Just got a YJ frame and i'd like to mount the Flatty (52 M38) to it. I'v found a website (Mad Brit) who used a CJ5 frame but was hoping to find someone who's done it with a YJ frame.

I'm thinking of stretching the body in 2 places...between the door openings and in middle of wheelwell. Utilizing Rancho 44044's for around 100" wheelbase.

Pics or tech write ups would be killer.

I don't have any specs but I shot this photo at Windrock. I think he said he put the tub on a CJ frame. I know he had a 4.3L V6 in it too.

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/tullrocks2000/vwp?.dir=/Windrock/General&.src=ph&.dnm=Nice+flatfender.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/tullrocks2000/lst%3f%26.dir=/Windrock/General%26.src=ph%26.view=t

that's a lot of work for a suspension design that doesn't look like it'll flex too much in front.....I could be wrong but it looks like he half assed the front compared to the rest of the vehicle.


it also looks like it has never seen a dirt road in it's life. look at how purty those wheels are!:D

I am currently working with a friend on his Flattie project. It is a 46CJ2a body on a CJ-5 frame SOA w/ d44's and YJ springs. We moved the rear springs back 4" by relocating the main eye perches and we just turned around the shackle hanger in the front. It has a wheel base of 88". I think you will get about 100" out of yours. We have a 305, Saginaw 4 spd and d18 combo and we still have over 25" of drive shaft. The grill is pushed forward about 3", but that was one only lengthening we needed. You will need a significant amount of material to get it to look right on the YJ frame. Even on the CJ-5 frame the bumper is 4" from the body.

Here is a pic of it in process. We just got it running the other day too.

http://www.delawareja.com/gallery/albums/album56/flattie_06_25.jpg

DE Jeeper, looks like your bro has some trimming to do to those rear 1/4's. Looks good though.

Have any pics of the SBC under hood?

I'm thinking i can stretch between the doors about 6" to make seat placement pretty good without hacking the front of the wheelwells. Then another 6" or so between the fenderwell centers, that'll make it real close to aligning the rear axle and the front axle doesnt necessarily have to be centered under the front fenders. Having the front forward will improve approach angle as well. Whatever is left of framerail in front of the grill can be eaten up with the winch placement.

I'd also like to see any pics or webpages where someone stretched the Flatty body.

Thanks all..

10" body

Lame, i remember seeing that pic before. I dont think i wanna add quite that much in the doors though, just enough to get a decent seating position. Stretching in the wheelwells would also give me more cargo capacity which would be welcomed.

I seem to remember you utilizing the stock flatty frame that you redid the rear section on?

Have a photo album somewhere or can ya send me the pics you have of your "hat channel" reinforcements?

We are going to cut the quarter pannels last. We did cut into the front of the rear fender wells about 6" so we could place a YJ roll cage (different then photo) and some decent seats in there. The winch on the front will work and we are using out over hang in the back for a tire carrier that will be flush with the cross member.

Here is a link to more pics, look for the imbedded albums.
http://www.delawareja.com/gallery/Jump150?&page=1

Her is one without the body:

http://www.delawareja.com/gallery/albums/album56/frame_outside.thumb.jpg

No photo album. here are some frame shots. The frame is 2x4 .120 wall on the front half, rear is stock, but being a 46 it was boxed front and rear from the factory.

I haven't done anything to the body/frame in a while, no $$ this summer, soon the new garage will be up and I will have more progress pics.

Another angle

Stock YJ springs would have gave me 96" I am gonna run round springs so I can move out to 102-104"

Originally posted by MilspecXJ
Have a photo album somewhere or can ya send me the pics you have of your "hat channel" reinforcements?

I had a brain fart, you are talking about the :rainbow: floor support that is stock? I ripped the entire floor out and made a 1x2 perimiter floor support frame for each side of the tranny tunnel, and the tranny tunnel will be made after I get the body on, so I can see how large it needs to be

http://bb.bc4x4.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=44801

here is chris olson's willys (OTT industries). funny thing is he shortened the yj frame by 10" but the willy's still has the same wheelbase as a yj.

I think 4wd&su or JP did a swap a few years back with TJ frame and running gear and a steel flatty replacement body from Omix...they used extra tub panels and wheelwhells to extend it. Looked like a nice job. If you are interested, I could fax or mail you some copies after I dig out the issues:D

btt for the BLIND MOFO:flipoff2:

Cornjeeper, just scanned through his buildup and he's running a CJ wheelbase around 86" IIRC, that's about 14" shorter than my goal. Still nice rig and i'll email him for some input.

Lame, yeah, i was speaking of those weak factory channels. Using angle around the areas where i cut the body would sure help strengthening it with crossbars of some sort also. I dont follow ya on the "round springs"?

TJ Fan, i believe i have that article filed away also. Thanks though!

Coil springs. My prelim design will give me a departure of only tires. THe center line of the axle is about 14" from the end of the frame, and I can move the front axle up a bit also. I can't really get to definate on link and axle placement until I have the motor, tranny and t-case mounted. I still want a longer wheelbase than what I have in this drawing, but I had to guess on the rear frame dimensions.

Ahh, those round springs.

Personally with an 8.5" lifted XJ i wanna get the fawk away from coils and run a traditional leaf setup.

Any ideas on what tilt column is an easy mod to the willys body? Any GM?

I'm surprised noone else has chimed in that used a stock length and width YJ frame as i'd like to do. I know somewhere,someone has had to have pulled this off.

Any Flatty specific boards on the net elsewhere?

Originally posted by MilspecXJ
Cornjeeper, just scanned through his buildup and he's running a CJ wheelbase around 86" IIRC, that's about 14" shorter than my goal. Still nice rig and i'll email him for some input.

!
well since that write-up he has changed thinges drastically. such as:
14 bolt rear (more clearance than d44)
60 front with double splined 4340 inner shafts
38sx's
4.3 vortec
dual trannys (400+:1)
and 95ish" wheelbase

Originally posted by MilspecXJ
Ahh, those round springs.

Personally with an 8.5" lifted XJ i wanna get the fawk away from coils and run a traditional leaf setup.

Any ideas on what tilt column is an easy mod to the willys body? Any GM?

I'm surprised noone else has chimed in that used a stock length and width YJ frame as i'd like to do. I know somewhere,someone has had to have pulled this off.

Any Flatty specific boards on the net elsewhere?

Closest I know of is willymutt, but I think he bought his Willys already modded.

He has a CJ-7 frame 2A body with a extended hood and fenders with YJ springs SOA and 35" MT/R's. The specs I gave could be a bit off, though.

I think if you go to the specifice boards for flatties you will find mostly purists.

Originally posted by LAME


I think if you go to the specifice boards for flatties you will find mostly purists.

That's exactly what i'v experienced thus far..

Guess i'm stuck with ya'll :flipoff2: :D

Think i saw willymutt's rig...i'd like to keep as much an original proportional look as possible. I know i'll have to make compromises somewhere but i want my cake and eat it too.

Ok, Finally got to a computer to look again. Lame is right. I bought mine modded partially already. The specs are right for now. As far as keeping it looking right, I have plans for a redo. The idea will be to take the ratio of the wheelbase I want to have, and the wheelbase of the stock 2A. Then I will modify a new body to look proportional to the wheelbase. If you look at mine now, it looks like it has about 100", but is only 91". This is because of the long hood. That should change this winter.

Erin