Diy Jeep Forward Control?

I have a 63 Willys Jeep (courtesy of John in Kansas) that I have been trying to figure out what to do with it. The body is pretty much toast. I have this crazy idea to build a Forward Control tribute. Anyone ever seen this done before?

There are two I can think of, a life-size Tonka replica and a DIY COE that's been kicking around on Craigslist for waaaaaay too much money. Anything's possible with enough money and/or effort...

Flat bed VW Transporter/Jeep chassis? [URL=http://s265.photobucket.com/user/derekrichardson/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-1.jpg.html][/URL]

http://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/jeep/FC.html

Maybe I can use a cab from a Ford Coe or something and graft in a jeep grill?

Is the chassis of a regular Jeep essentially the same thing as an FC Jeep? Assuming it is you'd have to re-engineer the foot pedals, and tip the steering box up.

No idea, I just started thinking about this today.

Almost any suitable cab donor is going to cost more than an FC Jeep would. A clean VW double or single cab is worth 20K. I watched an FC jeep sit on CL for months at $1200

Oooo what about the front third of a dodge van? I have access to one. Not quite COE but close.

Damn those vans are WIDE!

Any 40's cab will work, you just have to section the grill to bolt it to the firewall and make it tall enough to cover the front of the frame when you mount the cab above the engine. Use a set of Ford or Dodge step side fenders under the cab over the wheels. Bonus points for channeling the body or chopping the top while you're at it, though in this application chopping the body and doors might be better than the window posts.

I've actually gotten as far as laying out the masking tape on a second Gen s10 to cut the wheel opening out of both front fenders and the center half out of the hood to mount the grill to the cab for a cab over. I think it would work but I wish I could get a good PhotoShop to make sure it wouldn't look awful first.

Lastly, plenty of Isuzu NPR cabs around too, if you want easy...

Good thought on the NPR. I hadn't thought about those. Not necessarily pretty but at least functional.

On the Dodge van, I think I could use the drivers section and doors, trim the front fenders to meet up with the Willys grill and filling the holes with flat metal. Section the rear part of the van and weld to the b pillar. Could work...

stuart in mn wrote: Is the chassis of a regular Jeep essentially the same thing as an FC Jeep? Assuming it is you'd have to re-engineer the foot pedals, and tip the steering box up.

Yes

stuart in mn wrote: Is the chassis of a regular Jeep essentially the same thing as an FC Jeep? Assuming it is you'd have to re-engineer the foot pedals, and tip the steering box up.

Later models had a wider track.

Watch CL. I've seen three "real" FC jeeps go for less than $1k in the last year in various states of project-ness, all within two hours drive.

I thought FC jeeps were very rare and expensive.

Buy that Hillman Husky or whatever that's been floating around our CL lately. WIN!

Or...you know where there's a dodge van ripe for the cuttin'.

However, my sincere vote is to just fix the body you have. It's flat metal...should be easier to fix what you have than adapt stuff you don't.

ebonyandivory wrote: http://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/jeep/FC.html

I'd absolutely love to build one of these. I learned about it earlier this year and fell in love. That would be a really fun build, and one that I wonder if there's a market for if there was a kit out there. Somebody else should start offering a kit before I'm forced to...

/threadjack

Bryce

How about a stubby nosed YJ or similar?

stuart in mn wrote: Is the chassis of a regular Jeep essentially the same thing as an FC Jeep? Assuming it is you'd have to re-engineer the foot pedals, and tip the steering box up.

From what I remember from various articles and books, they are essentially the same with modified controls. I'm not sure the steering box is even changed, but they just added a u-joint and/or re-angled the steering column.

Dig up some books on old Army Jeeps. They are pretty well documented.

I wonder if JC Whitney still sells replacement body tubs and parts... I remember that used to be a large section in the catalog.

There is quite a few differences between Army Jeeps and CJ's. Rear axle, transmission, electrics, wheels and tires etc. The FC 150 was on a basic CJ5 chassis with mods. With the dog house removed, the engine was readily accessible.

Oh, I forgot the counterweight mounted in the rear.

ArthurDent wrote: How about a stubby nosed YJ or similar?

That almost works, the cab needs to move 6" or so forward.

In reply to iceracer:

Details, details... but if he's starting from a bare chassis the books should give him an idea of how the originals were built and moving everything forward. I remember seeing some Army based FC versions, although I've seen more civilian versions.