Quandry, Need Advice

I have been working on a 70 CJ5, factory :v6:. It is pretty much an all stock original that has had a rough life in the Texas Big Bend. Here is what is good and bad:

Good:

1. Very original, ie not modded
2. Good running :v6:
3. Has "the good stuff", ie flanged Dana 44 w/trac lok, dual circuit brakes
4. Good dash
5. Good steering box
6. New clutch
7. Great hood.

Bad:

1. Frame is broken, right behind front crossmember, drivers side (this was not observable when I got it, due to a plate tacked on the frame that I thought was part of a winch mount
2. Frame has a crack across top of channel just aft of passenger motor mount. Just found this one when I took the fender off to get a better look at #1
3. Frame was repaired on drivers side, right at the Ross box, looks like an ok job.
4. Spring hanger, right rear (rear axle) side cracked.
5. Shock mount, left rear (rear axle) broken
6. Rust in floors, hat channels, both sides and rear floor.
7. Front fenders need repair at grill mounting point, same with grill.

There were other various things needing repair when I got it, ie needs transfer case and tranny rebuilt. This poor guy was obviously torqued pretty hard on the rocks. I am thinking a new frame, mainly because of the complete break right at/behind the crossmember.

HOWEVER: I just obtained the following.

Early series M38A1 frame and tub. From Camp Pendelton DRMO. USMC utilized, which means undercoating on the frame and tub, and a few other things. It is as such:

1. Perfect frame, I mean flawless
2. Good tub, with minor (meaning I can fix it) rust. Great hat channels

So, the questions are:

1. Use just the M38A1 frame and drop my 70 body on it, with my 70 running gear?
2. Use the M38A1 frame & tub, with my 70 running gear?
3. Sell the 70 stuff and find a :hurrican: and 5.38s to put in the M38A1?

The goal is to have a fun JEEP to do light trails and running around with the family. Originality is a plus, but not required at this point. Either job is going to require fenders n grill, rewiring etc. The M38A1 has the original seat frames and little else, ie it might be hard to put all the littel gee gaws back in place.

Any suggestions, or advice?

 

Gotta go #2 also. Err, ah, I mean I vote for #2

 

#2 but don't throw away the old body and frame just yet. You'd be amazed what you can or need and that it's nice to have a source of parts.

 

#2. and being the scrounging pack rat i am, keep the other stuff for a bit until you know what you might want/need later. esp since a complete stock
machine is secondary to you. might as well take advantage of the best of all the models.
then you can sell that stuff if you want.

keeping the 70 body around for a bit also has the advantage of of torturing sparky for a little while....:twisted:

 

have a parts jeep that's just like #2, but a 1969 frame.

 

I have a 66 v6 that I put a m38a1 tub on. The swap was not hard. You will obviously need to modify motor mounts and such for running gear. Make sure that you use the floor pan from the cj around the column and pedals. There is a modifiction to the v6 firewall that you will need to transplant in order to avoid contact with the driver side valve cover. AM

 

#2.