Frame modified or factory?

I just bought a 1956 cj5 that I paid too much for and it has a Koenig Model 50 twin stick pto that's broken, and that at one time had a Monroe 3 point setup on it ( has all the holes drilled in bed and center hump for valves and still has the Monroe brackets on the back bumper.) running with title and title matches firewall tag and frame stamping, but the frame doesn't look right.

it looks like its the factory cj5 frame welded to a different vehicles frame. I don't know what vehicle it has attached to the back of it. does any one have any idea? its kind of weird it seems to have a frame width that perfectly matches and slides onto the jeep frame and the rear springs, spring hangers, and axle look like factory jeep dana 44. Could this be a cj5 frame welded to a jeep truck/wagon frame or maybe FC frame?

Were there any Factory Modified frames like this for some special reason like military or something? I didn't know if this could be from the factory having basically two frames welded together. maybe this is a Rare one-off or prototype? the frames are welded almost in center of jeep and also they are held together by large rivets like those used on other parts of the cj5 frame.

If this had been modified by a previous owner why would they go through this much trouble to save the jeep instead of scrapping it? the work doesn't seem worth the effort. but these 2 frames look like they have been welded forever so I would think this must have been done close to the early life of this jeep first 10 years maybe?

 

This is a factory 56 cj5 frame if you want to compare

 

Back half is not CJ, not sure what though.

 

Probably some form of pickup or lite truck chassis........a little taller frame rails and I think the rear springs look longer than a stock CJ spring. What's the wheelbase now?

 

this is pure speculation:
Could this be a factory frame from from one of the backhoe jeeps, Go For Digger?
They came with tandem axle on the back and a backhoe bolted in the bed. This was complete with stabilizer feet and a blade on the front.
http://offroadaction.ca/2009/06/13/jeep-cj-5-go-for-digger-backhoe/
Maybe the 3 point hitch had an option for a beefed up rear end.
http://farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=46783

 

Forum member DiggerJeep could enlighten us with pics of his frame, but from what I recall that's not what they look like.

 

My thoughts exactly. It looks to be well designed, not a hack job.

 

Are the cross-members and splice riveted or bolted?

Rivets would suggest that it's factory equipment and not a narrowed frame from another truck. Kinda looks riveted.

 

He sez the frames are welded and riveted.

 

More pics for your reading pleasure...













I don't want to cut up a rare jeep but this will get scrapped if it is a previous owner mod. I still think this is way too much work trying to save this jeep so early in the jeeps life. I don't see why someone would go through this much trouble.

also I discovered today that the motor in it is a factory remanufactured shortblock going off the engine number prefix of 4FR so it got painted and readied for transplant into my 59 tomorrow. it was orange block, black head and black oil pan.

 

Again the two frames are WELDED AND RIVETED together and look like they have been joined for a very long time. the middle crossmember has a diagonal weld in the center first leading me to believe the frame width had been shortened but then I looked at the back crossmember and there is no weld in the middle and that leads me to believe the frame has not been narrowed after all. way too much work/effort seems to have gone to saving this jeep...or this was a rare jeep thing like when my work (Ford) sends Econoline vans to another shop for them to be custom made into box trucks for say a furniture store or The Matco or Snap-On trucks? MAYBE FOR A JEEP A TRENCH? or something?

 

That does not look like anything a factory nor even and aftermarket shop for that matter would do..........Rivets have been pretty common place in manufacturing for the past 80-90 years , so anyone could have the tools to heat them and buck them on!....

Just the fit alone of the two pieces and the holes torch cut looks like a back yard cowboy did that for whatever reasons?

 

I was told it was forest service but the area I got it had a heavy Indian population and near a Indian reserve

 

I can't the factory or a dealership letting that go out the door. The last picture of the frame, showing some rivets, you can see where someone torched off some factory fasteners and replaced them, using the same holes, when they spliced the frames together. Also looks like they torched something else off the frame in the same area. My opinion is that someone did this at home.

 

Yep. The gouges are from a torch. Q&D.

 

Or a pipe to spray a liquid? But if all is strong enough, it doesn't mind. Maybe you can find some use. And sell it with profit ...

 

Think I'm scrapping it tomorrow body and frame