new frame

Hey everyone,
just found out my beloved 1954 m38a1 frame is bent! Jeep is starting to live up to its name, Just Empty Every Pocket. Now looking to get a new frame imagine that! so, what year frames will work? any suggestions on a newer frame that wont take to much modifying to put my body/axles on?
The best part is, the guy who built the jeep, put a ton of hours and time in it, had to know the frame was bent. The motor and radiator mounts built for the 302 were built level to the bent frame! Starting to see a lot of stuff the guy did was half- A**ed, but oh well gives me something to do!@
Thanks everyone

 

if you dont need the boxing the m38a1 offers, i regular cj-5 frame should work, and you could box it if you wanted to. you could also make one, some members here have done so but it takes a good amount of time/skill.

 

i got the time but lack the skill R)
to be honest im new to 4x4's. what is the purpose of the boxed frame? extra strength, or is there more to it?

 

It is to provide more strength to eliminate problems with flexing and cracking and bending. depending on what your using the jeep for you don't really need boxing, i would say only if you going to be rockclimbing and flexing it alot or going on really aggressive trails. for mild stuff and just street, a regular unboxed frame would work fine. if you can run a stick or mig welder you can box it yourself, i'm running all stock frames, i don't need the strength.

 

Frames can be straightened. And depending on the nature of the bend, maybe it doesn't matter - a lot of jeeps sit a little lop-sided. Mine for instance...

 

Yep, I'd think about straightening first. Post a pic of the bends you are worried about. Have you made measurements of how much it is bent?

 

I did not measure it, the shop did. They said the front half is bent, but it straightens out about half way. The drivers side sticks up higher than the passenger side, how much im not sure. It pretty obvious when you look at it though. They said the only problem ill have is the drivers side front tire will wear alot faster. Id have no objection to getting it straightened, but the guy who "built" the jeep, built the motor mounts from scratch iron. It solid, but not pretty. So id have to cut that off and start over, same with the radiator, and possibly the transmission mounts too. Id probably be best just finding one on craigslist and starting over, buying the proper mounts online.

 

For it's worth I had 2002 Ford Extened cab Ranger. The guy wh rearended me was doing about 40 mph. I was stopped. At the top there was about 8" clearance between the box and cab. When wife drove it down rode with left front tire on white line theere was over 2 feet to left rear tire. After frame shop got done it was dead nuts on.
I recommend you take it to a frame shop. Much easier, cheaper, and less time

Skip
I used to have an open mind, but my brains kept falling out

CJ5a Tuxedo Park waiting for restoration
TJ ready for thrashing

 

I second what everyone else says, Get a quote from the frame shop. My '70 frame was like yours in that the P.O. had welded in homemade engine mounts off of the V6 mounts for the SBC engine. When I cut all those out to put in the proper mounts, I noticed that one side was higher than the other. The Frame had also been hit from behind so it had other bends as well. The frame shop charged me $400 and it is dead on now. The new engine mounts are where they are supposed to be and all is good. At least see what they can do before you get rid of the frame for a different one that may have unseen problems as well.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. Funny question, can a frame shop do the work with the body and engine in place? I'm hesitant to even look into taking it to a shop because I don't have space to do a complete tear down. My "garage" is a costco canopy, we all start somewhere! While I had it all torn down there is a lot more is like to so as well that requires space

 

They straightened my 67 Chev pickup without taking off anything, even left the wheels on. Go ask them...

 

no need to remove anything if the frame is bent its likely that the body is tweaked too. the frame shop will remove anything in their way.