Builds 68 Kaiser Jeep Gladiator (4 Viewers)

Gumby · 2025-07-25T16:00:16-0600

Next up. Benz is done. Lincoln is in no interest purgatory.

Last week I was deep into a Porsche 928 rabbit hole. A cheap one had come up, but research showed the autos were significantly worse. Looking into manuals showed the prices have started to come up on those. Mostly, opinions were that 928s were life ruining lovely things. Lots and lots of videos of people who loved them ending up with 4 parts cars and giant repair bills.

Right around the corner from my house there was a J-seriea back off by a side road with a sign so I stopped. 1968 Gladiator. Mostly there. Good grille. Really bad paint.

After I bought my very first 40 and blew it up, a friend loaned me a late 70s J10. I really dug that truck. Looking into them it was clear the early Gladiators had the best look.

Picked it up the next day for $1500.

Gumby · 2025-07-25T16:08:25-0600

Looks like the truck was a light blue metallic. I hope the orange was for a company or municipalityand not a choice. Bed seams are shot. Toyota mini owners know the wisdom of the bed sides and bed floor having a common weld seam. Scored a 2nd pink rim with a slightly different offset from the white rims. Orange doors are shot. Brown doors that came with are pretty solid. Bed floor is there, Mas o menos. Tailgate is destroyed, but pretty cool. Frame is solid. Floors are too, but show at least three layers for patches. Welded, riveted and tapcons.

Gumby · 2025-07-25T16:16:20-0600

Dash looks to have been painted. The speaker grille was on the floor and the little jeep badge is missing. It came with 2 glove box doors, but no glovebox. They are available in ABS and I could probably print one,
Seat is really good. Saddle blanket cover kept it nice. Two rips. Also two mouse holes in the back. Smells really bad. No window cranks. Sucks a lot to have the doors shut. I hope I can save the seat.
Three on the tree T-15 works so far.

Gumby · 2025-07-25T16:29:47-0600

327 AMC Vigilante 2 bbl. New Holley 2 barrel came on it. Would not turn over with the key, but the oil warning light came on. Battery was given a well deserved retirement. I can't believe it had any charge after 10 years. Engine cranked, but slow with a charged battery from the parts Benz.
Ford type starter relay was nasty. Big voltage drops. Battery cables were junk. Swapped in new from parts on hand and it cranks much better.
PO had the coil wire off and had given me a new coil because it had no spark. I took the cap off, (GM sourced dizzy) cleaned the brand new 10 year old points and got great spark. Fuel down the carb vents and it fired up.
The fuel pump and tank had been disconnected. Hooked the pump back up to a fuel can and it runs by itself.
Tank is half out. Honestly, bore scoped not terrible. I'll test it and maybe clean it. Tanks are available.
Big problem so far is the water pump. Bearing is shot. Leaks water out of the shaft. Unobtanioum. $250 reman.
Alt bracket is broken and missing the sliding part. I can't imagine keeping an externally regulated alternator any way.
Got some wires to sort, but the whole truck wiring harness is pretty easy to replicate.
It looks like the last owner got it running, as he claimed, about 8-10 years ago. Plugs, points, oil sending unit, carb and battery all new 10 years ago.
Hoses could be 10 years old. Aluminum radiator has a custom ratchet strap hold down and a flexible lower hose, so I'm gonna go with that was done then as well.
Found an Edlebrock 5-1/8 air cleaner lid on FB. Met a cool guy with a garage full of neat cars. Scored an easy 10 hp over stock, stock air filter and seized carb were in the bed.

Gumby · 2025-07-25T16:43:17-0600

Powerwashed in and out. Did a comet wash. It just got more orange. You can see where i didnt do the door and only half the hood.
Clearly had a carb fire once.
Took a mallet and dolley to some of the more egregious dents.
Bought a set of rollers in 285/85r15 when I noticed how close the tire is was working next to was to exploding.the same tire leaks down daily and I can't have that.