78 vs 66 lpb frame difference's????

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buckroseau

buckroseau

May I have another!!!
Joined
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Ok, question(s) for the diehard lpb guys here.

Difference's between a 78 lpb frame and a 66 lpb frame. From my understanding 65 to 78 frames should be able to be interchangable.

The first 2 pics are of the front box mount. From what I have gathered the location and height is the same, but from the looks of it...just styled a little different. Can anyone else confirm this?

2nd set of pics are of the inner frame channels. 78 is boxed all the way to the rear shock towers on the inside frame channel. 66 has a gap in there, shoudl be fairly obvious to see in the pics. From what I have seen on my 78 frame, I'm wondering if this would be a good thing for me?? Able to wash stuff out of there?


Rear spare tire carrier is different, I know that. But from what I can tell, should be able to remove the 66 stuff and use my 78 stuff?

My 2F, 4spd tranny and T-case out of the 78 should bolt right into the 66 frame.....right???? Cab should bolt right up? Boxes should be the same? I'm assuming the steering box pedestal is the same??? Just don't want to cobble on the new frame to make it work?


Anything else? I'm looking for a direct bolt in replacement, just want to make sure this will work. Got some pics of the possible replacement tonight...other than all sorts of heavy brackets welded to it, looks like it solid. Have to torch the brackets off and clean that stuff up, but other than that...looks like it could goto the blaster and right to paint.

Thanks in advance for the help, Matt
frame4.webp
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Inner channel frame pics
frame5.webp
frame7.webp
 
Another question, front frame x-member.

I know on my 78 frame there is a recess or return on the x-member. From the pics I have a 66 frame is just straight across with no recess?

Will this work? Will my 78 center arm bolt up to the 66 center arm holes or are they different?

Thanks again in advance, Matt
MVC-204S.webp
MVC-206S.webp
 
Another question: Radiator core support mounts, same location???

Thanks again, Matt
MVC-205S.webp
 
66 front end....center arm looks totally different.

Coud a guy swap the entire front x-member? Are the buck rivets in the same location?

Matt
center arm.webp
 
You're right about the steering arm. You could swap frame members, but the rivets and welding might be tough to duplicate (appearance issues).

I welded a piece of c-channel into my '65 frame channel on the driver's side to support the later style center arm and beef up a small cracked area. I had to shim out the bottom of the front frame member for the center arm.

Not a huge amount of fab, but the late model center arm definitely will not bolt right in. I ran bolts all the way through the frame on the driver's side, rather than try to install captive nuts. Also, on my inserted frame piece, I had to cut an access hole in it to ensure that I could install the nuts on the tow hook. When all the smoke cleared, it works and functions nicely and doesn't look too much like ghetto fab.

Steve
 
Oh, and a '78 radiator shell dropped right into the '65 frame brackets - so the alignment is the same.
 
The steering box and pedestal on my 65 FJ45LPB is the same as the early FJ40, which is a two piece pedestal that clamps around the steering box. That changed with the 68 model year. Then again in 9/72. I'm pretty sure the FJ45 followed along with the FJ40s. Steering pedestal would have to be changed over. I'm just guessing but I think changing the steering box pedestal and boxing in the frame for the center arm would be your main differents. I sure you might find a few small things like bolts locations for brake line clamps but shouldn't be anything big.

John
 
1tontoy said:
Matt,

I put a '78 2F, 4speed and case in the '66 lpb, so YES it will bolt right in using the motor mounts of the '78. I used the '66 trans. mounts.
Click to expand...


Would those 66 tranny mounts be the same as the 78 ones? I'm looking to take my entire 78 drive train and bolt in. From what your telling me, that should be able to happen, correct?


I guess I'll find out in a few weeks........Bought the frame and box this afternoon, it is mine now. :) Riddler is going to get it Monday morning. Now I need to find someone going from Spokane, Wa area to Fargo, ND.

P.S. This lpb frame has the factory splice or reinforment plates that we've seen on some lpb's and not on others.......not that it matters, just thought I would throw that in there.

Please let me know on those mounts, Thanks, Matt
 
The two engines mounts and two bell housing mounts should be the same on a 78 and the 66. I think it stay the same until 8/80 and the split tranfer case. My FJ45 has a 76 2F engine and it's a 65. I installed a four speed into my 68 FJ40, the rear mounts are the same for the three and four speed bell housings. On the FJ40 the cross member behind the transfer case is really tight. The crossmember in the FJ45 frame is further back and will be no problem.


John
 
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So what I'm hearing.........

Front x-member either needs to be modified or swapped. I am 99% sure I am going to swap the front x-member. I think I have an extremely good idea to duplicate the buck rivets. The only problem I see is getting it out? I looked at mine this afternoon at lunch. The x-member is within a 1/4" of each side and it is about 5 to 6" wide at the widest point. I don't believe you could turn it sideways to get it out......it woudl have to come out the front. That is also a problem, the front frame horns are narrower than the x-member area. I think by about 3/8"? I believe a person could heat the edge of the frame horns with the torch and bend them up. Remove and install new x-member, heat and form back again. Should work?

Steering box pedestal.....I'm assuming the buck rivet holes will line up? Same distance and location on the frame???

Rear spare tire carrier...from what I can see this should be fairly easy. This frame has a the old style carrier that swings down. Mine is the chain/crank up style. It looks as though I should be able to swap out the upper x-member and that's it. Also will have to make the key hole notch through the rear x-member for the crank to go through. I'm assuming the 66 rear x-member doens't have the hole for that?


Well, is that it? Everything else should just bolt in, and after I swap out the aboved mention things they should bolt in also?

1 other thing.......spring hangar's? Diameters the same?

Thanks, Matt
 
AATLAS1X said:
Congratulations.................
Click to expand...

Thanks, I am happy :D

What would have taken me a hundred or 2 to fix, now will take be about 5 or 10. :)



And I belive I got a restorable box out of the deal also, even better :D

Matt
 
It would seem to me that necessary frame section from a 40 would accomodate the later style steering in the front.
Won't the pedestal for the steering box be different, 2 bolts vs. 4 bolts or did you already cover that.
BTW, nice and quick work man. Keep up the good work.
 
I am not sure and I don't remember exactly why I used the 66's trans. mounts. IIRC, the trans. brackets off the '78 had a slightly different offset. The two bolt holes in the bellhousing are the same, but the bushing-to-frame bolt location was either more forward or rearward than the '66 bushing-to-frame location. (I know that is confusing :confused: ). This is what you need to double check and clarify for all of us :D

The '78 motor and drivetrain I used was out of a fj55, but that shouldn't matter.

And Congrats on the frame and box!!!!
 
buckroseau said:
Would those 66 tranny mounts be the same as the 78 ones? I'm looking to take my entire 78 drive train and bolt in. From what your telling me, that should be able to happen, correct?


I guess I'll find out in a few weeks........Bought the frame and box this afternoon, it is mine now. :) Riddler is going to get it Monday morning. Now I need to find someone going from Spokane, Wa area to Fargo, ND.

Matt, you could check out craigslist rideshare, I found a empty trailer that broght the top I bought in AZ to Seattle, While looking at different towns rideshares on craigslist I found several way I could have gotten it closer.

Good Luck, Myrle
Click to expand...
 
mallred said:
buckroseau said:
Would those 66 tranny mounts be the same as the 78 ones? I'm looking to take my entire 78 drive train and bolt in. From what your telling me, that should be able to happen, correct?


I guess I'll find out in a few weeks........Bought the frame and box this afternoon, it is mine now. :) Riddler is going to get it Monday morning. Now I need to find someone going from Spokane, Wa area to Fargo, ND.

Matt, you could check out craigslist rideshare, I found a empty trailer that broght the top I bought in AZ to Seattle, While looking at different towns rideshares on craigslist I found several way I could have gotten it closer.

Good Luck, Myrle
Click to expand...

me too, this is all good news. i am also looking to bolt in the fj55 1978 drive train and engine into my 66 fj45. :)
Click to expand...
 
merbesfield said:
mallred said:
me too, this is all good news. i am also looking to bolt in the fj55 1978 drive train and engine into my 66 fj45. :)
Click to expand...



Rear engine mounts on the 55 are significantly different than a same year 40, which is what you are going to need to use, to make this work.....


Good luck!


-Steve
Click to expand...
 
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