My Heep

[Maxcfm]

So looking over the 94 I found these cracks around the driver and pass side door vents kinda hard to see here but look at the bottom of the vent they are almost the same on both sides and are on top and bottom of the vent any ideas on what it might be from or if I need to be worried about it?
http://naxja.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=179&pictureid=993

[YJ-GENRAL]

pics?:doh:

[shortxjdoug]

i would be concerned.... cracks/ and excessive body flex can be attributed to a wreck thats been patched up by poor bodywork

[Maxcfm]

pics?:doh:
I put one up, guess only members can see it... sigh
try this http://www.maxcfm.com/zenphoto/94-xj/100_0014.jpg.php

[Maxcfm]

i would be concerned.... cracks/ and excessive body flex can be attributed to a wreck thats been patched up by poor bodywork

What about someone jumping it? Duke boys style! Any other places that tend to show signs of being abused that I can look at?

Thanks for the help

[shortxjdoug]

What about someone jumping it? Duke boys style! Any other places that tend to show signs of being abused that I can look at?

Thanks for the help

jumping an unbraced xj is a poor idea, your first signs of trauma will be right where they showed up, also in the seams where welded body panels meet

[Maxcfm]

jumping an unbraced xj is a poor idea, your first signs of trauma will be right where they showed up, also in the seams where welded body panels meet

Alright I've started gutting the inside was hoping to be able to get it inside the garage before I started that but I really need to know if this thing is worth saving before I start really getting into it just to find its busted from a frame/uni-body point of view :tears: When it was being driven everyday it never seemed to track odd down the road or pull (unless you where stopping :P ) and the few times I took it out on the trail it was all low key driving on forest roads seemed to do fine no oddball popping or clunking (well the front end was giving me static figured it needs u joints)

This thing was part of a fleet of XJ's used as survey vehicles and it would seem like most fleet vehicles it was abused cuz "its not my car" which is why my 1st thought was someone jumping it.

If I find no other damage inside around body seems other than the door jam area what would be my next course of action? Take paint off in that area to better expose the cracks and then drill them at the bottom and have someone weld them up and/or plate them?

[Team Willys]

About the only thing you could do there is to grind the cracks slightly and weld them up and then grind them down smooth. I would personally flex the jeep up hard on an RTI ramp or something. Then get out and check the body lines at the doors, see if they open and shut as normal with it flexed, and look at the cracks. If everything seems ok, I would just fix them and continue with the build.

[Maxcfm]

About the only thing you could do there is to grind the cracks slightly and weld them up and then grind them down smooth. I would personally flex the jeep up hard on an RTI ramp or something. Then get out and check the body lines at the doors, see if they open and shut as normal with it flexed, and look at the cracks. If everything seems ok, I would just fix them and continue with the build.

Well i don't think my door lines will help there see below, not to mention getting out once flexed is not happing as well :laugh3:
http://www.maxcfm.com/zenphoto/94-xj/100_0016.jpg.php

The doors are the 1st thing on my list to fix! I like your idea and will do it once the doors are back on and lined up. For now I'm hoping that after i pull the interior out and go over all the seams there if i see no more signs of it being fubar i will start work on the doors. Then give it some flex and check the lines and cracks.

On welding them up should I grind them so there a V? or just enough to clean them up? also thoughts on drilling the end of them?

Thanks for all the help SEC

[ChuckstrPT]

I think it depends on what you are wanting from the Heep. If it's going to be an occassional trail truck, I'd put some chassis stiffeners on it, build away and have fun. On the other hand, when I was looking for an XJ last year, there seemed to be a rather good selection of clean stock XJ's around GA and TN. Of course you may have to pay a little, but if you want a clean, street drive, unabused XJ, you can still find them. Everything is relative. If you got a good deal on what you've got, and it meets your needs, build away. Now, if you are gonna put some ponnies in it, gear it, and run 37's on it....well, maybe just add a roll cage and build away!:wave:

[Team Willys]

I think I would grind a small "v" in it, but remember it is only sheet metal, so it isn't very thick. You can't go deep with a v b/c you will end up going all the way through. Since it is only sheet metal, I really doubt drilling holes at the end is needed, but at the same time, it wouldn't hurt.

[Ghost]

Is that a 2 door? Mine is just like that. I talked to a friend about it and he said the best way to fix it was ot drill a small hole at the end of the crack and weld from the hole to the end. then leave it alone. He said since the metal was so thin that he would leave it and not rind it.

[Maxcfm]

Is that a 2 door? Mine is just like that. I talked to a friend about it and he said the best way to fix it was ot drill a small hole at the end of the crack and weld from the hole to the end. then leave it alone. He said since the metal was so thin that he would leave it and not rind it.

Yes it's a two door, wonder if it is a two door thing? Did you ever fix it on your jeep?

[Ghost]

Yes it's a two door, wonder if it is a two door thing? Did you ever fix it on your jeep?

Yes it is and no I did not. I was waiting on him or my nephiew to do the welding. :) I cannot weld thin sheet for shiat.

[stumpXJ]

Bring it over one day Latney... We should be able to fix it up. I wouldnt worry about it all, once you drill it, and weld a little it should be good to go.