AM General FJ-8A

Glad to see that your working on your main project again.
I am sure the wife is telling you to get this project done now before buying another vehicle to build, LOL.
Haven't done anything to mine yet except some sanding and primering.
Low on funds right now due to the holiday season thats coming up too fast.
Glad to see you have this project going on now so that we can follow this build. I really do enjoy seeing your work.

 

I'm back working on her car; a 48 Plymouth coupe. This is going to be our nice cruiser street rod and will be a keeper. We've had it for a while and I've done a lot on it, just havent touched it in a year. I've got a build thread of it on here if you'd like to check it out. Your right; she wants the Plymouth done before I get another car so I'm going to stick with until it's finished. It'll give me time to decide what's next! Thanks for the compliment, Sarge. It's always cool when someone appreciates your work. Now lets get yours moving along!

 

Falconvan, where is that new thread at so that I can follow the build. Maybe you can post that link here so the ones who were following the Iscream thread can see the new project. Im not to computer savvy when coming to finding things. I usually find things that I wish to God I didn't find. My FJ is going slow right now but I do plan on having something going within the next 6 months or sooner. Thanks for that catalog info. Looks like we now know where the guy from Ebay gets his parts from to sell for the FJs. I would really like to follow your new build and I am sure alot of other people will also.

 

Sure, Sarge. Here's the link:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5900444#post5900444

 

I've got this up for sale but they wouldn't let me put it in the classified section because of the year. So if anyone's interested; $7500 or offer, possible 50's or 60's trades considered. PM me or email at valuvan2000@yahoo.com

 

I really hate to admit I'm wrong but after trying to sell the I-Scream for the past month or so I've got to admit it wasn't such a hot idea. It looked good, sounded good, but from a drivability standpoint it was pretty disappointing. The combination of the small drum brakes, RHD with a small steering wheel, too low geared, and being so short and tall all made for something that was amusing to putt around town as long as you didn't jump on it and downright terrible at highway speeds. The RHD is confusing enough without trying to keep it on the road with a small steering wheel. I'd do a cool burnout but i think trying to go fast would be a death sentence. Most people who looked at it really liked it until they tried to drive it; and i had to be honest with folks from out of town who wanted to know if it would drive back to their state if they bought it. I thought about upgrading the brakes and going with an overdrive but after a lot of thought I decided enough is enough. This thing was just not built to have a lot of power. I pulled the 455 and sold it and bought a good 292 straight six to go in it's place. I also pulled the little Grant steering wheel and put the original back after some cleanup. The manufacturer designed it with an inline so rather than trying to re engineer the whole vehicle I'm going back to what it was meant to be; just a cute little delivery truck.
Good lesson learned; just because you can, that doesn't mean you should. I sure wouldn't want to sell this to somebody and then find out they got killed driving it. I'll throw a couple more pics on when it's done.

 

The straight six should be okay, but you may have been better off with something like a 4.3L V6 or even a SBC/SBF. The main problem you're having with handling is too much weight on the front along with too much power. Without power steering the small steering wheel is a problem. Nothing that can't be fixed easily (except the big block!). It will never be good at high speeds, but should be okay at 55-60 on the highway once the front weight issue is taken care of. I'd want upgraded brakes on front too though.

For what it's worth, Jeepers have the same problems with CJs. Not many (if any) big block CJs built. Only good for mud runs. SBCs are common for rock and mud trucks, but for street/trail CJs the 231 and 4.3 V6s are generally the best balance of power and weight in the short wheelbase Jeeps. Your FJ is basically a CJ-6 or CJ-8 frame (the 6 is a long wheelbase 5, the 8 the LWB 7... Scrambler) with a box body on it. Or does it have the short 80" CJ-5 wheelbase (83.5 for 72-86, CJ-6 add 20" to either, 93.5" for the CJ-7, 8 is 10" longer) ?

 

Love this thread and never thought about responding till now. I agree with the pwr/wt issue and when you start talking about engine wt, the I6 will be close to the same wt as a SBF. The V6 is a good idea and for one of the box truck, you could even look at a big 4cyl like the later 2.5 from a Ranger. The wiring isn't hard to figure out and you can get one of these for next to nothing.

 

I thought about a V6 but I wanted to make this as quick and simple as possible. I picked up a complete good running 292 for $100 and I already had a good TH350 sitting in the shop. Basically fab up some motor mounts using the original mounts, hook up the fuel line, exhaust, alternator, starter, and ign wires and I'm ready to go. I already had it wired for GM so it's all there. The 292 measures pretty close to the original 232 in length. If I were keeping it I might go for a 4.3 Vortec but I'm well beyond what I wanted my max cash layout to be so I'm afraid I'm already at a loss as far as selling. I'm ready to be done with it; I've been back on my 48 Plymouth and got the fever to get it finished.

 

man I remember there was a newbie with one of these... posted here asking for info, and because it was a 82 or so got flamed. same dang body style as that one lol.. good job man. with that short of a wheelbase, a v8 is gonna be fun in that thing....

 

falconvan -- I figured you must have either had the 292 or got one real cheap! Just in case you need to hear it, you're doing the right thing! I'd do about the same as you've done to "fix" the issues and make the thing salable. You should be able to get your money back, except for the labor, considering you already sold the engine. Odd projects aren't good to do with the intent of selling later! Got to be popular things to get good money, though great work like you did does help.

 

Thanks, Frank. I did pretty good on the sale of the 455 so at least some of it came back. The 292 was a lucky Craigslist find. The listing just said, "Chevy truck parts" and near the bottom of a long list it said "straight six-$100". It was an old listing but I took a chance an called and he still had it. Surely someone out there wants one of these FJ-8s but then again I might really like it with the six and keep it around for a while. You're right on; odd projects might look cool but dont count on making a profit!

 

Looks fast, doesn't it? My special spray can rebuild!

 

It looks GOOD for a six, anyway!! ;>

 

Well, for a Chevy painted Ford Blue in an AMC; I guess it'll do.

 

Best to confuse the heck out of them rather than paint it AMC blue!

 

If you can locate an FJ-8C (early 80's) they came with front disc brakes. You could probably do a brake swap for cheap if you can find one.

 

I heard that they were; tough thing to find, though. I'm hoping that they will be better with the six. I probably took a few hundred pounds off of the front axle when I took the Olds out. Here's how it looks now; runs decent but I'm going to get a rebuilt carb. This one is in pretty bad shape.

 

Sold the I-Scream to a couple really cool guys from Ohio today. They drove two 1971 Honda 90's here, all on old two lane highways. Very cool little bikes and it sounded like a blast of a trip. They loaded them in the back and headed for Ohio, back on the same two lanes. The I-Scream is going to be the billboard truck for the guys HVAC business.

 

Cool! Sounds like it got a good home and a future as a working van, versus a chicken coop or the like! It's been neat reading your progress on this very unorthodox project. Shows that damn near anything can be hot-rodded, though!

 

The cool thing is that one more almost forgotten piece of American iron is alive and back on the road. It didnt exactly make a great hot rod but it is a rare vehicle and deserved another chance.

 

swimeasy COULD I GET A COPY OF THAT SERVICE BOOK? I JUST BOUGHT A 1974 A MONTH AGO THAT I WANT TO TURN INTO AN ICE CREAM TRUCK.... THANKS

 

I just sent you a private message!

 

Cool; glad to see another one of these on the road! How about a few pictures?

 

will have some up shortly by the time i get off it is to dark i will have some today though...thanks swimeasy for getting back to me about the book........

 

i need to get a master cylinder for mine any ideas..

 

Jeep CJ of the same year; same master cylinder.

 

thanks falconvan and i have added more pics..

 

Hey swimeasy, would it be possible for me to get a copy also? I have a 1973 FJ-8A, I will post some pics of it tomorrow.

 

I am currently looking for one of these to put my hot dog cart business in. If you know of someone that has one, or something similiar please let me know.