65 wag - part or rebuild

[dws]

Sorry, wasn't sure where to post this and its kinda long.

Just brought home 65 wag that I bought from someone on list. This is not a complaint of any kind and I will not mention the list member. Here's what the 65 has that is good: rebuilt 327 that runs very smooth with good power, nice T-18A/D20 previously swapped in, very nice pto winch on heavy duty front bumper, rhino, beautiful dash and all controls seem to work, previously added power steering. Overall, it's a real good lookin 65 wag with some desirable parts.

Here's the main problem - the frame is really rotted (we are talking some sizeable holes in some places) from the front wheels to back bumper and the underside of the body and body support channels are extremely rusty. Also, has a new poly gas tank that was installed with interesting choices of hoses and seems to be held mainly by a single screw at one end that is drilled into the rusty frame (it looks real scary).

My real dilemma is that I would hate to part out this thing because it has so much potential but I'm not sure I have the time or money to find a soild frame and rebuild this thing from the ground up (yes, I know I should have thought of that before I bought it). Obviously, many of you with older rigs have faced this same problem. I have never tried anything like this. How hard will it be to find a solid frame and rebuild this thing? Is it worth saving this thing or should we send these parts off to other jeeps to make them better?

Thanks for any advice!

1990 stock GW
1965 Wag with issues

[BIG BAD JON]

Is it patchable? :confused: :D

[joe]

My guess is that it'd be hard to find a solid 35-40 year old frame in your part of the world. That's a lot of road salt over that many winters. I'd look for another rig from somewhere other than the rust belt and then swap your parts into it.

[Waggie82lim]

Its a hard descion to make but i have been faced with it to i am now going to use my 82 wag as parts due to a rotted frame :( but on the bright side i can make a real nice rig outta the parts tongue.gif ;) :D

[CowKiller]

where in pa? every yard around my place has atleast 4 of these in them. i just walk around, can't find part on one, go to the next. sure u could find one here. acutaly i think i know where a complete one is. will have to find out the year exactally if i can find/read it.

[Kenall]

safety
safety
safety

extremly expensive to repair the frame to give any piece of mind of its structural integrity.

then theres brakes and fuel and elec..etc.

it has much potential if u have the time and money..and u say u have neither.

[CowKiller]

hey your, umm, avater is, ummm, a little, umm, big?

[Mikel2]

Big? Noooo smile.gif

Originally posted by redneck rebel 79:
hey your, umm, avater is, ummm, a little, umm, big?

[CowKiller]

lol
:D ;D smile.gif smile.gif ;D ;D

[CowKiller]

what the h311! i can't even make smily face!

[Kenall]

well i figger that since adam said the avatar must be no more than 150 wide to work. and i dint expect it to work at the size i had it at...im suprised it worked...

[Mikel2]

Ken, I've always loved your wag smile.gif

[Kenall]

thanks mike
<blush>

but i tried to get a smaller avatar..it aint working right :(

ah thats better...this is a pic of a section from one of the 2 original super wagoneer sales brochures i have..solid black cover with only this image on the front...almost as solem an impact as the image 'Enola Gay', but with much less history...

[ July 20, 2002, 09:02 PM: Message edited by: Kenall ]

[K-Centre]

Just wanted to bring this back to the top and add some more info. I've seen this wag in person (not the seller!) and it does look nice. 3" body lift, white spoke rims with BFG's, really clean interior, nice running 327 with a 4-barreletc. From the topside you would never expect there to be frame rot of that magnitude.

What would the interest in parts from a rig like this be? Obviously, the PTO winch would be the most valuable, but what about everything else? Just trying to get more info to help him with his decision.

[miked]

i've got the frame from my 69 that you can have for free, contact me quick if you're interested 'cause its scheduled to get cut up and go to the recyclers on tuesday morning. i'm in the sf bay area. you'll have to figure out how to get it back east to you because i'm sick of shipping things out and backed up already on other stuff that i'm late on getting out.

no rust, very straight and as clean as a 30+ year old frame can be. has factory 2" reciever for tow package still on it

contact me offlist @ miked@jamagination.com

[Josh D]

I think I know what rig your talking about, its red, right? I remember seeing the pictures posted and thinking what a nice rig it is. IMHO, if the frame is in that bad of shape, look for another frame to keep the Jeep intact. Or, if its repairable, the cheapest route is to invest in a 220V wire feed welder (about $700 with gas attatchment), find a cheap metal supplier, and go to work patching things yourself. Welding with a wire feed is reletively easy once you get the hang of it. Without actually seeing how bad the frame is, hard to make a judgement call on whether or not it is salvageable. Patching the underside body channels with angle iron or u-channel could be done the same way. Metal prep before you weld on a patch is the key. Plenty of books and instruction videos on the subject as well. Good luck!

[miked]

Originally posted by miked:
i've got the frame from my 69 that you can have for free
<snip..>BTT - last chance for romance

frame is off my old green 69

http://www.tworock.com/mjd/jeep/jeeplifted_small1.jpg

she's no longer with us... :( but will live on in spirit

[dws]

Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately, the frame is not repairable (safety definately would be a major issue). Yes, it is the pretty red one you were thinking of. Thanks for the offer MikeD, but I don't have a good way to get your frame back to PA.

My Chilton implies that the frames stayed the same from 62' - 69' and then changed in 1970. I can't think why that would be true. Is this correct?

David Swetland
90 GW - leaves little puddles everywhere
65 Wag - currently not safe to drive

[Kenall]

the applicable frame for v8 65 wood go 65 to 74. but not beyond that. the 74 model year still used frame pins to anchor the rear springs to the frame instead of the welded box on subsequent years.

the major differences wood be:

width of the radiator opening,
placment of the motor mounts for the different brands of v8s.
fendor aprons to match the different radiator support panel.

[jeepbob]

6 cylinder frames will also work, but you will have to go from late 65 to 74 or change the front crossmember. You will also have to move the motor mounts, but all the dims are are on the old frame. You can use the 75 to 79 frame with your drive train if you want to swap over the motor mounts and use the 75 to 79 axles. You could use the later frames but would want to eliminate the trac bars and use your old axles. The 75 to 79 would be the best way to go as it would really upgrade the brakes. It will be work any way you go but is very doable and is mainly changing parts.

[PAJEEPER]

I know the one, seen the pics. I would never dream of parting that out. A frame change can be done I have done it with limited tools. Sure it tough but take your time. The hardest part will be geting the body transfered safely to the new frame. You need to to find a reliable way to do that. I cant offer much advice there but other members have done it. Whatever you do dont give up on it. The frame change is one heck of a learning experiance you will know your wag inside and out one your done. :cool:

[Josh D]

dws, I see a lot of posts from PA FSJ'ers, seems to be a good following out there. I'm sure if you put together a plan to swap frames and found a frame worth swapping with, I'm sure there are PA FSJ'ers that would give you a hand. Good luck and don't give up!

[Mikel2]

Miked, what happened to your 69 Wag?