I am embarking on a build that has already escalated further than expected. Ha! This rig is being built as an offroad toy as opposed to a restoration so I had planned on chopping the frame in the rear and boxing in the entire frame where it wasn't from the factory. Plus, I plan to stretch the body and frame to get a little more room out back, so going in I'd planned to chop the frame in the middle and do a whole new rear BUT as I stripped the frame completely it became obvious that the front would need A LOT of work - it is very rusty.
Between all the work that'd need to be done and the fact that I'm squeezing a small block in the engine bay and one ton axles w/4 link rear and 3 link front I think I'd be better off building a new frame - faster, stronger, easier (maybe?) and more accommodating to the equipment I plan to run than reusing/rebuilding the old frame, especially considering I'd only really be reusing the front section.
What I've come up with so far is using 2"x5"x0.250" rect tube for the main rails on bottom and 2"x4" at not yet determined thickness for the front and rear parts of the frame.
I plan to maintain the stock geometry in regards to the way the frame rails flair out from front to rear right after the motor, though I don't know if I will maintain the distances between the frame rails in front and rear. The front I am considering going a little wider (paying mind to the fact that the firewall/tub will limit how far I can go but I figure any little bit will help to squeeze a V8 and links up there). On the rear I may not go as wide - it seems like a lot of the (silly) Jeep guys have to notch out the frame to keep the coilovers from hitting the tire or frame.
Is there anything I am missing in regards to widening the frame at the front or narrowing the rear? I don't plan to go crazy, maybe an inch or two at each end. Aside from body mounts (which I can accommodate for with new tub floor and stretch), what am I not seeing? Anyway, I *think* I have this part under control but input is welcome.
For those who have put one tons, linked suspension, coilovers and V8s in their 40s, are there any dimensions of the frame you had to change or would change if you were to do it over again? Some things I have bouncing around in my head as potential unknowns at this time are:
- Crossmember locations
- Distance from centerline of main frame rail to centerline of the frame rail around engine area.
- Material thickness on frame rails
- Anything in relation to how to make it easier to tie full cage into frame
- Considering I am doing full cage which will sandwich body and mount to frame, how many of the old body mount positions should I plan to maintain - this is important to me because A LOT of my tub will be new metal
- ANYTHING ELSE?!?!?!
Between all the work that'd need to be done and the fact that I'm squeezing a small block in the engine bay and one ton axles w/4 link rear and 3 link front I think I'd be better off building a new frame - faster, stronger, easier (maybe?) and more accommodating to the equipment I plan to run than reusing/rebuilding the old frame, especially considering I'd only really be reusing the front section.
What I've come up with so far is using 2"x5"x0.250" rect tube for the main rails on bottom and 2"x4" at not yet determined thickness for the front and rear parts of the frame.
I plan to maintain the stock geometry in regards to the way the frame rails flair out from front to rear right after the motor, though I don't know if I will maintain the distances between the frame rails in front and rear. The front I am considering going a little wider (paying mind to the fact that the firewall/tub will limit how far I can go but I figure any little bit will help to squeeze a V8 and links up there). On the rear I may not go as wide - it seems like a lot of the (silly) Jeep guys have to notch out the frame to keep the coilovers from hitting the tire or frame.
Is there anything I am missing in regards to widening the frame at the front or narrowing the rear? I don't plan to go crazy, maybe an inch or two at each end. Aside from body mounts (which I can accommodate for with new tub floor and stretch), what am I not seeing? Anyway, I *think* I have this part under control but input is welcome.
For those who have put one tons, linked suspension, coilovers and V8s in their 40s, are there any dimensions of the frame you had to change or would change if you were to do it over again? Some things I have bouncing around in my head as potential unknowns at this time are:
- Crossmember locations
- Distance from centerline of main frame rail to centerline of the frame rail around engine area.
- Material thickness on frame rails
- Anything in relation to how to make it easier to tie full cage into frame
- Considering I am doing full cage which will sandwich body and mount to frame, how many of the old body mount positions should I plan to maintain - this is important to me because A LOT of my tub will be new metal
- ANYTHING ELSE?!?!?!