Frame Flex on Willys Wagon?

Just wondering about a couple things. Has anyone here boxed in a frame on a Willys Wagon? If it's used almost exclusively on the street, do you really need to? Even with 200hp under the hood and long distance freeway speeds? Would it help (or even matter) for towing?

My frame is actually very clean and solid (only cracked where the core support was cut up by a previous owner making room for a SBC), but I've heard nothing good about these frame's structural integrity. I have seen a LOT of them with more cracks than a plumber's convention. Is that just the normal fate of these Wagon frames?

Cheers, - Jeff G

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Reply to
Bubba Kahuna
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Cue Bill 3, heh heh..

Dave

Reply to
Dave Milne

Reply to
L.W.(ßill)

Hi Bill, I wondered about the rust issue getting crud trapped in there. I'm not going to use the 283 that's in there, it'll be getting a V6 that will be moved to the rear so clearance at the core support won't be an issus. I'll have to box in/back the firewall some, but the PO started that job with a sledgehammer for me already so it'll be new anyhow.

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The required-flex makes sense. I've read a lot of other paople's opinions about how/why these frames should be boxed, but wasn't sure if it was because of normal flex being too much, or flex becoming too much because of rot. I think I'll leave it as-is and powder coat or Rhino the frame.

Thanks, - Jeff G

L.W.(ßill) Hughes III wrote:

Reply to
Bubba Kahuna

The boxing also destroys the flex and stresses the shit out of the CJ frames. The inner added on box always splits by the back spring at it's front on the passenger side and the rear of the front spring on the drivers side on the outside frame.

They even sell premade plates to reinforce these areas.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Bubba Kahuna wrote:

Reply to
Mike Romain

Reply to
L.W.(ßill)

Oh no! Whoever did this, made some very 'creative' motor mounts by bending some strap iron into 'V' shaped bars, then welding them directly to the frame. The motor is actually just sitting on these engineering marvels by it's own weight.

And people keep asking me 'Why don't you just drive it with the 283 in there the way it is?'.

  • 1. I don't even know if it runs. I suspect it might because it looks like it has all new freeze plugs in it which would suggest some level of work done on it, but hardly any guarantees. The Rochester quadrajet looks to be in great condition, but I have no idea how long it sat before I bought it.
  • 2. The 283 (1958~1961 230hp passenger car version according to the castings) will either sit forward enough that I have to cut up the core support for clearance, or rebuild the fire wall. I already have to fix both, but would rather have a lighter engine that puts out more power than a 40+ year old V8 when I make new parts.
  • 3. I have 2 good running V6's that I have nothing to do with but put in here. Choice is between a 1960 vintage 283 with unknown condition or a Chevy 4.3L V6 (runs real strong but has a bad rod knock and missing TBI) or Toyota 3.0L V6 (complete with entire EFI system & computer that runs like a Swiss watch).
  • 4. Those motor mounts have got to go.

Just got new pics back from my buddy at the blasting shop of me plastic media striping the body parts down to bare metal. I'll be posting them on my website in a few.

Cheers, - Jeff G

L.W.(ßill) Hughes III wrote:

Reply to
Bubba Kahuna

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