Gladiator

Liberty03 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 17, 2006 9:12 pm

My 1963 Gladiator project, named the J3500.

Has a D60 front, 14 bolt rear, Vortec 454, TH400, Dana 300.

The entire suspension is custom designed, all the mounts are custom fabbed. I am going to be pulling the cab off this weekend and it will be a rolling chassis. The bed has been bobbed 12" to allow a much better departure angle. This truck has 1 ton rear springs and 3/4 ton front.

The 454 is going to be balanced/blueprinted, has a step up cam in it and possibly some other stuff. Will put out 500+ hp.

I'm going to run 37" tires and may go with a set of 39.5s for serious wheelin on Humvee beadlocks with custom centers.

The pic of the orange jeep is my buddy's (the fabrication guy). It is a YJ with a CJ front, leaf spring front, 3 link rear. Has a 305, 700R4, NP205. This rig is now has 36" IROKs and custom Humvee beadlocks.

My TH400, has performance clutches/shift kit/deep sump cooling pan and it was baked/cleaned. The D300 bolted to it looks crappy cause the trans is so clean.

The 454 getting mocked in.

Before I REALLY tore it down.

Another pic before the bed was pulled and shortened a bit.

The super flexing SOB. If anyone says leafs don't flex, yea right. Granted there are no coils/shock on it in this pic, it is getting some fox coil over's so there will not be much limitation.

dano104 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 18, 2006 9:21 pm

Either you have a small block in her now, or your engine bay is freaking huge!

Bye the way If I haven't mentioned it, I'm jealous! Sweet ride!

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:07 am

Did you just buy that off Ebay? Or were you trying to sell it?

I remember seinf that last pic with the primer and green and yellow jack stands from an ebay auction... Gladiators Are awesome!!!

Liberty03 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 2:54 am

I've been working on this truck since last August, bought it in July...interesting about ebay cause my buddy and I make those jackstands, it is the only thing that is useful for a vehicle that high. Someone else has the same idea.

It is definately a big block, just a huge engine compartment.

Here are some pics from Sunday,

I put some 37s on it and had to set the bed/front clip back on to see how it would look, and I think I will need 39.5s cause the 37s almost look small. For reference, the bottom of the driver's door is at 38.5" now. :twisted:

Fabbed spring plates with 5/8" u bolts:

Winch mount (yes it still needs some cutting/fab work, it was late):

dano104 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 3:15 pm

Like I said before, she will be one sweet rig.

spencevans · **Posted:** Mon May 01, 2006 4:53 pm

Now that's a real 4x4. I love the old Jeep trucks. I hope Jeep brings back the Gladiator.

Liberty03 · **Posted:** Fri May 05, 2006 10:03 pm

Rolled out of the shop:

Gladiator

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