109 Chassis compatibility

[The_Anachronist]

OK, this is a really easy/obvious one to answer unless you can't, which I can't.

I am about to buy a new Richards 109 chassis for my '63 5-door Station Wagon. The supplier is not able to unequivocally confirm whether the chassis is for a standard truck or a Station Wagon; in fact he is pretty sure there is no difference.

I think there is an important difference (specifically, body mounting tabs for 2nd row seats and body), but I can't verify because I don't have a regular 109 truck chassis to compare with.

Anyone with reliable and specific info (maybe even pics) able to confirm?

Thanks...

[RamblerRob]

My understanding is that the station wagon specific mounting points are a bolt on assembly.. But I'm not 100% sure

[The_Anachronist]

Hmm. I've not seen that, but I sure as hell haven't seen everything.

[ANDYD]

This is from the manual, listed as a Station Wagon chassis if that helps ....

[RamblerRob]

Well that picture certainly looks like I'm wrong.. I know I have seen something different for the outrigger with the two tabs on either side. It was a straight bar that spanned over the chassis and bolted into place with of course those tabs on either side. The selling feature was that it could be swapped out with only lifting the tub but not removing it... All thus from memory of course... Maybe it was a defender part...

[cbalme]

The 3 door chassis has tub support brackets that are welded on. I have to retrofit my chassis back from a station wagon frame to a 3 door.

Rambler Rob that does sounds like a Defender part

[The_Anachronist]

That diagram makes it pretty clear - and it lines up exactly with my own frame. So if the prospective new frame does not have the extra tabs on the outriggers, and has an extra welded "tower" for the tub, it's a truck frame not a wagon...

Thanks guys.

[TimberPig]

I'm a bit slow in joining this, but as you have already determined, the front tub mounts is where the differences lie.
The 3 door/pickup has the pedestal type tub mounts welded on top of the frame rails.
The station wagon has the tabs and a raised crossbar for the front tub mounts.
This is from looking at one of each that I have here.