1981 AMC Jeep J10 Laredo












85% retro restore completed

Very nice...a buddy in high school had one.

I dig those J's. I looked for one before I got Big Blue but couldn't pass up the deal I got. Looks like it will be a ton of fun.

Awesome truck. Specs man specs.... Did that one come with a 304 or 360? Looks real good..

I remember those things from the 60s and 70s....

Those things were just short of a Tank on what they would do or where they would go...

Going to be an awesome rig on top of being Unique...

Cool Choice...

Original 1981 J10 Laredo 4x4 PU
vintage red metallic black interior
AMC 360 2bblb 4 speed bare-bone NO electric windows as etc.
3.73 F/R WITH TRAC-LOC LS
NOW
AMC 401 balanced within 1/4 gram, 9 1/2 comperssion all forged low-end, Lunati, Doug Thorley tri-y ceramic coated headers, Milodon, Bulltear, Scorpion roller rockers, edelbrock performer currently with carter 625 cfm comp carburetor - Moving to Howell TBI, hydroboost and tilton hyd clutch system, NV4500 5 speed transmission and a Dodge truck transfer case NV231D.
I have the spare fuel tank in the truck for a range of about 450 miles and also have a class IV trailer hitch and hidden winch kit ramsey/amc rep8000 to put in the truck. I also have it setup to install a sanden compressor AC system. The truck will appear stock, its the hidden secrets that make it tic.

Awesome!! Thanks for the specs. Sounds very cool and road worthy. I'd get rid of my newer truck in a heart beat for something like that. Now days everything is electronic/computer controlled. However, the tbi you plan on putting on yours will be a great upgrade and give better hp and fuel efficiency. You are doing some great work there. Thanks for sharing...

I have been fortunate enough to have owned three full sized Jeeps. I hope to own another one some day. Enjoy

I love J10s! Looked for one so long and all I found was rust buckets so I just gave up. My cousin is the type that could fall in a barrel of azz and come out with a vagina. He puts an add on craigs list for something or another and has sale or trade and some dude calls and says I got a jeep truck I'll trade ya. My cousin won't sale it.

Love them things.

I drove this during college. It is either a 74 or 75, I can't remember. Photo taken about 78 or 79 IIRC. Liked a lot about it but with the 360 V8 and full time 4X4 it got about 6-8 mpg. Best I ever did was 11 mpg on a road trip.

The J trucks looked like a beast.

Here is a local "restoration" for sale.

Dang, they are tempting...

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/5009765521.html

At less than 10mpg, I think I can resist!

I always liked this pic

That photo gives me the heebies.

Think the original caption for that pic was "Oh Chit!"?

An uncle had a new J10 back in the early to mid 70s. Bought it to pull his boat with, then they got a double axle RV a few years later. Pulled it fine, unc said he couldn't afford the fuel, so it went in favor of a Ford station wagon. He liked the station wagon until the first big snow storm of the year.

Last J10 I've seen in these parts belongs to a friend's son that just graduated from college a year or two ago. Think he still has it, not sure. Stock, other than a mild lift and a new paint job. Red, like it oughta be.

I am sure a modern version of these would sell well if Jeep reintroduced them...

every year or so Jeep makes a Gladiator/Pickup/Forward Control concept vehicle, but they never make it to production...

this one was diesel powered too

Anyone of the four would do nicely

That is so slick!

Yep, makes my nuts wanna climb up into my ribcage.

The rocks on the edge below the driver's side wheel are cut rather straight, wouldn't you say? The trees just to their left look like a cloned cut and paste type thing. Should have spent just a little more time on it.

Pretty certain that picture isn't Photoshopped, I believe that is Black Bear Pass in CO. A Google image search will return several similar pictures.

Somewhere I read that that photo was altered (pre photoshop).

I understand that this sign is at the start of it.


I don't think they were talking about Jeep PICKUPS, though. This pic is the road. Remember, though, that you only roll down to the next switchback.

this is what I can find about this picture.

from THIS PAGE

[/quote]

"So you might actually wonder if this photo right here is real or not, well based on facts it is as real as it gets… BUT don’t take our word for it, take THIS GUY'S word for it! We’re not kidding…

This road was officialy built by POWs during the “Guerra del Chaco” (The Chaco’s War) in the late 1930’s, and due to the Yungas’ extreme and difficult weather conditions, this people had to work through conditions ranging from cold, snow and rain to extreme heat and mist, this can be explained due to the altitude of this road, from 3600 masl to 4650 masl.

Since it’s quite challenging for anyone, prepared or not, to cross this part of the country only to get to the northern amazonic jungle of La Paz, the government built a new road that is safer and, well, completely functional! The Death Road is actually difficult for drivers due to its width, from 4 meters to 12 meters (approximately 13 to 39 feet) in a road that is built on the highest part of a cliff with a drop to a 800 meter imminent death. THAT IS PRESSURE!, but again take this guys word for it!

Nowadays, this road isn’t used for transportation as it used to be, it is mostly a touristic attraction for adventurers and bikers that prepare for different conditions during the most challenging bicycle races throughout the world. And there are tours for people that just love downhill bike rides, it is a nice workout and a nice way to spend a weekend, except if you suffer from a heart condition."

Reminds me of one of my first vehicles, a '79 Jeep wagoneer. I learned a few lessons, don't be timid when crossing mud or you'll get stuck. A 360 V8 coupled to a teenagers right foot is death on automatic transmissions and differentials. When the fuel gauge starts to get sticky and won't read less than 1/4 tank full, you best keep track of your range or you will be walking.

Had much of the same experiences...and will add that wagoneers dont float at all....

I've had 2 Wagoneers, 77 & 78. They had 2 serious deficiencies. One was vapor lock. The engine compartments were so tight that it got no air flow. The 77 had a 401 engine. It got so hot that the gas would boil in the float bowl. Switching to electric fuel pumps located back near the tank helped a bunch.
The other problem was the gas filler hole was barely higher than the gas tank and lots farther back. On a steep hill, gas would flow out the hole. Later models with a sealed system didn't have that problem.

Oh - I HATED that t-case locker in the glove box. What kind of an idiot would put it there where you had to crawl across the seat to lock it?

There was a time......when nothing longer than a K5 Blazer could it make over Black Bear. A couple of switchbacks were flanked by boulders on each side that no matter how much you jacked the SWB or longer truck, it couldn't squeeze around the corner.

Then the city of Ouray dynamited the boulders (yes, with FS/BLM permission) and made longer vehicles possible. With the bizillions of tourists and off-roaders over the past 30-some years, the road has been wore down enough it's not nearly as hairy as it used to be.......

Casey

I would buy the 1st one in a minute. Love it.

AEV Makes something very close to it. They start at $39K (conversion, you supply the Wrangler)and can be as mild or wild as you want. You can even have a 6.4 Hemi in it if your pockets are deep enough

Where was this picture taken?

well, you are in luck it seems, but like I say we've seen so many Jeep concepts not make it to production I wouldn't hold my breath.

2016 WRANGLER PICKUP

supposedly to be available with a 240 HP diesel that produces 420 ft lb torque.

I had a cj5 with a very hot 1971 401 in it. At the time the Chevy boys were proud of their 2.02" intake valves.....I ran 2.02" EXHAUST valves and giant intakes. That 401 made just a few ponies shy of 500 hp and was utterly impossible to drive.

I miss it today, all 6 mpg tops.

A built AMC 401 can be in the 500 plus club real easily.

I don't remember the drivetrain in this one (probably a hemi) but I'd love a crew cab version of this one... assuming I could fit my 6'6" frame behind the wheel. `