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48 Jeep With Chev V8, Fenders Too Short

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by Shawn, Jul 10, 2018.

  1. Shawn

    Shawn New Member

    I bought a used 48 CJ2A with a Chev V8 installed already. Weird issue is the previous owner had to add wooden spacers between the tub and the fenders to make it long enough to fit the engine and rad. I know this isn't the only V8 conversion in a Willy's, just wondering if there is a better modification to fit this combo??
     
    Shawn, Jul 10, 2018
    #1
  2. 73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Remove the air deflector and mount the radiator on the grill? Short water pump?
     
    73 cj5, Jul 10, 2018
    #2
  3. Ross A Del Duca

    Ross A Del Duca New Member

    Very common to cut the firewall too and move the drive train rearward.
     
    Ross A Del Duca, Jul 11, 2018
    #3
  4. Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

    People do really crazy stuff to keep their original drivelines sometimes too.
     
    Daryl, Jul 11, 2018
    #4
  5. Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    You would be surprised the amount of work I've seen people do to avoid 'changing the drive shafts' when doing a transplant...

    We used to put 283s and 289s in before going to the V6s. Most needed a little firewall work in the back and push the rad forward to the grill. Depending on the rad we used we even trimmed the headlight buckets to get things to fit like we wanted. Think about it - a 4cyl is 4 cyls long, so is a V8. Adapters and accessory items were the hardest to fit in... and height. I still do a body lift and go to swinging pedals to make things easier with the V6.
     
    Warloch, Jul 13, 2018
    #5
  6. Willys43

    Willys43 Member

    Warloch, What swinging pedals and brake master do you prefer?
     
    Willys43, Jul 20, 2018
    #6
  7. Willys43

    Willys43 Member

    1” body lift?
     
    Willys43, Jul 20, 2018
    #7
  8. Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    I use Wilwood Pedal setups now. I have an older one on the Red '51, but will be swapping it out next year (when the '62 gets finished for my niece). You can see the older setup on my site HERE, I'm going to start to take pics and do a build thread on what's left of the '62 soon. It is based on the work I did for the Blue '49.

    I do a 2" - just the body. Keeps drive train down so the center of gravity stays low but gives me room under the hood for the motor and further back for the rear fuel tanks I build.

    Let me know and I'll take more pics for you.
     
    Warloch, Jul 20, 2018
    #8
  9. Willys43

    Willys43 Member

    Are you still running non power disc/drum brakes
     
    Willys43, Jul 20, 2018
    #9
  10. duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Yep, the SBC swap into a flat fender has no doubt been done thousands of times-without the need to move the grill. The body lift does make it all easier and has other benefits as well. But moving the radiator right up to the grill front, short water pump, and small cap distributor will make it fit without too much bashing on the firewall. Like Chuck inferred, engine placement takes priority over driveshafts and everything else. Too minimize headlight bucket alteration, tilt the radiator back so the fan plane is parallel to the radiator-gives you a little more room at the top.
     
    duffer, Jul 22, 2018
    #10
  11. Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Yup - non power. The trick with the Disc Brakes is to use organic pads. As my dad used to say 'Stops hard enough you have to peel your face off the windshield'...
     
    Warloch, Jul 24, 2018
    #11
    Danefraz likes this.