Has anyone put a 57 Willys Wagon on a Grand Cherokee frame?

Wills Willys

Knuckle Buster
Oct 29, 2015
2
Charleston sc
First Name
Will
Willys Model
  1. Wagon
Willys Year:
  1. 1957
I know the options for modifying the wagon are unlimited, and keeping it stock is always an option. But
I have a 2000 GC and am about to get a 1999 GC, both with 4.0 six and in good working order. I see
wheel base, wheel widths compare well.

GC 105.9 long
WW 104.5 long

GC front axle width 59.5
WW front axle width 57.0

GC back axle width 59.5
WW back axle width 57.0

Seems like most issues will be with front axle to firewall, and some of those things, that
have to be measured out and worked out.

Anyone done this or know more about it?

I enjoy the WW, but I need AT, AC and MORE POWER for traffic.

It no good to leave the WW parked from May to Sept because it's too HOT in city traffic for
the passengers.

Thanks.

Clay
 
Yes Grand Cherokees are unibody since at least the early 90's. Bad idea.
 
you're right

That's what I thought too

You're right. The easiest way out never works.

I did look at wheelbase, etc., and saw that some had used mid 90's s10 4 door blazer with
what sounded like less hassle than some other conversions.

Also, saw Mopar skunkworks used a LJ, from 2004-2006, for a modern wagon conversion, too.


I'll search this site for mentions of either.

Thanks

Clay
 
Not a bad idea if done correctly . It will be time consuming to say the least. Save the firewall and floor and mate the wagon to the base.
I am doing a pickup similarly I cut lower fire wall and floor from my pickup cab and mating to the fire wall and floor of a tj.
Ithe can be done if you have patience
 
It's funny, I always go to "new posts" when I come here. Directly above your post is a guy doing exactly what you asked. If you can't find it, try the search key
 
I always wanted to put one on a Durango frame. They are dirt cheap and easy to come by.


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I always wanted to put one on a Durango frame. They are dirt cheap and easy to come by.


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Looks doable. Need to take several inches out of the middle of the frame, but judging by the pictures, there are a few straight sections that should be easy to cut. Track is 61".

Go make it happen.
 
There are many options. All add up to lots of hours but well worth it. I picked a 1979 Wagoneer with the Quadratrac offset rear axle as my frame donor because I am head strong and love the whine of a Dana/Spicer Model 18 and all the shifters. (4 counting overdrive)

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There are many options. All add up to lots of hours but well worth it. I picked a 1979 Wagoneer with the Quadratrac offset rear axle as my frame donor because I am head strong and love the whine of a Dana/Spicer Model 18 and all the shifters. (4 counting overdrive)

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was researching overdrives last night and saw a setup with six shifters: two pto, tranny, twin stick tc, and od. I showed my wife a picture. I think her eyes stopped rolling this afternoon.

Will the wagoneer front axle work on a wagon?
 
Yes the wagoneer front axle will work.(pre 1980, 1980 to 1991 are driver's side drop) They are commonly used with a more modern spring swap. They are setup for 2.5 inch wide springs. On the pumpkin side the ubolts pass through holes in the pumkin webbing. They are 6 lug so they are often used as a pair. (Front and rear) or they are converted to 5 lug with Ford or IH Scout hubs and rotors. The rears on early Wagoneers are Dana 44 30 spline. Very strong compared to stock Willys 44.

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Don't forget that where most chassis swaps get more complicated than they look is there is more than just matching the wheelbase. Most modern vehicles have the engine further forward compared to the front axle centreline than the Willys, so you end up having to move the drivetrain back 6-8".
 
Yes the wagoneer front axle will work.(pre 1980, 1980 to 1991 are driver's side drop) They are commonly used with a more modern spring swap. They are setup for 2.5 inch wide springs. On the pumpkin side the ubolts pass through holes in the pumkin webbing. They are 6 lug so they are often used as a pair. (Front and rear) or they are converted to 5 lug with Ford or IH Scout hubs and rotors. The rears on early Wagoneers are Dana 44 30 spline. Very strong compared to stock Willys 44.

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Thanks for the info. I thought that was the case. It's putting the cart a bit before the horse in my case, but I found a matching set of axles of that age at a junkyard just a couple hour drive from me. $600 for the pair. If that includes brakes and everything else, I'm thinking that's not a bad price.
 
When I got my donor Wagoneer, I was trying to make a deal for the axles when the guy's wife came home. I ended up bartering for the whole truck cheaper than the axles would have been. His wife was very happy. Mine on the other hand, was not so happy. Haha.

Poke around and see what springs guys change to. It really improves the ride. It requires work but it is really probably simpler to modify the Willys Chassis in the end.

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