I'm debating whether to replace my tub and frame or repair them. The real problem I have is that the Jeep in question is a right hand drive 84 Overlander with the world cab. Has anyone gotten a right hand drive TDK frame or Willy's Overland Tub? Also, any idea whether a world cab would even mate well with a Willy's Overland Tub? I've spoken to a rep at both places and they both assured me they have experience with right hand drive CJ 8 frames and tub. The rep at Willys went as far as to say they would make all the necessary cut-outs in the firewall and cover up the unnecessary holes meant for the left hand drive. Thoughts?
RHD TDK frame and RHD Willy's Overland Tub?
- Thread starter CJocho
- Start date
- City
- Halifax
- State
- UK
Never seen a TDK frame but an OEM CJ8 frame is exactly the same for LHD as it is for RHD, so as long as there is a mounting for the RHD steering on the TDK frame then there should be no problems there.
The tub is another matter as I converted a MD Juan tub to RHD and if you dig through my build in the signature below it will maybe help you.
You will need the RHD firewall plate from your old tub which is spot welded on with a lot of spot welds and that needs transferring to the LHD tub.
You will trhen either need a plate on the inside to cover the heater holes etc or fill them with the correct shaped steel.
Then the steering column holes and the brake pedal/clutch slave cylinder/accelerator cable holes etc will need cutting in but the firewall plate makes a great template for this.
Over to the LHD firewall (usual drivers side) which needs the same treatment in that it needs the firewall plate removing and then the steering column/brake pedal/clutch pedal/accelerator cable etc,etc holes filling by either plating or fill them with the correct size steel.
The heater box needs its motor and the very randomly positioned aqnd hard to measure mounting studs drilling in the fire wall.
The heater hose connections need holes putting in along with the drain for the air inlet on the bulkhead.
The electrical bulkhead connector needs cutting in the right place for RHD.
I think the remainder is things like the emergency brake cable which is next to the seat needs a hole cutting in and the battery box is in a different place on the RHD and may need mounting holes as well, i cant remember, there will be other stuff i have forgotten!.
It wasn't hard to do just time consuming and if i can do it then you can but you would need to be willing to do some metal works and welding or like me find someone who would do it for you.
If Willys are volunteering to do it for you then thats good, but make sure they have done one before or at least know how much work is involved i aren't convinced they actually realize, but that may just be me being cynical.
The fitment of your Overlander top may be a bit of a gamble as my tub and everyone else's on here needed work, but again if Willys are willing to accept responsibility for it then i would let them, as yours is a rare CJ8 they may want to make a showroom example out of it?.
If your tub is not totally gone then personally i would mend it and then you know everything has a fighting chance of fitting correctly.
thats what i am doing with my current build and its taking longer than just fitting new but i think it will be well worth it in the end.
Dave
The tub is another matter as I converted a MD Juan tub to RHD and if you dig through my build in the signature below it will maybe help you.
You will need the RHD firewall plate from your old tub which is spot welded on with a lot of spot welds and that needs transferring to the LHD tub.
You will trhen either need a plate on the inside to cover the heater holes etc or fill them with the correct shaped steel.
Then the steering column holes and the brake pedal/clutch slave cylinder/accelerator cable holes etc will need cutting in but the firewall plate makes a great template for this.
Over to the LHD firewall (usual drivers side) which needs the same treatment in that it needs the firewall plate removing and then the steering column/brake pedal/clutch pedal/accelerator cable etc,etc holes filling by either plating or fill them with the correct size steel.
The heater box needs its motor and the very randomly positioned aqnd hard to measure mounting studs drilling in the fire wall.
The heater hose connections need holes putting in along with the drain for the air inlet on the bulkhead.
The electrical bulkhead connector needs cutting in the right place for RHD.
I think the remainder is things like the emergency brake cable which is next to the seat needs a hole cutting in and the battery box is in a different place on the RHD and may need mounting holes as well, i cant remember, there will be other stuff i have forgotten!.
It wasn't hard to do just time consuming and if i can do it then you can but you would need to be willing to do some metal works and welding or like me find someone who would do it for you.
If Willys are volunteering to do it for you then thats good, but make sure they have done one before or at least know how much work is involved i aren't convinced they actually realize, but that may just be me being cynical.
The fitment of your Overlander top may be a bit of a gamble as my tub and everyone else's on here needed work, but again if Willys are willing to accept responsibility for it then i would let them, as yours is a rare CJ8 they may want to make a showroom example out of it?.
If your tub is not totally gone then personally i would mend it and then you know everything has a fighting chance of fitting correctly.
thats what i am doing with my current build and its taking longer than just fitting new but i think it will be well worth it in the end.
Dave
Dave,
Thank you so much for the detailed reply. It was very informative and appreciated.
I spoke with Jay of Willy's Overland Motors via phone today to discuss my build. He was very pleasant to speak to and straight forward. Ultimately Jay told me that he could do the firewall work so long as I shipped him the firewall from my RHD so he could use as a template. Jay also stated that he was unaware as to whether a world cab had ever been used on one of his tubs. As a result, he could not guarantee its fitment. I appreciated his candor on this. I asked him whether it would be possible to bring the world cab to him to see how it would fit a tub he had modified but not yet shipped. Jay welcomed the idea and said it would be fine.
In my opinion, the world cab is the most special part of this rig. I can't imagine getting a new tub and not be able to use the world cab. Therefore, I'll be headed to Jay's shop in Toledo sometime in March. If the world cab fits then I'll be getting a tub.
Lastly, a few photos of Overlander and the carnage caused by Midwest winters.
Attachments
- City
- Bedford
- State
- NH
Having done this a few times... I hate to admit it, but you might be better off with a new tub. Every panel on that thing is needing attention.
And by attention, I mean replacement.
The amount of money in panels will add up quickly and get close to what a new tub is.
Labor? If you are doing the work, then fine, but if you pay someone, that is a lot of hours.
My concern... and echoed by @Dave The Sparky is the firewall.
You need to drill out and pop off the reinforcement plate.
Post #138 starts it.... and Post #185 shows you what you need to do to mate it back to a LHD firewall.
There is a lot of work to do this "correct". I Just want to make sure the guys at Overland know this.
IMO, I would see if they would simply drill out the firewall from the LHD and replace it with the drilled out entire firewall from the RHD.
This is the best idea IMO... but you have to make the choice for yourself.
The DNA then is original firewall (complete).
I then would take other items from the orignal tub and use them on the new tub... but that is just my opinion.
Mainly the parts that people have said they had to tweak.
I can't see the cowl on your original, but if you can take the whole cowl and swap it, you would be miles ahead with the captive nut issue with the dash as well as the holes for the fresh air and then the overall width of the cowl where it would meet a windshield frame.
Again, you can go nuts on this to do it "right".
I have thought about just specializing in this type of repair, but honestly, this would grown to a $10K tub (pre-bodywork) pretty quickly with parts/labor/transportation and it makes it just not feasible.
cb
And by attention, I mean replacement.
The amount of money in panels will add up quickly and get close to what a new tub is.
Labor? If you are doing the work, then fine, but if you pay someone, that is a lot of hours.
My concern... and echoed by @Dave The Sparky is the firewall.
You need to drill out and pop off the reinforcement plate.
Jeep cj7 83 right hand drive 4x4 5 sp british export - part II
Looking great! :thumbsup: BUT... your completion date is past the Nationals in June??? :shrug: :wave:
www.cj-8.com
There is a lot of work to do this "correct". I Just want to make sure the guys at Overland know this.
IMO, I would see if they would simply drill out the firewall from the LHD and replace it with the drilled out entire firewall from the RHD.
This is the best idea IMO... but you have to make the choice for yourself.
The DNA then is original firewall (complete).
I then would take other items from the orignal tub and use them on the new tub... but that is just my opinion.
Mainly the parts that people have said they had to tweak.
I can't see the cowl on your original, but if you can take the whole cowl and swap it, you would be miles ahead with the captive nut issue with the dash as well as the holes for the fresh air and then the overall width of the cowl where it would meet a windshield frame.
Again, you can go nuts on this to do it "right".
I have thought about just specializing in this type of repair, but honestly, this would grown to a $10K tub (pre-bodywork) pretty quickly with parts/labor/transportation and it makes it just not feasible.
cb
- City
- Bedford
- State
- NH
After reading all that, simply put... you need the finished product to look exactly like the RHD originally.
I kept the RHD firewall for the entire project to ensure in the end it was as close as I could make it.
cb
I kept the RHD firewall for the entire project to ensure in the end it was as close as I could make it.
cb
- City
- Halifax
- State
- UK
Sounds like you have someone who really wants to make this work and thats going to be a massive help.
Keep us informed i am sure there will be others keen to see just how well that world cab fits.
Keep us informed i am sure there will be others keen to see just how well that world cab fits.