I'm looking for a donor car to put a modern running gear under a 1950's Willys wagon. The Liberty has the identical wheelbase. I have been reading about the Liberty's Uniframe as being very strong. Would it be possible to cut the unibody off of the Liberty subframe and weld the subframe to the Willys? How about the front frame extensions? Rear frame extensions? I there anything that makes this a really bad idea?
Reusing a Liberty powered rolling frame.
- Thread starter gkesseru
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CzarKJ
Full Access Member
Well based on mine... the liberty doesn't seem to have a subframe. the body is the frame. so cutting anything off will just destroy it.
The Liberty is a very strong structure but it gets that from the way the whole thing is welded together , roof, etc
So cutting away everything but the "frame area" would not work well at all
Try Ranger pickups
tjkj2002
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Hell taking the front windshield out cuts the structural integrity by a lot since it's a structural part of the body(like all unibody/uniframe vehicles).
Find a body on frame vehicle for what you want.
The guy that did the leather repair in my KJ had a Willys truck on an old S-10 frame...like the early 90s one.
Well, seems like I am late to this dance. I was going to add that ANYTHING is possible with a cutting torch and welder. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's a good idea (as witnessed by those who got in there first.)
For what it's worth - I know a farmer who built a spray rig on a Chevy LUV/Isuzu frame because for it's size it was the strongest they could find. The Chevy LUV was sold from 1972 through 1982 with the 4x4 version showing up in 1979. Wheelbase was 102.4 with a long bed version offered late in the game at 117.9. Also in the last two years they stretched the standard wheelbase to 104.3. May be worth a look if the numbers are close enough.
Most of the rat rod builders are using the S-10 frames , although some go for the Ranger if going 4 WD
Full size blazer is usually too wide , Rangers and S10s are about the same width as the older pickups and the Willys wagon he is going for I'd think
Of course what I think doesn't mean crap :shrug::icon_lol:
Of course what I think doesn't mean crap :shrug::icon_lol:
CactusJacked
Full Access Member
I would consider the S10 Blazer frame, but I'm a Chevy Guy. Another plus is a V8 would bolt right up to the same transmission that the 4.3 is using.
ya 4.3 is a 350 with 2 cylinders missing i have a 350 in my mazda truck on bags etc... i know ima ****
see.
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dude1116
Full Access Member
LOL at your bent license plate.
that's custom i can lift it to a 5 inch ride highth when driving... its not a trailer queen .
CactusJacked
Full Access Member
Nobody says that about you....as far as you know. :happy175:
Nice looking truck, for what it is.
Hope you like back-handed compliments, I'm all out of the regular ones at the moment. :gr_grin:
CactusJacked
Full Access Member
Yep, basically treat it like a 350, even the pistons were the same. I built one and put it in a Samurai years ago. Still have another spare 4.3 in the garage!
i have a pt cruiser tooo thats what my plate was originally on . its all done too. .. the point was the s10 frame is good for going up .. or down
Yep, basically treat it like a 350, even the pistons were the same. I built one and put it in a Samurai years ago. Still have another spare 4.3 in the garage!
i have a zuk buggy out back that i am puttign a focus 2.2 into .
heres my pt.
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