Baystate Jeepers

As some of you know , Im looking at a 79 J-10 one owner 57k mile dream ride. He insist it has a 390 engine. I cant find any info saying they had a 390 in any J-Truck. I can only see the 6 / the 360 / the 401 . I have exhausted my computer skills at hunting down options for a 1979 J-Truck engine option. Help a brother out . Thanks FjR68

Have the seller take a few pics of the engine and have them sent to you.
I'd assume the air horn assembly or the valve covers are marked with the engine size.

You could also have him send you the VIN#. You can order a built sheet for the J-10 once you have the VIN.

Here is the 1979 FSJ VIN Decoder..

VIN Decoding - 1979
Contributed By: Joe Schaefer

The VIN is located on a plate mounted on the left corner of the firewall under the hood.

1st Digit - Manufacturer

J- Jeep Corporation

2nd Digit - Model Year

9- 1979

3rd Digit - Plant/Transmission/Drive

A- Toledo, Automatic-LHD
B- Toledo, Automatic-RHD
F- Toledo, 3-Speed-LHD
G- Toledo, 3-Speed-RHD
M- Toledo, 4-Speed-LHD
N- Toledo, 4-Speed-RHD

4th & 5th Digit - Model

15- Wagoneer-Custom-109" Wheelbase
16- Cherokee-2 Door-109" Wheelbase
17- Cherokee Chief-2 Door-Wide Track-109" Wheelbase
18- Cherokee-4 Door-109" Wheelbase
25- Truck J-10, 119" Wheelbase
45- Truck J-10, 131" Wheelbase
46- Truck J-20, 131" Wheelbase

6th Digit - GVW-Model

N- 6200 -15-16-17-18-25-45
P- 6800 -46
S- 7600 -46
Y- 8400 -46

7th Digit - Engine

A- 6-258, 1V
C- 6-258, 2V
N- V8-360 2V, 175 HP
P- V8-360 4V, 195 HP

8th thru 13th Digit - Sequential Serial Number

Toledo Built Vehicles Start With: 000,001
Brampton Built Vehicles Start With: 800,001

References:

Parts Manual: W-1170-R2, Kaiser Jeep Corporation, 1967
Parts Manual: F-76072, AMC, Feb 1972
Parts Manual: F-75080, AMC, May 1980
Parts Manual: 89-81-374-084, AMC, May 1987

They had the truck serviced in Dec. They said two mechanics said it was a 390 . I couldnt find any info saying the 390 was in any J-Truck. In my mind its a 360 or if there is a GOD , it will be a 401 . Im pretty sure the 401 was ended in 74/5 . Who would one ask to build a buils sheet from ? Thanks for the info . FjR68

There is a good writeup here on how to request the build sheet.
No charge. It come up on your computer screen.
Did it for my 1992 and my 1997. Found out my 1997 has as 117 amp alternator.

I read that if you build sheet does not come up you can contact Jeep and they can mail you one.
HTH!

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f12/buil ... s-3020169/

Dam Dude , Yer good. He sent me the VIN and its a 360 . What a surprise. I had been sent 30 pictures and the three of the engine had no stickers I could see. With your VIn info it was a piece of crumb cake to decipher. It was made on a Tues.! Whoo Hoooo ! April 6th. Cant wait . Thanks again FjR68

Jeep never offered a 390. The 360, or 401 would be cased on either side of the block.

The J10 also has a 13 digit vin so you the link above wouldn't work for you.

Posi: The daughter is now selling the farm her father owned and they had the truck serviced , at that time they were told by 2 mechanics it was a 390. All my research couldnt find a 390 offering for a J truck. After speaking with them on and off since Dec. they felt comfortable with me to send the complete VIN. I asked for the first 7 as 8/13 is the trucks I.D. It came from the Toledo plant on Tues.,April 16th with a 360,auto/Quadratrac,44s,A.C.,AM/FM,6200 GVW on a 119" wheel base.It has the factory grill guard and roll bar. It has only 57,763 miles and lives in a garage on a farm. Im pretty good with the engine , my first choice wouldnt have been the Q-Trac set up. But Im not sure you could find a cleaner J-Truck for the age. I have to wait till april or may because of the weather as they dont live where the truck is. I really just wanted to know what,where how and when before I went out there. Thank you guys for the help. FjR68

The 7th letter is the engine code, C - 258, N - 360. The 79 model never came with a 401from the factory.
If the truck has 57k original miles it's highly unlikely someone would swap out the engine.
I guess it's possible someone could have swapped in a big block ford 390 but I doubt it.
The roll-bar and brush-guard were both J10/J20 options.
Is it original paint, white or brown with stripe?

Its white with a grey like Ralley Type stripe up from the rockers . Blue / vinyl seat and dash pad , chrome-ish looking bezel overlay for gauge cluster . It has the low range option Borg Warner Q-Trac FjR68

there is no Hurst version of hte J10 is there? sounds a little like that package for the Jeepster

soooooo envious..... I mean jealous...... ummmmmm yeah, that's it. Jealous. Awesome score!

The score isnt settled yet , but Im working on it ! I thought it looked okay for a old POS ! Might not be the best choice Ive made , but you know me . FjR68

No doubt it's an amc 360 engine.
Optional CB/radio very rare, of all the FSJ I've owned only 2 had the CB/radio. I sold one to a guy in Germany.
Three special editions were offered 1976-83 Golden Eagle, Honcho, and 10-4. This isn't one although it has many factory options including AC. I would say the strips were dealer added.
Nice truck Frank, hope it works out for you.