frame swaps

It rained This weekend and I did not get motivated to work on the jeep's frame. Instead I went kayaking, but thats unimportant at the moment other than the fact that the marina had an old workhorse that no longer runs and they want to sell.

The important part is that the workhorse is a 76 Jeep DJ postal jeep with a perfect frame, springs shocks and all the parts I need for my 59 cj5 except the body. The DJ is extreamly cheap....

I should be able to fix the simple issues like body mounts and things, but are there any major differences (other than channel vs boxed rails) that I should be concerened with. Questions like is one frame wider or longer than the other, diferent wheel base, major diferences?

Thanks for any help.

 

The frame should be the same width, now as far as the wheelbase, I don't know.

 

springs are wider also.

 

Thanks, I will measure the wheelbase. If it is close A little welding will make the cross members fit. The spring width is no problem. I will be using the dJ springs since mine are shot anyway.

How about the serial numbers? I know its a grey area bordering on not such a good thing to do, but I will have legally purchaced both vehicles. I will have either a title or bill of sale for both. I want to end up with a drivable, if not original 1959 cj5 . Can I cut the old frame rail and weld the serial number plate over the new frame, or should I cut them both out and re-weld nice and clean. Or maybe just weld the new number next to the old one since anyone who knows jeeps will know the 59 did not have a closed box frame like the DJ does. Its easy to explain a frame swap due to rust to anyone who has ever owned a jeep.

If your wondering my 59's body vin plate rusted out long ago. The NJ title uses the frame serial number. I would not want to argue with NJ by changing that at all. I am looking for the most stress free method of getting the paperwork done. Dealing with paperwork problems in NJ is far more work than any repair and rebuild on the jeep.

 

I am contemplating this swap right now as well with exception of mine is a 72 CJ 5 and the DJ5 is a 73 for the frame donor I think in my case body tub will bolt right in in your case I dont think it will

 

I saw the same DJ that Howard got his parts from, and I believe the springs are outboard of the frame, not under it, so spring perches would not line up. Frame channel size is the same in the middle where the dual master cylinder bracket lives. Just wondering how they got the straight 6 into that short hood, I never saw the DJ all in one piece. I think most DJ's had a centered D44 with powerlock limited slip didn't they? This one did.

Paul

 

The DJs with the 232 I6 have a grill that protrudes forward past the front edge of the hood. You can see one here http://www.postaljeep.net/ Prior to the 232, Jeep used the F134 or the Chevy 153. It looks like the frame used for these Jeeps is more like the pre-71 CJs, with no cross member in front of the grill. WOuld not work well for a '72 or later CJ.

 

I have a '70 DJ-5 with the 153ci Chevy 4. The springs are outboard. If it helps any I have some pics of the bare frame. Look here: http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/652646