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Converting the 6 to a "Brute"?

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by uplandhawaii, Oct 23, 2008.

  1. Oct 23, 2008
    uplandhawaii

    uplandhawaii BentFrame 4X4

    Big Island HAWAII
    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2006
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    41
    Has anyone considered or done a "brute" style conversion to a CJ6? I'm just toying with the idea but would love to get some insight or thoughts on the matter.
    Mahalos!
     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2009
  2. Oct 23, 2008
    BlueFlu

    BlueFlu past owner of some ecj5's

    Hermitage, TN
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    A 6 with a half cab looks close.
     
  3. Oct 23, 2008
    dauntless_powered

    dauntless_powered SUB COB 2024 Sponsor

    Groton, CT
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  4. Oct 23, 2008
    uplandhawaii

    uplandhawaii BentFrame 4X4

    Big Island HAWAII
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    Thanks, yeah I have one like that [​IMG]
    I wanted to see if anyone has actually enclosed the cab at the partition and added a separate bed without extending the frame. I'm thinking it may not look proportioned without either extending the frame a bit or extending the bed sheet metal to over hang more like a CJ8. I have an m416 bed I may want to use if I do pursue this route.
     
  5. Oct 23, 2008
    pathkiller

    pathkiller Member

    Lorton, VA
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    Apr 17, 2005
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    878
    Oh man, please please please don't chop up such a beautiful 6! If you have to extend the frame and stuff anyway please start with a much more common 5. Hell, I'll swap my 5 with you straight up if you want. 6's are much too rare and precious to chop up.
     
  6. Oct 23, 2008
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
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    Nov 24, 2006
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    1,929

    x2 - don't cut up that 6!! Get a 5 or a 7. Heck, I'd get a scrambler and toss a half cab on it. Don't cut the 6. And no more monkeys business!!

    By the way.......cool looking 6 you got there.
     
  7. Oct 24, 2008
    uplandhawaii

    uplandhawaii BentFrame 4X4

    Big Island HAWAII
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    Yeah I admit the rarity of the 6 is part of the reason why I haven't torn into it. I've only seen 3 here in Hawaii and only mine and another is running. If you guys were closer I would actually consider a swap for a 7, at least I'd know my 6 was going to some one who appreciates the 6.
    I can't swap my 6 here for anything! no body wants it, not even to trade for a YJ!:shock:

    I'm not a purist, never have been, more of a hot rodder so I'll still entertain the idea of doing it. I've already started the process of making it more comfortable to drive by installing power steering and power brakes and more comfortable seats. As soon as I can get some caliper brackets I'll be converting to discs. So its not actually a pure CJ6, although its pure jeep as I've only used jeep parts to complete the conversions.

    Thanks for the compliments!
     
  8. Oct 24, 2008
    High5

    High5 Member

    Urbandale, IA
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    Jan 13, 2005
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    802
    Hey it's your ride, do with it what you please.

    But, they are getting quite rare around here.

    Wish I had that extra wheelbase:)

    High5
     
  9. Oct 24, 2008
    pathkiller

    pathkiller Member

    Lorton, VA
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    Apr 17, 2005
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    I really dig your canvas bed cover. Did you make that or did it come that way? Looks very African-safari ready.
     
  10. Oct 24, 2008
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    9,221
    I like the idea with the M416 trailer tub, I think it would be neat! I don't think it would look any more or less proportioned than a CJ-6 does now (which is arguable since a CJ-5 is beautifully proportioned to begin with and the CJ-6 is just a long CJ-5. :D)

    1x1speedcraig put a 416 bed on his CJ-10, I can imagine it would be similar in looks proportionally.
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2008
  11. Oct 24, 2008
    uplandhawaii

    uplandhawaii BentFrame 4X4

    Big Island HAWAII
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    Feb 19, 2006
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    My grandpa put it on there, its boat suntop fabric bent over a subframe of rebar and wire. Pretty hack but it kept the water off of us when we went fishing. Granmps was pretty creative!R)

    I remember his build, I followed it until he finished it. Didn't he sell it in the end?

    I'm working on swapping my 87' suburban for a YJ, so maybe I'll give it a try on that if I get it.
    I'd still like to see pics of a home built conversion. Somebody must have done it before the "Brute" kit came out.
     
  12. Oct 25, 2008
    avmechanic

    avmechanic Gearhead

    Langley B.C. Canada
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    I say go for it. I know their rare but if you do a good job it would be pretty cool. I hate to see something like that get butcher and beaten to death but a quality buildup would be rare and unique as well. I say enclose the back of the cab by using the original rear corners and then extend the frame as needed to work with the trailer box. A V8 with some 33" or 35" tires and that thing would be awesome.
    Greg
     
  13. Oct 26, 2008
    uplandhawaii

    uplandhawaii BentFrame 4X4

    Big Island HAWAII
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    Yeah I figured I would use the back of the 6 tub and graft it to the back of the cab. If I could find a CJ 304 I'd slap that in but its hard to find here. I do have a FSJ 360-727/D300 combo I had in my 89GW that I could use. But the inline 6 is in good shape so more than likely it'll stay that way.

    I've been searching for pics with little luck, someone had to have done this at some point.
     
  14. Oct 26, 2008
    mikieboy

    mikieboy Member

    Jacksonville, FL
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    Mar 21, 2005
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    Take a look on the cj2a web site. A member named rocnroll has a picture, avatar of a different bed ,back on a cj2a. Maybe something like that?
     
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2008
  15. Oct 26, 2008
    bkd

    bkd Moderator Supreme Staff Member 2022 Sponsor

    K-Town Tenn.
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    seems I remember "fheadcj6" from Australia posting up some pics of something similiar in the past (like a ute), maybe he'll chime in
    Like others have said it's your rig, but I'd be inclined to chop up a donor 5 before a cj6.....just not many around :beer:
    Jim S.
     
  16. Oct 26, 2008
    jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    Oklahoma City, USA
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  17. Oct 26, 2008
    bkd

    bkd Moderator Supreme Staff Member 2022 Sponsor

    K-Town Tenn.
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  18. Oct 26, 2008
    uplandhawaii

    uplandhawaii BentFrame 4X4

    Big Island HAWAII
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    That is neat,thanks guys!:beer: Now that doesn't look bad at all. My daughter like the little red wagon conversion too!
    I'm trying to search for a better side profile shot. The proportion looks front heavy but it looks good.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  19. Oct 6, 2009
    uplandhawaii

    uplandhawaii BentFrame 4X4

    Big Island HAWAII
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    Some progress on the 6. Dana 44's from a 78 wagoneer, 35" AT's on chevy 15x8 rally rims. Discovered lots of rust, no rear body mounts were left intact.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Rust on the back half, seems granpa wasn't a body manR), sheet metal epoxied over the bad rust spots, wooden blocks in place of rotted body mounts and floor supports.:( The entire rear floor is sheetmetal that was epoxied over the rusted area.
    [​IMG]
    I wasn't able to remove the tub by myself nor did I have space to do a frame off, this was my only option.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Should I complete the body work and put it back together or go the brute route? I like the looks of the original body but it'll take a lot of work to get it back to stock.
    [​IMG]
    Just seeing if I could close it off brute style.

    I also have a newer 76-86 windshield frame and hinge set I plan to use, do I use the cowl seal from the 76-86 windshield or do i use the 73 cowl seal?
     
  20. Oct 6, 2009
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Reading this thread the first thing I thought was a thousand lashes for cutting up a '6 ! But, since I've seen the amount of rust, I can appreciate what you're doing. Keep us posted and post up plenty of pics in the builds section!
     
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