69 tub / 80 frame. Possibility?

[Fleur_de_lis_82]

About 6 - 7 years back I started in on a 69 Cj5. The body was in fair shape, but the frame had seen better days. A friend wanted it & I let it go down the road, as I needed the cash at the time. I'm about to have that Cj back in a few days, most of it at least. In the intervening years, the frame has for lack of better word, more or less returned to mother earth. More or less depending on what part you happen to be looking at, regardless, I'm not getting the original frame back. Getting the tub, all the original sheet metal, dauntless, T-14 / dana 18, and rear D44. Plus some other sundry fiddly bits (like the title)

I do happen to have a not rusted out 1980 Cj5 frame with a NT D30 & Amc20 under it.

I'm aware that the 69 & 80 frames are drastically different & aside from wheelbase, there ain't much the same. But without one of each in front of me, I'm not good at visualizing the differences.

I'm assuming all the body mounts will be different, as well as shock mounts. Engine mounts & crossmembers. Transmission didn't use the belly pan in 69? Steering & brakes? The 80 frame is manual steering & I think manual brakes. I'd like to use the D30 up front & the offset D44 rear. Figure out how to keep the short nose front, possibility?

Probably a bunch of other things I'm not thinking of. Obvious answer is to find another early frame, and I would if I could afford it. There is no budget for this. I'm working on 2 Cj7, the wife's 67 Waggy & a 79 Bronco. But I'm also a decent fabricator with a good assortment of tools.

So what's it take to do this kinda frankenjeep, or be patient & hope to find an early frame when I'm got the spare cash?

Opinions & ideas are welcome.

 

[colojeepguy]

The wheelbase is different too.

 

[Pat76cj]

couple of frames for pre-76 in the St Joe area

 

[Oldpappy]

Not saying it can't be done, but the frames and bodies are very different between an early CJ5 and a 1980 CJ5. Merging them would present enough of a challenge that I would look for the appropriate frame.

Big swap meeting coming up September 11-12 at the Willys Fall Reunion in Fulton which isn't far for you. It is a good place to look for parts that would be a problem to ship.

There is a thread on the CJ2A page forum where people post what they are bringing, or what they need. If you are able to attend the Reunion, one of us can put a request on that discussion thread.

 

[timgr]

The exterior appearance of the early and '76-up CJs are basically the same.
However, there was a revision in 1972 (drivetrain, wheelbase) and a major redesign in 1976 (everything) for the CJ.
Pretty much everything changes except the exterior appearance.
New floors, new chassis, new fender houses, new seats and seat mounting, new dash, new windshield, etc. etc.
In addition to a completely new drivetrain.
Likely it could be done, but you'll need to reshape the floors and change all the body mounts.
Suspect the floors are not in the same plane wrt the exterior between both bodies.
As mentioned, the wheelbase is different but the length changes in front of the body.
You'd have to shorten the frame length or use the front clip from a '76-up to accomodate the front axle location.
Wheel base is stretched by 3", and front clip is stretched by 5".

Kinda think this is sufficiently impractical that we haven't seen any successful completed projects using this approach.

 

[timgr]

Also - I believe the '76-up frames are boxed and tend to rust out, esp. mid rearwards.
The earlier frames are open C-channel mostly, and usually survive longer than their bodies.
Several sources for aftermarket replacement bodies for these Jeeps, less for frames.
I'd think your better route would be to sell the good '80 frame to someone with a rusty '76-up Jeep.
Use the proceeds for your '69 buildup.
The decent '69 body is scarcer than a decent frame.
Plus the 20 is not a bargain.
Maybe look for an early rolling chassis and mix what you have with it.
Or look for an M38A1 frame...

 

[Fleur_de_lis_82]

Thank you for the input and information, it's greatly appreciated.

I'd love to attend the meet in September, but previous obligations unfortunately.


I'll most likely fiddle around with it and see exactly how things line up before committing to anything. Who knows, maybe a good early frame will present itself in the mean time. Making a new frame is also a possibility.