28th Apr 2010, 23:11

Regarding the question of whether you have a 360 cu in or 401 cu in engine.

Go to this website: http://www.offroaders.com/tech/jeep/vin_72-80.htm

It has an explanation of the Jeep VIN numbers. With it, you should be able to figure out what engine you have.

9th Aug 2010, 09:11

I have an 82 J10 and I'm trying to do a lift without buying new springs. I put 4" blocks in the back but I am running into problems on the front with the springs being on the bottom.

Any suggestions will help. Thanks.

1st Sep 2010, 09:21

Regarding 401 or 360, look on the side of the block, it will either have 401 or 360 stamped on it in big numbers, you can't miss it.

Vin checking is useful, but doesn't tell you if someone has swapped engines. My J20 is registered 401, but at some point someone put a 360 in it.

2nd Feb 2016, 19:08

Hello. I purchased a 1982 J10 258 4x4 from a friend of mine that bought it new. He cut a hole in the front corner floor of the box, completely covered the floor with grease, then a sheet of plywood bolted down. Every year he sprayed the underside of the truck with linseed oil. The result of this... Today the truck has absolutely zero rust. When I removed the plywood I was able to undo the nuts/bolts by hand. He rebuilt the 258 and most parts are painted. I bought a new starter, fuel pump, alternator and carb kit. Runs like a top! Buying new tires, exhaust, windshield and fixing tail lights, then taking this awesome truck in for a safety. I wanted this truck since the day he bought it. I was 14, and now it's mine! :)

29th Sep 2017, 02:27

I had a 1977 J20 for about 12 years. Bought it in 1986 for $3000. 360 with a 4 speed. Dana 60 rear and 44 front axle. It was a great truck. Had to replace an exhaust valve that was burnt and found the valve guides had already been knurled, so it'd had a bit of work done to it before. It was a Wyoming ranch truck for its first 9 years with a bit over 60K miles on it. I put another 65,000 on it during my tenure. The Prestolight (sic) ignition was poor, but as long as the connections were clean it would run.

My main reason for getting rid of it was the bed rust on that pinch weld line. It wasn't going to get any better, so I sold it before it got ugly. Went with the 1990 Jeep Comanche Eliminator pickup after it. Only ran it for a couple of years before selling it. Didn't like that it only had 2 seats and a death wobble was starting to happen. Oh, and the vacuum actuated 4 wheel drive locking in 5 minutes after pulling the lever. I'm on my 8th Jeep, 2006 Grand Cherokee. I've been lucky through the years and never had a major repair or bent one severely.