We like our trucks useful. They don’t have to be pretty, they don’t have to have all of the power in the world, but they had better be able to start, run, and work everyday. You can relate a good truck to lots of things: that old hand-me-down tool that can’t be killed, the old pair of jeans that fits just right and holds together, whatever. A brand-new and shiny truck is nice and all, but there is something about Ol’ Reliable that really draws you in. Such is the case for this 1982 Jeep J20. The outside is rough and has war wounds and scrapes, and the interior has seen brighter times, but twenty-to-one says that if we were to put a brand new battery in and spend a few minutes working on the 360ci V8’s carburetor and fuel system that this Jeep would start and drive wherever we asked it to go. The CB radio and the four-speed manual transmission are bonuses that add on to the truck’s draw. Picture this thing on 33-inch tires and a nice set of white wagon-spoke wheels…yessir, that sounds just about right. $3,000 might be a stretch for an old beat-up truck, we admit, but finding one of these Jeep trucks is getting harder by the day.
Craigslist Link: 1982 Jeep J20
Yup, I’m a jeep jerk and I’d have it. $3k seems kinda steep, but I bet cash would talk. These early 80’s ones have very anemic motors and usually crappy gear ratios to “help” pass the emissions approval certification from those years. Here on the east coast, these all turned to rust & dust, it seems like. Its nice to see one that you can’t see through, lol.
I’d take it.
The 80s FSJs had one big weakness: the engine wiring. Talk him down to 2500 and spend the difference on an ignition box and rotor worth its salt and maybe a carb and call it good.
3/4-ton and manual trans are hard to find if you’re looking and it’s in good condition. I’d take it.
I’m not much of a Jeep guy but I know a good one when I see it. I would keep the 4 speed and add a Gear Vendors overdrive unit and probably stick a Cummins 4BT into it…. although the engine bay looks big enough to put in a 6BT… hmm the possibilities. Or what the hell, I would just keep that’s in it now and stick an EFI on top of it and call it done. Just my $.02
Potential…needs the early grill and headlights and something more than that chipmunks on a wheel powerplant….I’ve always liked these. There are a few running around town here that have been built up for the trail and look great….
My grand dad bought one of these trucks brand new just for farm work, converted it to propane, and it had a lift bed. learned to drive a stick in it. i grew up with it. i’d give anything to have that truck back now.
When I buy clunkers there are only three things I ask of it.
*it starts
**tires stay up
***the brakes work most of the time.