oddfire's '59 cj6 build

ok here goes. I will be starting soon on this build. please bear with me as the progress may be a bit slow. I have never transplanted a different drive train into another rig so i'm going to need as much help as possible. I've rebuilt engines and do most of my mechanical stuff but, never have done something like this.
I posted a while back when i purchased my '59 cj6 and the build is going like this....bought a 1997 s-10 blazer with a 4.3 for the engine which only has 149,000 miles on it.....going to re-gasket the whole engine while it is out...had a sm465 that was going into my '71 rebuilt and a adapter for the Dana 18. now mind you the main shaft is a 10 spline so i will use the over drive from the '71 because it has a t-14. I will have the transfer case rebuilt or at the least gone through. The transfer case was from another t-14 Buick powered jeep so the spline and tooth count are good.
The axles that i had rebuilt and re geared in the '71 (Dana 30 and Dana 44 4:27's with powr-loks) will be removed and put in the cj6 and the original ones from the '71 put back in. looking back now I should have just taken the lift kit from the '71 and swapped out with the '59 but too late now. I bought a lift kit from a member here and will put that on instead. If it is too much lift than i will take off the lift from the '71 and sell this kit.
The body will be coming off here in the next few weeks so I can bring the rolling chassis to the sandblaster place and I'll get that taken care of. If any cracks are found that will get fixed as well. After the body comes off the cj6 the engine will get pulled from the blazer and put on a shelf until ready for that. Or should i just leave it there until ready for it? I had purchased a never mounted fiberglass body for the 6 but it is really old and will be doing some work to it to make it more rigid and ready for paint. If i was good at body work I would have just re did the steel body but this needs to get together as quickly as possible
I have always wanted a 6 after I bought my 5 and seen pictures of a 6 and just thought that was way cool. Had I known about the 6's I would have held out for one. Well that's not totaly true. I couldn't pass up the deal I got on the 5 and needed something that was turn key wheeler ready at the time.
If the guy at work does not purchase the engine, transfer case and transmission I will put it up here on the board. The engine was just rebuild by the po and have the paperwork. The thing purrs like a kitten. The axles I may keep around for a while that are on there right now and use them elsewhere.

Here are some pictures of some of the stuff.....

 

pictures of the sm465 awaiting install...

 

It's a piece of art.

 

well today was the day to start tearing apart the old cj6. Started last night with taking off the front clip so taking out the engine and trans would be a little easier. The reason for the tear down was so that way wmi68cj5 could get the engine, trans and transfer case he bought off me and would make me get started on my build. Thanks again Todd for the help today!!!!
After the front clip was off i started undoing the wiring to the engine. while doing so I was looking at the frame and was really amazed at the shape it was in. for being a 1959 and deep in the heart of the rust belt it really isn't that bad. The body i guess took the brunt of it and protected the frame. That was all that happened yesterday as it was getting late and running out of energy.

 

this morning got out and decided to take off the body as well to make it even easier to remove the engine and such. Well let me tell you it was not the easiest thing to remove. I only had to grind off two of the bolt heads as they were really rusted. Those were the only two that were holding the body to the frame as the other mounts were rusted so bad they just stayed with the frame. Pulling that body off sure was a challenge but did finally got it off there.

 

After looking at the frame a little more I noticed the strapping does not go all the way to the back. Is this normal? Also, after this frame gets back from the blasters what chassis paint should I use? Looking for something that is going to be VERY durable!!
Also I only noticed one crack that Todd pointed out on the very front frame horn. Looks like the po put a slightly taller bumper and tried to just tighten it up to make it work. Well it didn't in the long run, as it is a good sized crack and the bottoms of the frame horns are a little bent as well.

 

in the next few weeks i might start getting out the engine from the donor vehicle. This is the first time I've done a newer engine swap. Can anyone tell me what it is exactly I will need to salvage from the donor? The obvious is the engine/ecm. I will be running a aftermarket fuel pump and tank. I'll get pics of the engine bay later today. What other wiring do I need or hardware?

 

Glad I could help! Nice talking with you. We forgot pictures lol. engine tranny tcase tucked away nicely for my m38a1 project next year.

 

yeah it was a challenge getting the body off the frame myself. my friend didn't show up until an hour or so after you did. was just trying to figure out how to do it safely by myself and didn't take any photos.

 

here are some pictures....
this is how it sits now.....

 

this is where the strapping is starting to separate from the frame...

this is where it stops on the frame in the rear...

now this only needs to be 1" tack welds down the frame or should I do a solid weld all the way???

 

this is the only crack I see on the whole frame. It's the front passenger frame horn....

the other side is just bent and not cracked..yet

 

the rear cross member is toast and will be removed and replace with something else.

 

looks like the only things i'll be keeping from the old jeep is the windshield, front clip, dash. is there anything else i should keep from the old jeep?

 

He's just like a blister. Doesn't show up til AFTER the work is done.

 

hinges,all of them. tailgate chains.

 

I know your keeping the windshield but one of those is on my short wish list.

 

so looking today at the bellhousing that was attached to the sm465, i cannot find any numbers on there. what is it that i need to look for to determine the flywheel i need to bolt up to the 4.3?

 

I think the sm465 was available stock until 1995. I think you could get it on vehicles that came with the 4.3 as the stock engine, like full-size GMC pickup, maybe? I would look for that type of application to find a flywheel.

Since you're using a Novak adapter, I'm sure they could answer the question as well.

 

Keep everything - al old parts. Toss the crap (or sell/give away) AFTER the build is done.