Frame swap

[Woolfman]

Hi I have a 1963 j200 and what to put it on a 1981 j10 frame any help would be Appreciated

[Stuka]

Welcome to the forum!

The frames are pretty similar in some areas, but very different in other areas. Namely, the wheelbases may not line up. Early J-Trucks had 120, 126, 132, and 165 (very rare), before they settled on just two, being 120 and 132 for the J10/J20.

Now you can kind of get around that by using the bed from the J10, and the cab/front clip from your Gladiator. Although you wont have the round tail lights and such.

Another thing to be aware of is that in 1980, FSJ's switched to driver drop front axles. When this happened, the floor of the cab changed to make room for the transfercase. You can get around this, but its something to be aware of.

The rear cab mounts will also be different, as a '63 will use the old spring style mounts, and the J10 will use solid rubber mounts.

There are lots of other differences, but not any that would effect you. That come to mind anyway. Obviously suspension mounts, engine mounts, the frame horns, cross memebers, etc are all different.

[Woolfman]

I will use all the drive train from the 81 motor Tran and Transfer case
I-am going to try and use the steering Column out of the 81 and all the wiring
If I use a 2 or 3 inch body lift will that help.I know I will have to move body mounts
Any ideas would be useful?

[Woolfman]

What do you mean by driver drop front axle

[Woolfman]

On this cross member. the piece that goes up what do the two holes bolt to I know the big hole on the end has a rubber mont ??

[Stuka]

What do you mean by driver drop front axle

63-79 FSJ's had the front axle pumpkin on the passenger side. 80-91 had it on the driver side. This is why the floor changed in '80, because the transfer-case now was going the other direction.

[Woolfman]

Ok yes I knew this
Is the cab bigger on the 81
I measured from the back of cab to end of front fender both are 100 inches. Just fills bigger
Yes this 81 is a long box so I have to figure out what to do with the box


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Woolfman]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Woolfman]

I now have the cab sitting on the 1981 frame
The front rad support mounts line up perfect and the back cap mounts are dead on

Only the front cab mounts missed by 3 inches should not be hard to fix this




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Stuka]

Cool, making good progress.

[Woolfman]

Do you no what the two bolt holes on the Tran mont are for
Early pictures


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tgreese]

Automatic transmission?

Which two bolts?



This is from the '74-80 Jeep parts catalog, which may be available on CD-ROM at RockAuto, and is definitely available on paper at BJ's. Might be worthwhile for a project like this.

[Woolfman]

The two on the left.the ones that go up what are those holes for in your diagram it show nothing attached to them


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tgreese]

I have nothing more than what I showed you. I'd guess they are vestigial and nothing goes there, as in the picture.

[Woolfman]

Someone sent this I think this is it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tgreese]

That was me. Previous poster suggested the exhaust, and I looked. Had not occurred to me.

[Woolfman]

Thanks it was very helpful


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk