Ideas?

[slvrhwk]

I currently have a 1990 model wagoneer (hopefully to be upgrading to a '74 with 28,000 miles soon) The ideas that I have running through my head are to hopefully take the front end, rear end, lift, wheels, tires, steering components, and bumbers (with modifactions) from my '01 ram and swap over to the wagoneer.
I'll be taking a bunch of measurements over the next couple weeks to check several things.

If the frame width is very close on the front should I swap over to the coil spring setup?

Here's a couple pics of the donor truck and the woody. If someone is good with photoshop couple you put the two together?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/slvrhwk/wagoneer/df86_12.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/slvrhwk/wagoneer/Picture003.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/slvrhwk/wagoneer/Picture002.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/slvrhwk/dodge/dodge1125062.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/slvrhwk/mudn122306/Picture005.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/slvrhwk/mudn122306/Picture004.jpg

[8379qtj10]

Save the Ram...or sell for Jeep money
Get some Wide Trac 44's or the J20 44/60 combo and go from there.

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

I agree

[BRUTUS]

If you really want to do it.. I would consider taking the dodge body off the chassis and transplanting the waggy to the dodge chassis.

Isn't the '90 wag a drivers drop t-case? Dodge is passenger side front diff, I am pretty sure.

All in all.. WHY are you doing this? What are you trying to accomplish?

If you want someone to do a photoshop of the result.. it would REALLY help to get pictures of each vehicle shot at the same aspect ratio. These two would be the closest to the same aspect ratio... but you have the dodge flexed out and the Jeep is not. It won't look right in the end.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/slvrhwk/wagoneer/Picture002.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/slvrhwk/mudn122306/Picture004.jpg

You also have some nasty shadows on the Jeep that are not on the Dodge and the picture just wouldn't look right. If you can get pictures of each vehicle in the same position in close to the same lighting it will give you the best outcome.

[Duke(Gwag)]

i would keep both but. if u want to fix up the Jeep go for it but i would stick with the ram and sell your jeep get money and put it in the ram.

[slvrhwk]

If you really want to do it.. I would consider taking the dodge body off the chassis and transplanting the waggy to the dodge chassis.
Isn't the '90 wag a drivers drop t-case? Dodge is passenger side front diff, I am pretty sure.
All in all.. WHY are you doing this? What are you trying to accomplish?


I don't no much about photoshop but figured the the mis matched pics would be an issue.

I've though about swapping bodies, but here's my whole goal.

I like the wagoneer better. It can sit more people and haul things in the back that won't get muddy/wet and have to worry about them possible coming out of the bed. The wheels, tires, bumpers and lift of the dodge will save me about $3,000 in out of pocket expense for the wagoneer. Both are drivers side drops on the front axle. Parting the dodge out and using the parts for the wagoneer will prob. bring close to what I will need to break even with what I have put into it in the last few months. Idon't think I could get $8,000 out of the dodge (as a complete truck) around where I live.

Not sure if I'll go through with it yet or not. Just trying to get some ideas.

[Bama Burden]

GW's are waaayyyy too easy to turn into a very decent wheeler at little cost to even consider swapping all that Dodge stuff. IMO, I wouldn't bother with the 1/2 ton Ram axles if they rolled into my yard.

[johnwaynejeep2]

If you're going for cheap then I say sell the dodge and get all the parts you need for the Jeep to build it up. This will save you time in parts removal and fabrication. If you wanna keep the coil springs from the dodge then I would think swapping the Jeep body onto the Dodge frame would be a much easier way to go...I say this now but I have no idea how well these frames match up.

If the frames are way too off then stick with your plan and swap the front and rear axles and suspension to the waggy. You're looking at a lot of work but if you wanna do it, why the heck not. I can't really tell you what to expect cause I have no experience to offer. I have a few ideas of what may cause you problems.

coil springs - How much suspension travel will you get with the new coils and will this travel jam the wheels into the fenders. You may have to cut the fenders or go with more lift then you expected to get clearance.

Axle width - If the dodge axles are wider or narrower then the wagoneer's then you have to get them shortened or use the stock waggy axles and modify the suspension to work with them

parts interchangeability - If the drivelines don't match then you may find yourself using more and more of the powertrain out of the dodge. If you do this then you'll either have to adapt the computer to run in the wagonner or you'll have to modify the dodge powertrain to work without a computer and that can get tricky.

Where there's a will and a pocketbook there's a way.