74 J-20 axle (or frame) swap to 79 Cherokee questions

[Jay-ten]

I have a 79 Cherokee Golden Eagle I am fixin' to do a frame off restoration to. Part of that plan has considered doing 3/4 axles.
I found a '74 J-20 that I am going to go look at tomorrow.
I have the following questions to determine whether this is the right donor:
1) Does the '74 J-20 have front disc brakes?
2) If not, can I swap my Cherokee front disc brakes over to the J-20 front axle?
3) Is the '74 J-20 axle swap to the '79 Cherokee a no fab direct plug and play swap?
4) If not, what fabrication is involved? No trouble or nightmare?
5) Is the frame of the J-20 beefier than the frame of the Cherokee?
6) If so, would a body swap be easy or difficult.

Thanks!

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

1. In 1974 disc brake were still an option so it could have either.
2. Your Cherokee will have 6 lug axles, the J20 will have 8 so brakes will not swap.
3. The front axle will be a bolt in swap. The rear you will have to move the spring perches inboard some. Also, the rear axle is quite wide so I hope you have a little lift.
4. Answered above.
5. J20 frame is no beefier than the Cherokee frame.
6. J10/20 frames are wider in the rear so they will not easily swap under a Cherokee.

[J20 project]

Jayten. Go to the build thread topic area and look at my pics and article
J 20

[Jay-ten]

Thanks

Very helpful responses. Nice pics J20 Project. I'm a little unsure about moving the rear spring perches. I assume I can cut the existing ones off without too much damage and reuse/move them. Measure twice, cut once. Stay symmetrical off the outer shoulders to keep the body/frame alignment true. I don't really want to crab down the road.

[TexasJ10]

New spring perches are not very expensive and are a lot easier to align and weld than trying to reuse the old ones.

[KaiserMan]

1. In 1974 disc brake were still an option so it could have either.

5. J20 frame is no beefier than the Cherokee frame.

All J20's had disc's from the get go, so it will be a disc front.

All Truck frames are beefier than Wagoneer/Cherokee frames. They are taller (6") under the cab than the Wags/Cherks (which are 5" I think?). They are thicker as well.