The Other Jeep - 65 J-10

THE UPPER KEYA PAHA TRADING CO.
1310 East Old US 18 - P. O. Box 785
Antelope Community - Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation
Mission, South Dakota, U.S.A. 57555-0785
THE UPPER KEYA PAHA
VIRTUAL TRADING POST


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	Figure 1. Modified 1965 Willys J-10 4X4


	The Other Jeep - 1965 Willys J-10 4X4

		This project started with a 1965 Willys J-10 4X4. To date the changes include: switching chassis from the J-10 Jeep to an International HD 3/4 ton 4X4. Is has a Dodge 383 Mopar engine with a matching 721 automatic transmission, Chevy Caprice tilt steering column, Chevy Lumina bucket seat, Ford Fairmont gas filler door, parts off on another Jeep include: the front top of the cab to make an all metal sun visor, and the front 17.5 inches of another J-10 box to fill the gab between the cab and box because the International chassis had a 144 inch wheelbase and the 65 J-10 had only 125” wheelbase (see Fig. 4). This made the new box 9’ 8 1/2” long. The body when mounted was lifted over 8 inches to allow the use of oversized Ground Hawg 18.5X44X16.5 directional bias tires that were purchased off the internet in New Jersey and in the process of being shipped to South Dakota. Both the front and rear bumpers were constructed out of one 24 foot piece of HD 10 inch channel iron. It takes two people to put them on. One person can take them off but you could easily cut washers off a certain part of the human anatomy when you try it.



Figure 2. Front body and bumper mount. Note: Fender- Radiator crossmember modified to accept a larger radiator (primed area).



Figure 3. A Ford Fairmont station wagon loaned a gas door for the front of the 17.5” box insert used to extend the box.




			Figure 4. The 125 inch wheel base J-10 cab and box sitting of the 144 inch wheel base of the International 3/4 ton chassis. Note: 17 1/2 inches of another J-10 box used to fill the gap between the 65 cab and body. The front of the old box was left in place to allow a neat tool box. All that will be needed is a lid.



		Figure 5. This is a picture of the front and drivers side. The front of the box after the 17 1/2 inch extension was welded to the front of the 65 J-10 box, the Ford Fairmont gas filler door installed, and the original gas filler hole of the 65 bed filled in. This photo also is a good angle to see the sunvisor made of the top front of another J-10 cab. Lawn chair is three feet tall and gives a good comparison to height of the truck. Rail road ties used to support vehicle during construction and simulate finished vehicle height when completed.



			Figure 6. Front bumper completed. Note: Front of chassis sitting on railroad ties while custom springs are being made.

Conceptual design of the 1965 Willys Jeep J-10 4X4 Project Truck before the project began. The true colors will be International Harvester Tractor Red and White. The bumpers, raised area of the hood, the flat surfaces around the headlights, and the background of the tailgate will be dark midnight blue outlined in white with the raised letters “J E E P” in gold. The side pipe nerf bars will help ease entrance and escape from the cab or access the box.

Someone said, “It will look like a Tonka toy truck when is is completed!” Thus its name “TATONKA” came about. It is the Lakota word for “Buffalo.” It will be like the buffalo another unique inhabitant of the Plains once roamed by the proud Sicangu Lakota Nation. Today, the Lakota are still here and thanks to Sinte Gleska University buffalo project buffalo again roam the plains directly behind our home. Makes for a nice view out our dining room window.

The distance from the ground level to the top of the box when this photo was taken...five feet and eight inches. Still pondering on how to gracefully get in and out of the vehicle without tearing the crotch out of the blue jeans. A nerf bar will be built and installed along the line of the bottom of the frame, they will help but the first step will still be well over the center of the tires that are 43.8 inches tall. Thinking about a gas cylinder operated foldaway step to allow easier access to the nerf bar. It would be advisable to install a couple “Oh Shit” handles to assist entry and exit. New springs will lift slightly higher and should allow for sufficient room for the front tires to fully turn both directions, if not body modifications will be made to allow sufficient wheel travel on both front and back. Cold weather will probably delay the project until spring of 2005. Most structure work is complete. Electric cooling fans need to be installed. The truck will be wired totally with breakers rather than fuses and will be controlled with toggle switches. At this time lights will be: Headlights (both high and low beam toggle switch controlled), KC Driving Lights (installed in opening each side of grille), Park Lights, Roof Clearance lights and previously installed driving lights, Bumper mounted Marker lights both front and back, Bed Flood Light, Engine Compartment Flood Light, Bed mounted backup lights, a pair of flood backup lights mounted under the rear of the bed between the rear bumper and rear end, and finally along the lowest part of the front bumper three sets of lights, clear Flood, amber Fog and green Rain. Other planned features include a large truck battery mounted in the front bed addition, a place to plug jumper cables (welder electrode cable type) inside the gas filler door for boosting needs. Two gas tanks, one 17 gallon box mounted primarily for the truck and a 26 gallon with electric fuel pump mounded under the front box extension primarily to provide gas delivery for my tractors. Manual controlled plumbing will be used to use both tanks for the truck if needed. Long road trips were not part of the plan when designing and building this project truck but it would be interesting to watch peoples reaction if a road trip was taken. jw-

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