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View Full Version : First look at body swap

seamus
06-12-2007, 09:04 PM
Well I finally got the Wagoneer next to the 1 ton Dodge chassis, pulled the front clip off the dodge and started to check some measurements. Looks like the engine location relative to the front axle and firewall is very similar to the Wagoneer measurements all seem to be with in 1/2 of an inch. Next step is to finish pulling the dodge body and lay the wagoneer body down to see what has to happen. I sure wish there was a simple way to lift the wagoneer body and lay it on the dodge frame.

87 wagoneer soon to have a 5.9 cummins with Dana 60's front and rear.

Wish me luck!!


Seamus
PlumCrazy
06-13-2007, 06:04 AM
And where Sir, is your camera?

Wayne S
ToyoHabu
06-13-2007, 08:54 AM
This guy used an interesting method.
http://www.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout/bens75/

How are the other dimensions ? like wheel base, width, suspension body clearence?
Dr Teeth
06-13-2007, 10:30 AM
If you don't want to use the log/jack method... check this thread
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=69476
and the previous one I link to. I lifted the body with two engine hoists. To get the body off was easily doable with two people (one to keep the body level and the other to jack and run around getting saw horses ready). Lowering the body it is good to have some extra help (three or more ideally) as there are so many things to keep an eye on for clearances, shifting side to side, etc.

I lifted the body using two body mount holes with eyebolts in them and a stack of heavy wide washers. I ran a chain accross with it run through a 2x4 with holes drilled in the ends to act as a spreader bar to keep the eye bolts vertical (otherwise the chain tends to pull them towards the center of the body and bend the sheetmetal).

Worked pretty well. Use 2x6 sawhorses if you need it to stay up for awhile... I tried 2x4's and the front one bent fairly alarmingly after a day or two.

Todd
seamus
06-13-2007, 12:09 PM
And where Sir, is your camera?

Wayne S

The truly ironic thing is that I am a photographer, funny thing when you do it for a living day in and day out you tend to not bother for the small things. When I get the body off the Dodge I will take a few and try to post.

Seamus