Chopping the rear Quarters

Matt99XJ · Feb 25, 2004

I am wanting to chop the bottom of my quarters off. I want to cut from the red line down. Are there any supports under there or can I just cut it? I just want to know what i am getting myself into before I do it.

ChuckD · Feb 25, 2004

I can't see your pictures but check my sig for my webpage. I have a number of pictures. I recomend cutting 1" below the last line. HTH

1" below this line.

Fore Wheeler · Feb 25, 2004

I dissagree with Chuck, what I did was to cut about 2" from the bottom then fold both the inner and outter panel inward (together and over lap them) then I used some self tappers to screw the two together, much stronger than just cutting, you could also weld the two together.

ChuckD · Feb 25, 2004

Fore Wheeler said:
I dissagree with Chuck, what I did was to cut about 2" from the bottom then fold both the inner and outter panel inward (together and over lap them) then I used some self tappers to screw the two together, much stronger than just cutting, you could also weld the two together.

I guess you didn't check out my pictures.

I agree with you FW, if you don't want to add any metal like I did. But I know I can Highlift off mine.

On a side note, I noticed after a while I got two wrinkles. One on each side under the rear window. I believe they are from the unibody flexing and the rear QTR chop.

Kejtar · Feb 25, 2004

ChuckD said:
On a side note, I noticed after a while I got two wrinkles. One on each side under the rear window. I believe they are from the unibody flexing and the rear QTR chop.

did you hit your quarter panels before you chopped them? Cause I have a wrinkle on one side from nailing the quarter panel on a rock.

Christopher · Feb 25, 2004

There are no supports just the gas fill pipe to concern yourself with. On mine i just cut vertically down all four corners, folded it like a box top and welded each flap to the body and each other one at a time as I went.

Shanbo44 · Feb 25, 2004

Just did mine two weeks ago.... Last 6 or so pics

http://community.webshots.com/album/118904863qguXXK

I cut at the line and no supports were damaged and I reinforced it with 14 guage diamond plate steel. All is good with mine now.

Shannon

Haven't uploaded pics of the bottom yet but I boxed the bottom with the diamond plate too.

Fore Wheeler · Feb 25, 2004

ChuckD said:
On a side note, I noticed after a while I got two wrinkles. One on each side under the rear window. I believe they are from the unibody flexing and the rear QTR chop.

I guess I did misunderstand, I thought you left the panel flappin in the wind.

Maybe your wrinkles came from hi-liftin' off your quarter. :dunno:

ChuckD · Feb 25, 2004

Just above the 4x4 decal.

I have them exactly in the same spot on both sides, I have only highlifted on onside. I guess I just get my XJ flexed up more.

Matt99XJ · Feb 25, 2004

Interesting. I am not wanting to cut as high as everyone else has. I want to cut it at the first crease on the bottom. I was thinking about just folding it in but I don't think that it would be enough for it to touch in the middle. Do you think I will need to weld a piece of sheetmetal to the bottom of it when I am done?

ChuckD · Feb 25, 2004

Kejtar said:
did you hit your quarter panels before you chopped them? Cause I have a wrinkle on one side from nailing the quarter panel on a rock.

Nope, my XJ was beautifully straight before I started hacking on it.

Shanbo44 · Feb 25, 2004

Matt99XJ said:
Interesting. I am not wanting to cut as high as everyone else has. I want to cut it at the first crease on the bottom. I was thinking about just folding it in but I don't think that it would be enough for it to touch in the middle. Do you think I will need to weld a piece of sheetmetal to the bottom of it when I am done?

You will need to do something with the Passenger side for sure because you will be opening a huge hole in the back of the heep. If you took out your inside rear quarter panel inside you will be able to see what I mean.

ChuckD · Feb 25, 2004

Matt99XJ said:
Interesting. I am not wanting to cut as high as everyone else has. I want to cut it at the first crease on the bottom. I was thinking about just folding it in but I don't think that it would be enough for it to touch in the middle. Do you think I will need to weld a piece of sheetmetal to the bottom of it when I am done?

I think it would be a good idea to seal it up. I remember hearing a lot of air before I welded mine up. Also it would be good to keep out the water and what not.

Shanbo44 · Feb 25, 2004

ChuckD said:
I think it would be a good idea to seal it up. I remember hearing a lot of air before I welded mine up. Also it would be good to keep out the water and what not.

OH YEAH... I drove without it sealed up for a week and with swampers, it was like driving with the road noise being played by a THX home theater surround sound system.

CheapXJ · Feb 26, 2004

its not that bad

Shanbo44 · Feb 26, 2004

CheapXJ said:
its not that bad

LMAO :looney:

Pat · Feb 26, 2004

Matt99XJ said:
Interesting. I am not wanting to cut as high as everyone else has. I want to cut it at the first crease on the bottom. I was thinking about just folding it in but I don't think that it would be enough for it to touch in the middle. Do you think I will need to weld a piece of sheetmetal to the bottom of it when I am done?

I did like fore wheeler is describing, making my cut a couple inches from the very bottom (which is what I think you're talking about with the "first crease"). I then cut slits up the back and up the piece facing the tire, cutting up to the big cut line in chuck's first pic. This makes 4 flaps, just fold them in to make your box, and weld them up or use some screws (mine are welded). I didnt have to add any sheetmetal to mine. Turned out really well.

Pat

Matt99XJ · Feb 26, 2004

Pat said:
I did like fore wheeler is describing, making my cut a couple inches from the very bottom (which is what I think you're talking about with the "first crease"). I then cut slits up the back and up the piece facing the tire, cutting up to the big cut line in chuck's first pic. This makes 4 flaps, just fold them in to make your box, and weld them up or use some screws (mine are welded). I didnt have to add any sheetmetal to mine. Turned out really well.

Pat

Got any pics? You can e-mail them to me at [email protected]

Pat · Feb 26, 2004

Matt99XJ said:
Got any pics? You can e-mail them to me at [email protected]

Sorry I don't, I didn't take any during the process. I guess I don't really have any of the finished product either. Not much help there, huh.

Pat

Matt99XJ · Feb 26, 2004

Thats alright. I am going to start cutting on it this weekend. Hopefully it will work out. I will post pics once I am done.

Chopping the rear Quarters

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