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+--- Thread: best methods to converting a 123 to 4x4 (/showthread.php?tid=5706)
best methods to converting a 123 to 4x4 - JB3 - 07-03-2014
curious if anyone on the board has done one of those frame jobs where they drop a 123 body onto a 4x4 frame.
if you were committed to building a beach cruiser out of a mercedes sedan, how would you go about doing it?
RE: best methods to converting a 123 to 4x4 - CRD4x4 - 07-03-2014
Idk firsthand but I'd imagine a S-10/Blazer/Hombre/Jimmy/Sonoma frame is about the right size and readily available.
I've dreamt of doing this to my 300TDturbo!
I'm excited to see you progress!!
RE: best methods to converting a 123 to 4x4 - JB3 - 07-03-2014
this is the wifes agenda.
she wants to get a fiat for a dd to replace her 123, but she doesnt want to get rid of her 85 wagon. we also rented a wrangler the other day and went out on a beach. first she wanted to sell the wagon and find a 4x4 with a removable top as a summer play car for her, but then she came across those pics on the web of 123s dropped on 4x4 frames and now she wants to cut the roof off the wagon, put in on 4x4 frame, and make a beach wagon out of it.
will be forever before we get to it, but was curious if any of those guys were on this forum, some of the swaps are pretty nice!
i agree, a s10 sonoma type chassis looks almost perfect, lots of cheap rusty body ones around here. little high for my taste, but i am coming around. wish i could link a pic, but i cant on my phone, later on though
RE: best methods to converting a 123 to 4x4 - mbz123 - 07-03-2014
(07-03-2014, 09:40 AM)JB3 this is the wifes agenda.
O boy, I got some real high expectations for this one. But my stitches...
I got to here:
(07-03-2014, 09:40 AM)JB3 will be forever before we get to it...
...and just could not keep body centered on chair any longer. Wow, muh sides=sore(4x)weeks!
Thanks for that
MBZ123
RE: best methods to converting a 123 to 4x4 - JB3 - 07-03-2014
(07-03-2014, 03:53 PM)mbz123(07-03-2014, 09:40 AM)JB3 this is the wifes agenda.
O boy, I got some real high expectations for this one. But my stitches...
I got to here:
(07-03-2014, 09:40 AM)JB3 will be forever before we get to it...
...and just could not keep body centered on chair any longer. Wow, muh sides=sore(4x)weeks!
Thanks for that
MBZ123
lol
nothing like idle chitchat. some of you SOBs have built some crazy shit. i was waiting for for the guy to chime in-
"yes, the other week ,my buddy and i dropped a 240 onto a jeep frame, installed a 500 cubic inch plant, and welded the diffs."
though it would be a fun fab project, ill tell you reality. we will buy a new car, 300td will be used by me until something major breaks. project will be reassessed at that time.
however, if you were going to do it, the whole frame method seems relatively straightforward
RE: best methods to converting a 123 to 4x4 - swampmonkey - 07-06-2014
why not get a w124 4matic chassi and mate that to a w123?
keep the om603turbo 4matic, upgrade the driveline, gearbox+4matic parts 
would be pretty badass!
RE: best methods to converting a 123 to 4x4 - EmJay - 07-06-2014
Benzamino on a S10 or H3 frame, a pair of Dana 30s or 44s.
RE: best methods to converting a 123 to 4x4 - Simpler=Better - 07-07-2014
Benzaminoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Or slap it onto a truck frame and bolt the hell out of it. Truck frames are easy especially with your lift.
Really though, you need to come to the dark side and put a 61X into a CJ-whatever. A SBC(87+) flywheel can be made to fit, a 3/8 plate used....starter TBD, mated to any muncie. It's my next project so keep that route in mind.
*Tractor leaks are like hydra-fix one leak and two more appear.
RE: best methods to converting a 123 to 4x4 - MFSuper90 - 07-07-2014
Find a 4x4 with roughly the same wheel base as a w123 and slap the body on it. It as long as the wheels sit inside the fender wells it wouldn't be too outrageous.
RE: best methods to converting a 123 to 4x4 - CRD4x4 - 07-07-2014
You should keep your eye out for a divorced transfer case so you can use just about an 2WD transmission in your build. It'd probably require fabricating a crossmember for the transfer case to bolt to and custom driveshafts. They come in 2 flavors: drivers side drop & passenger side drop. Choose according to the offset on the front diff you use or vise versa.
RE: best methods to converting a 123 to 4x4 - JB3 - 07-10-2014
some pics for our interest of bodies on frames-
This looks like a chevy frame, at least those wheels look chevy to me. Maybe an S10 or Blazer (small type) im betting
This one looks more like ford rims to me. Ranger?
and this last one is a volvo, but it looks like a toyota frame was used for this one. Wheels look toyota to me
RE: best methods to converting a 123 to 4x4 - Simpler=Better - 07-11-2014
If you want front articulation, the older ranger and f150 torsion bar setups can flex a lot with the proper setup. You lose strength, and have to use manual hubs(the vac locks never worked form the factory)
If you want solid axle look elsewhere