Frame swap?

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Stupendous Man - 25 Jan 2006 23:49 GMT

I just picked up a 74 Cherokee (360/T-400/Quadra-trak) mainly for the D44
axles and will be driving it home this weekend.
Since my frame is cracked, i have another Jeepster frame and will do all the
swapping at once, and am considering just putting my engine/trans/ T-case in
the chero and swapping bodies.
Other than the wheelbase being 9 inches longer than my Jeepster, does anyone
know of any pros or cons of the Cherokee frame as compared to a 68 C-101?

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Earle Horton - 26 Jan 2006 08:08 GMT

It's not entirely clear, how many vehicles and which type you hope to have
running at the end of this exercise.

Earle

> I just picked up a 74 Cherokee (360/T-400/Quadra-trak) mainly for the D44
> axles and will be driving it home this weekend.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Other than the wheelbase being 9 inches longer than my Jeepster, does anyone
> know of any pros or cons of the Cherokee frame as compared to a 68 C-101?

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Stupendous Man - 26 Jan 2006 08:45 GMT

> It's not entirely clear, how many vehicles and which type you hope to have
> running at the end of this exercise.

Only one. the axles are going under the Jeepster, which will
retain5/T-400/D20. My frame will be either the Chero or the spare Jeepster
frame i have. Both would be about the same amount of work, just different
modifications.

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Earle Horton - 26 Jan 2006 11:25 GMT

> > It's not entirely clear, how many vehicles and which type you hope to
> > have running at the end of this exercise.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> frame i have. Both would be about the same amount of work, just different
> modifications.

In that case, I would go with the frame, that needs the least amount of
repair, or looks the toughest to you. A Quadratrac Jeepster would be
interesting, especially if it had the low range option.

Earle

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Rusted - 26 Jan 2006 15:45 GMT

Can you give us a link to some photos and some more details of the cracked
frame? I am thinking some frame repair maybe much easier than a body sway.

>I just picked up a 74 Cherokee (360/T-400/Quadra-trak) mainly for the D44
>axles and will be driving it home this weekend.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> anyone know of any pros or cons of the Cherokee frame as compared to a 68
> C-101?

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Stupendous Man - 26 Jan 2006 17:48 GMT

"> Can you give us a link to some photos and some more details of the
cracked

> frame? I am thinking some frame repair maybe much easier than a body
> sway.

Not much point. I have been nursing along a complete broke front arch and
plated it larger 4 times, and have also welded up 2 shock mounts, 2 spring
hangers, a rear arch, and some body mount brackets. It has metal fatigue. It
had some minor cracks before I installed the 455 buick 15 years or so ago. I
have an un-cracked, low mileage 67 Jeepster frame in the yard, and was
planning on re-enforcing it before installation, but I guess I need to get
both frames together and compare. Looks like Chero body parts on Ebay next
wee. I may keep the AC unit, but I take my roof and doors off for summer.

Earle, isn't Quadratrack lame for rock crawling? it does have low range, but
my Dana 20 is tough and I have a spare.

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Stupendous Man,
Defender of Freedom, Advocate of Liberty

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Earle Horton - 26 Jan 2006 22:13 GMT

"It had some minor cracks before I installed the 455 buick 15 years or so
ago..."

OK, this cracks me up. I don't seriously recommend the Quadratrac for rock
crawling, but it would be "interesting" to have one in a running vehicle.
You may be able to sell it to a collector or restorer. If you have a spare,
I would definitely go with the Dana 20. As far as frames go, I am thinking
that the full size Cherokee frame is going to be more heavy duty than the
Jeepster frame, but you will have to compare to make sure.

Earle

> "> Can you give us a link to some photos and some more details of the
> cracked
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Earle, isn't Quadratrack lame for rock crawling? it does have low range, but
> my Dana 20 is tough and I have a spare.

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Stupendous Man - 27 Jan 2006 06:24 GMT

> OK, this cracks me up. I don't seriously recommend the Quadratrac for
> rock
> crawling, but it would be "interesting" to have one in a running vehicle.
> You may be able to sell it to a collector or restorer. If you have a
> spare,
> I would definitely go with the Dana 20.

I have found a lot of conflicting info, but this site seems to have a pretty
good take on the BW 1339 Quadratrac,
http://www.frontier.net/~mystkblu/quadratrac/index.htm
I may use it, and it gets the low ratio .5 lower than the D20. This rig is a
one-owner with 67 K miles on it.

As for the frame, it's not fully boxed like the Jeepster, but I can fix
that, and probably find another Chero frame to cut matching pieces from.

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Earle Horton - 27 Jan 2006 08:03 GMT

According to the web site the Quadratrac case does have a locking
differential, so in principle it should be fine for off road use.
Availability of parts could be worrisome though. But many people enjoy the
thrill of the parts hunt.

Earle

> > OK, this cracks me up. I don't seriously recommend the Quadratrac for
> > rock
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> As for the frame, it's not fully boxed like the Jeepster, but I can fix
> that, and probably find another Chero frame to cut matching pieces from.

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Stupendous Man - 27 Jan 2006 18:06 GMT

I think i will go for it. It solves the problem of an off-side diff to a
center output, and i can always go back to the 20.

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