79 CJ5 to CJ6 conversion

My 79 CJ5 was in an accident a year ago. I am in the design phase of its resurrection: 4.3L, SM465, YJ springs and 3/4ton axles. I would rather own a CJ6 but have already sunk some cash into the 5, as in an AFW frame, new wiring and other do-dads. I am going to purchase a new tub anyway, but the thought occurred to me that the 6 tub will not be that much more cash. "Why not just stretch the existing frame," I thought to myself. "Not that much more work involved, right?"

I am familiar with all that's involved with the framectomy, but what I don't want to do is MAJOR surgery to the frame without knowing certain things in advance. I would like to know where the 6 has its body mounts in relation to the 5. Would it be a simple matter of "z-cutting" after the trans/t-case cross member to add length? Are the frames the same width and does that matter? Will the front sheet metal of the later CJs align with the earlier tub? Will someone else do all this for me? (joke, that last one)

I have never seen a CJ6 up close though I have lusted after them for years. Any help in this matter is greatly appreciated, as I do NOT want to have this project sitting around because "I think it will work." Not this time, anyway.

Thanks for your helpful comments.
grgcj5

 

There existed CJ-6s after 1975, but only for export. From the few pictures I've seen, they look to be the current model year's design, stretched to the 104" wheelbase. This means that they have the model 20 axle, boxed frame, and different floors from the domestic CJ-6s. The domestic production ended in 1975, and they had the same ladder frame made of C-channel that the '75 CJ-5s have, only 20" longer.

The body was constructed by sectioning the CJ-5 body and inserting additional side and floor panels. The kick-up in the floor is in the same place wrt the front seats as the CJ-5, but I don't know if that carried over to the export models. I presume the mounts are in the same places in the un-stretched part of the body and frame, though there may be an additional mount under the stretched portion.

I have a bunch of pictures online here http://www.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/~reese/ResizedJeepIPics/ ... but this is a '75 model with the ladder C-channel frame, so it may not help you much.

I thought we have at least one overseas member with a CJ-6 ... if that's a '76 or later model, they may be able to help you with some pictures of the floor and frame details.

 

hi

my cj6 is a 1979

gerald

 

8)

 

@grgcj5, let me know what you need and i will try to help with pictures

but, please say it as you would say it to an idiot because my english is not so good


greetings from overseas

gerald

 

thanks
....but some technic talk sounds like spanish for me :?

gerald

 

I have a 74 CJ 6 that I just put a new steel body on from Willys Overland. If you want any measurments as far as where the mounts are I can get them for you. You are gonna place the mounts in the same location on the later frame as you would on the earlier frame. You are definately going to have to change your mounting locations from the step up in the body back due to the frame widening out at the cross memeber. When I oredered mine I was told they would place all of the mounts so that it would be a bolt on deal. Unfortunately they were all mounted approximately 1 inch to far forward pushing the body back to far. If you talk to aallison28 on this forum he is currently working on mounting my old fiberglass CJ6 body on a CJ8 frame. All told I think you should only have to change 4 of the body mounts to make it work.

 

THATS a great picture!!!!!!! What Jeeping is all about! Nice cj6 and family.

 

A big “thank you” to everyone who has posted to my query thus far and to those who will post in the future. I have taken some measurements of my 79 cj5 that I hope will help those considering measuring their cj6 and posting their findings… here goes.

The first few measurements were taken with reference to the inside of the frame rail.
Left Rear Mount to Inside Frame Rail: 5 inches
Left Rear Passenger Mount to Inside Frame Rail: 1-7/8 inches
Left Step Up Mount to Inside Frame Rail: 5-1/4 inches
I am assuming the next two forward mounts are the same 5-1/4 distance

The next few measurements were taken from Mount to Mount (center to center).
Left Step Up Mount to Rear Driver Mount: 15 inches
Rear Driver Mount to Front Driver Mount: 22-1/2 inches

The next few are distances between opposite body mounts (left-right).
Rear: 43-3/4 inches
Rear Passenger: 30 inches
Step Up: 43-1/2 inches
Front Driver: 36 inches

The next two concern the body sheet metal.
From the Fender/ Body seam to the Center of the Door Hinge: 12-1/2 inches
Hood Length measured down the middle: 39-1/2 inches

Thanks again for the info and encouragement.

grgcj5

 

i will try to give you all the information this week

gerald