1963 J200 Stepside build

[PNW79J10]

I have been looking for a step-side for my 1979 J10 for awhile, this summer my Dad found a whole 1963 J200 sitting in a field. It took a little bit but we found that the owner had passed away awhile back and his grandson was the executor of the estate. I talked to him and offered $800 for it, but he had to talk to the other members of the estate. In November he got in touch with us and let us know that we are the proud owners of it now. Yesterday around 3pm we got a friends trailer to tow it back to our shop. He told us it took a 2" ball and I towed the trailer up to where the Jeep was. The jeep had 4 flat tires and clutch is shot I wasn't able to get it out of gear or even get the transfer case in to neutral. Using a come-along I finally got it most of the way on to the trailer till it too so much pressure that I bent the handle. I made a trip back to the shop and got my handyman jack and my dad to help get it the rest of the way on, by that time it was 6:30pm. we head back up there and finally got it the rest of the way on the trailer. As I started to pull away the trailer pops off the hitch and slams in to the back of my truck. We had to run back to the shop and get a 2 5/16" ball. After 5 hours of work we finally got the truck back to the shop at 8pm. Once we got it in to the shop, surprisingly the inner-tubes filled up . So here starts the slow rebuild process.
More pics on my Photobucket page http://s1142.beta.photobucket.com/us...uture%20wishes

[nc wagoneer]

3 speed on the column??? Looks nice, I always have loved the look of those wrap around rear step bumpers on a lot of the older stepsides

[PNW79J10]

End of day one:
I got the drive line pulled off and 3 wheels and brake drums pulled off. you know it is old when your drivers side has left hand thread lug nuts.
The rear brakes were full of spider webs and required a little heat to get the drums off. the front one pulled off kinda easy.
Found a couple holes in the floor boards, nothing too major.

[aaronsjeep]

Nice Find!

Love the step sides and you don't see a whole lot of 63's.

Looking forward to seeing you get it on the road.

What are your plans for the build?

[autogatto]

It's a beauty!

[PNW79J10]

Today I ordered new rear brake cylinders so we can stop it when we move it. Not doing too much to it until we can get a title for it. I am excited to tear in to it.

Plans are:
~Dad (half owner) wants to put either a small block chevy or maybe a v8 Jeep engine. depending on the difficulty.
~ moving it to a floor shift
~ Making it bright shiny and new looking.

~personally I want to do a Frame up resto, I am keeping the original engine and trans for if I ever want to put it back to stock.

I will be able to answer more in depth after Dad and I discuss it more and do more research.

[nc wagoneer]

I say keep the column shift!!! I just always have liked the appeal and coolness of column shifters. Plus, it doesn't get in the way of the passenger in the center of the bench seat if you know what I mean

[jeffs396]

Congrats on scoring a cool old FSJ!

Love the small back window, you sure don't see that often.

[DarkMonohue]

That looks like an excellent start to a really great project. Should be fun to watch this come together!

[austinaubinoe]

whats wrong with that 230? I bet if you get those brakes done and get it running good you will want to keep it as is!

[PNW79J10]

Right now we know the clutch is shot, but even with that, I still can't get the transmission or transfer case in to neutral. As I said before, it is a Father / Son build and he wants a V8 in it.

[PNW79J10]

back in Jersey for 3 weeks. more updates when I get home, unless my Dad does some work, then I will make him update

[Carnuck]

Wish I had those rear fenders! Too bad I already hauled off the frame from the '77 J10. The V8 mounts from that would've gone good with the 360/T18A/NP208 I'm selling from my '83 J10.
I'm thinking about pulling the sportside box from my Honcho (along with the brushguard and roll bar) and selling the truck as a running parts rig with the box from the '77 I parted. (near Seattle)

[JeepBountyHunter]

Hey I have a 63, but not the step side, please get in touch if your parting out the 230 stuff...when you swap over to a V8.
I sure could use a fan shroud....
Aaron

[PNW79J10]

Originally Posted by JeepBountyHunter

Hey I have a 63, but not the step side, please get in touch if your parting out the 230 stuff...when you swap over to a V8.
I sure could use a fan shroud....
Aaron

Sorry Aaron, I am not parting out the 230, I am going to keep it whole incase I want to put it back in later down the road when the truck is fully mine.

[austinaubinoe]

did you decide on a motor? A first gen AMc 327 or a Buick 350 would be really cool. If you go a non stockish V8 you better go big!

[PNW79J10]

Not yet, My dad might be getting a free V8 from a big block swap that he has to do for another customer. We will decide further when we get the title for the truck, and I am back in Oregon

[66Stepside]

Nice truck! Keep plugging away at it till she's what you want her to be!

[mud89]

How i missed that ?
Great project
I have the same interior in green in my '63 wagoneer, a project also..

[The PIG Smith]

Originally Posted by austinaubinoe

did you decide on a motor? A first gen AMc 327 or a Buick 350 would be really cool. If you go a non stockish V8 you better go big!

Yes, a Buick 350 would be nice.
A later model AMC 360 V8 would a bolt it.

I agree with Austin, if you stray away from standard factory options, it needs to be bad to the bone.
Lots of folks do the LS style 5.3/6.0 swap and it is well documented here.
Big Block of any type always has the kewl factor!
I'm a BBF person myself, so getting a Ford 460 from a rusty donor should be easy as pie.

Column shifters are cool, but they get old quick.
Floor shifter is the way to go.