV2&fromCompare1=yes&vehicleSearch=false

Don't come in 16" or 17", and I don't think 15" wheels are large enough to fit over the brakes I want to run.

[OldGreen]

Fine for towing. No good for off road.

[79chevy39.5's]

my old dodge had 16.5's (h1's) but that doesnt really count, 16.5's are fine on a tow rig however the tire choice for them keeps getting smaller and smaller as long as you arent airing them down you shouldnt have a problem.

on my old chevy i only ever lost one bead with 16.5's but they were old and stiff and probly on the same rims for the last 15 years

[mattawajeep]

That's the info I was looking for, didn't realize they couldn't be aired down - not that that's going to happen often...

I'll probably be buying used tires on craigslist when it comes to it anyway. Just thinkin at the moment.

[Grumpy]

Run 16's and go with a 285/75.

[SquirrelCrusher]

I believe 16.5 use a goofy setup to seat the bead of the tires and the design allows the bead to slip off easier when aired down.

[mattawajeep]

Run 16's and go with a 285/75.

Those would put me at just over 2500 RPM at 60 and nearly 3000 at 70. Seems a little bit high to me, but I don't know much about small block chevys. I thought V8's like lower RPM's for cruising.

I'd like to be able to tow comfortably at 65. Any suggestions on what RPM range I should be shooting for?

[Lurch]

Stay away from 16.5s you'll find that it is really hard to find tires. If you want a 35" tire you can go with a 315 in a 16" wheel and be really close. There are lots of 16" take offs that would look nice on your rig for pretty cheap.

[Grumpy]

You settle on a gear box yet? My red truck has E4OD, 3:55's, and the aforementioned 285's (33" +/-). I am at just over 2K at 70.

[mattawajeep]

You settle on a gear box yet? My red truck has E4OD, 3:55's, and the aforementioned 285's (33" +/-). I am at just over 2K at 70.

SM465 and 4.10's. 4 gears but no overdrive. Towards the top of the page I've got a cheby parts truck relatively cheap.

65mph with ~35's will be 2550 - which seems like it's not a bad range if you're pulling something. Probably not the best for gas mileage though.