XJ on a frame?

[Greenriver]

i'm new here, so i wanted to do an intro along with my question...xj on a frame?

i have an 86 2 door cherokee stripped. was thinking of reinforcing the frame rails, adding a cage and heavy duty bumpers, but i want to do something different. so....has anyone seen, heard of or completed this mod?

my thought process...

eliminate the front clip; cut inner fenders and frame rails cleanly from the firewall forward.

eliminate the front passenger area floors, leaving the cargo floor and rear wheel wells intact...this would eliminate the frame rails under this area as well.

last, eliminate the frame rails under the cargo area.

my reasoning...

four link coils rear
14ff
three link coils front
d60
350 propane
700r4
atlas II
h1's
42's

all this attached to a frame tucked neatly flush with the frame rails, building a custom floor and cage to cover it all. hang the fender skins and pin the hood to a caged engine bay, tying it all into the rest of the cage.

why a cherokee? simple, 4 adults and gear. my last rig was a k5 blazer, topless, bobbed, boatsided, exo'd, doubler, the works...sold it, finished school, so now i'm back in it...feels good, too.

the humble beginning...

http://community.webshots.com/user/mtpockets35

my target completion date...easter jeep safari 2006.

[BrettM]

the only way I would do that (and it do think it's a great idea) is to cut off the XJ "frame rails" so it's just a flat floorboard and build a box steel frame from there.

[Muddy89XJ]

that would be awesome. ive seen an xj body on top of a frame (unibody welded to frame) didnt look safe of "stylish" for that matter either. but if you completely cut out the floorboard and rebuilt it to accept a frame that would be sweet....overkill....very expensive.....but sweet

[BrettM]

that would be awesome. ive seen an xj body on top of a frame (unibody welded to frame) didnt look safe of "stylish" for that matter either. but if you completely cut out the floorboard and rebuilt it to accept a frame that would be sweet....overkill....very expensive.....but sweet
wouldn't be that expensive, just cost of box steel, and LOTS of time. (the other parts would get expensive, is that what you were talking about?)

[Matt S.]

C-RoK did somthing very similarto what what you are talking about. He cut the front half of the XJ off and built a box frame for it. 3link wishbone rear, 3 link panhard in the front. v8 the whole works.

Search some of his posts and run through his pictures.

[Roxtar]

Basically, you're building a tube buggy and setting an XJ body on it.
Hmmmmm.


I like it.

[Goatman]

the only way I would do that (and it do think it's a great idea) is to cut off the XJ "frame rails" so it's just a flat floorboard and build a box steel frame from there.

Why bother, just extra work. It's fairly easy to run a section of boxed tubing right next to the current frame rails. I have a friend who framed his XJ, then ran leaves in the front. He did it in a pretty simple way.......ran 2x4 boxed tubing next to the frame from front to back. He hung the spring hangers from the new tubing and also welded his bumpers right to that tubing. It worked pretty well, except for the front leaves. Later he said he wouldn't bother doing it that way again, since his next two rigs were linked front and rear.

[JeepFreak21]

Why bother, just extra work. It's fairly easy to run a section of boxed tubing right next to the current frame rails. I have a friend who framed his XJ, then ran leaves in the front. He did it in a pretty simple way.......ran 2x4 boxed tubing next to the frame from front to back. He hung the spring hangers from the new tubing and also welded his bumpers right to that tubing. It worked pretty well, except for the front leaves. Later he said he wouldn't bother doing it that way again, since his next two rigs were linked front and rear.

Seems like it'd get kind of complicated near the front w/ the motor mounts and all.
Billy

[MaXJohnson]

why not cut the bottom half of the the existing rails off, then set the new box tubing between the remaining rail side sections. Leave enough to bolt through the rails every couple of feet.

[Greenriver]

i saw c-roks rig in an online mag and loved it, except for the added height it created...essentially dropping the frame lower. having a frame follow the uniframe is another good idea for added strength. my idea is to raise the floor boards to allow the drivetrain to be flush with the new frame rails...which would be higher than the current frame rail elevation.

i could try to fab up a custom frame with 2x4 box, but i would rather grab a yj frame and work with that...guys are hanging rockwells off these frames and throwing big blocks in them....i'm sure it would work for my application easy enough (reinforced of course).

i do appreciate the comments...all of them. i am learning on this one, i am stretching my current capacity...we'll see what happens.




ps. i am currently looking for a yj frame...anyone?

[C-ROK]

This sounds like basically what I did.
I built my own frame using 2.5"x.188" wall square from the lower firewall back and 2"x4"x.188" rectangular from the lower firewall forward.
I ran the 2.5" directly under the uni-body frame channel.
Through the engine compartment (lower firewall forward), I actually cut out the uni-body frame section. That's why I used heavier material through that section.
I cut the uni-body frame rails out of the engine bay to free up more space.

To mount the body to the frame, I have a totaL of 12 body mounts. On the uni-body side of the body mount, I had a C formed out of flat stock with the flat back welded to the unibody. On the frame section, I used a holesaw to cut out a 1.75" dia hole through both side walls of the tubing. I then welded back into the holes a short stub of 1.75"x.120" wall round tubing. In these tube stubs I used poly spring bushings as the body mount. The C on the unibody slots over the bushings.

By doing the body mounts like this, I was able to get a very strong connection but still run the frame within 1/2" or less of the bottom of the uni-body.

[David Taylor]

Greg, have you put yours on the scale since the new cage ?
Just wanted to know how much something like this ends up at.

[C-ROK]

Greg, have you put yours on the scale since the new cage ?
Just wanted to know how much something like this ends up at.
Not since I chopped the top.
I weighed it full of gas (29 gal) and with my approx 200lb cargo/tool box.
It weighed in at right about 5200lb then.

Dry empty is probably something just shy of 5000lb.

My guess is it is about 80-100lb lighter now w/o the roof. Cage work from then and now is probably a wash.

When my frame was complete, I could still deadlift it by myself, but it was difficult. Guess weight on the frame is 300-400ish.
I gained a small amount by cutting the uni-frame out of the engine bay but still netted nearly the full frame weight.

I don't think the weight difference is that dramatic compared to someone who would have sleeved or plated the uni-rails front to rear.

A whole bunch of my 5200lbs also just comes from the tires and axles.

[90txXJ]

i would think a frame useless since an xj doesnt have flex pionts in the body(that why back around the hatch cracks out). i would think that if you made body as rigid as you could that would be better. a big x with some cross members would be a lot better like a [X] in the middle that would be good for the front and might need some thing on the back with the leafs. maybe a gas tank skidtied in the the rear cross member. bottom line xjs wernet made for frame or they would have come with one.

[C-ROK]

bottom line xjs wernet made for frame or they would have come with one.

Thanks for all your insight here :eyeroll:

Yes Cherokees did not come with frames. Nor did they come with Dana 60s, 39" tires, full cages, 300HP engines, locked axles and whatever other host of items and modifications we might make to our vehicles.
Ya know...... like the kinds of things you might discuss on a message board dedicated to "Advanced Fabrication" for Cherokees.

Yes, essentially everything we will be discussing here is going to involve things that factory did not intend for the Cherokee to have.

But thanks for the advice, despite 4 years of wheelin' it hard across the US, I now know that my vehicle doesn't work.

[FarmerMatt]

I now know that my vehicle doesn't work.+

Finally, after years of the rest of us telling you, you've seen the light. :) :)

Matt

[C-ROK]

+

Finally, after years of the rest of us telling you, you've seen the light. :) :)

Matt
Why couldn't you have saved me sooner?
Was I not listening or something?

Damn stubborn......

Boy I wish I would have found the internet sooner before I went and did all these stupid things that will never work.

[OlyWaXJ]

Heres some shots of mine.

http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/Nov16006.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/Picture.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/Picture_015.jpg

You cant see the frame that well,I'll try and get some shots from under the rig this weekend.

OlyWa

[Roxtar]

Why couldn't you have saved me sooner?
Was I not listening or something?

Damn stubborn......

Boy I wish I would have found the internet sooner before I went and did all these stupid things that will never work.Greg, we had a meeting and it was decided that we would be quiet to spare your feelings.
It's all about the love here.

[BrettM]

Heres some shots of mine.

http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/Nov16006.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/Picture.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/Picture_015.jpg

You cant see the frame that well,I'll try and get some shots from under the rig this weekend.

OlyWa
that's awesome, be sure to post more pics when you can!

[Matt S.]

Why couldn't you have saved me sooner?
Was I not listening or something?

Damn stubborn......

Boy I wish I would have found the internet sooner before I went and did all these stupid things that will never work.


Canadians have "special" minds. Very fragile! It was done for your health.

[90txXJ]

im not sayin that they dont work but puting a frame on a cherokee wouldnt make sense. that would be like puting a frame on a frame theres no point. then you have two stiff parts mounted together. all that gets is stress. tieing all the stress points together would be more practicle than just slapping a frame on. plus what is mostly being discussed isnt have ing an actual frame cuz then you would need body mounts. all ive seen talked of is strenghtening the UNIBODY, even with all that stuff welded on its still a UNIBODY. for being the advanced fab board you all dont sound that advanced.

[CRASH]

im not sayin that they dont work but puting a frame on a cherokee wouldnt make sense. that would be like puting a frame on a frame theres no point. then you have two stiff parts mounted together. all that gets is stress. tieing all the stress points together would be more practicle than just slapping a frame on. plus what is mostly being discussed isnt have ing an actual frame cuz then you would need body mounts. all ive seen talked of is strenghtening the UNIBODY, even with all that stuff welded on its still a UNIBODY. for being the advanced fab board you all dont sound that advanced.

Uh, please re-read Greg's post on the matter.

Comment noted on advanced fab skills. We'll look to you for advice in the future.

CRASH

[MaXJohnson]

Uh, please re-read Greg's post on the matter.

Comment noted on advanced fab skills. We'll look to y'all for advice in the future.

CRASH
fixed it fur ya

[woody]

Y'all are practicley genii, I swear it's so.

[C-ROK]

im not sayin that they dont work but puting a frame on a cherokee wouldnt make sense. that would be like puting a frame on a frame theres no point. then you have two stiff parts mounted together. all that gets is stress. tieing all the stress points together would be more practicle than just slapping a frame on. plus what is mostly being discussed isnt have ing an actual frame cuz then you would need body mounts. all ive seen talked of is strenghtening the UNIBODY, even with all that stuff welded on its still a UNIBODY. for being the advanced fab board you all dont sound that advanced.

I think I got it this time: It's not that it wouldn't work, it's that it makes no sense, you could do it better and we don't know anything.

Welcome to the board 90txXJ. You sound like you're going to be a tremendous resource for us.

[Lincoln]

I think I got it this time: It's not that it wouldn't work, it's that it makes no sense, you could do it better and we don't know anything.

Welcome to the board 90txXJ. You sound like you're going to be a tremendous resource for us.

Two burns in one post. I like Croky. :D

[OlyWaXJ]

"all ive seen talked of is strenghtening the UNIBODY, even with all that stuff welded on its still a UNIBODY. for being the advanced fab board you all dont sound that advanced."

Errr did you even look at my links?If you had you would see that I removed the UNITIZED FRAME and built a 2x3 BOXED FRAME.
Look in the upper right of the 2nd link...see the bolts? what do you suppose that is? Mabey a BODY MOUNT?
If your not going to add anything useful go crawl back under your rock or whatever.
OlyWa

[Blix]

i would think a frame useless since an xj doesnt have flex pionts in the body(that why back around the hatch cracks out). i would think that if you made body as rigid as you could that would be better. a big x with some cross members would be a lot better like a [X] in the middle that would be good for the front and might need some thing on the back with the leafs. maybe a gas tank skidtied in the the rear cross member. bottom line xjs wernet made for frame or they would have come with one.


Frame intended or not....it doesn't matter. It's the point of strengthening the vehicle, correct? So the arguement, as C-Rok so eloquently stated it, is that this XJ needs to support a heckovalot more stress than what it is designed for. So what would be the best way to do that? Making a frame and then welding it up to the unibody is basically the same as stiffening and strengthening the unibody itself, just a difference in intensity and process really. Unless you are suspending the rest of the vehicle on top of a seperate frame, then it's still a unibody. The fact of the matter is -and I'm sure I'll get some flaq for this- UNIBODY IS WAY STRONGER PER WEIGHT THAN BODY-ON-FRAME! I know, no one really wants to beleive this, but it is a fact. The reason the manufacturers still use this is half stubbornness, half modularity for assembly and configuration flexibilty.
So if you would prefer building a bullet-proof frame such as C-Rok and then weld it up nice and tight to the rail sections, then great, it might be easier to model that way, and it'll be VERY strong.
I would go for the roll-cage direction myself though. If you completely tie in the roll-cage (and initially design accordingly) with all of your suspension points, then maybe run some more tube down your pinch seams for some rock rails, you are going to get the best bang for your weight. Run some along the rail sections as well, these need help.And a very crucial part......tie in (weld) the cage to every pillar, every seem, every rail as possible. Run the main hoop right up tight to the B-pillar. Run the front runners right up against the A pillar. Run the rock rails close to the pinch seam, and through in some angle Iron in there. Then take some angle Iron and weld it as a V runner along all of your pillars, this will help make it an internal/external cage. hmmmm.....did I miss anything?

[Roxtar]

Damn Greg, you just don't know anything, do you?

[xjcrawlr]

When I build my cage, I will be doing so with an SCCA Rally rulebook in hand. I will do this because;

A) rally cars take more abuse than any other type of race car that still uses a factory body shell..

B) XJ's are similar to rally cars as both have uni-body designs.

C) most XJ cage designs are modeled after cages designed for body-on-frame vehicles which have nothing in common with XJ's

Now keep in mind, these are simply MY observations and opinions that will be used on MY Cherokee. In the end its your junk, do what you want with it, cage it, sub-frame it, full-frame it, hell put a set of half-tracks on it....(That would acually be kinda cool).

[C-ROK]

Sarcasm and snappy responses aside here:

My point to 90txXJ is simple; he has essentially walked into a room where he knows nobody and made the assumption that he probably knows more than any of us in the room. Could be true, but judging from the vacancy of knowledge in his responses, I'm comfortable betting that's not the case.
The majority of the people in this "room" either design and/or fabricate for a living or have spent more time in their spare time designing and fabricating than people who 'design and fabricate for a living'.

Simple point..... this is a room full of experienced people.

No suggestion that we can't be wrong, I often am for one, but criticism that comes across as bluntly as "makes no sense", and 'that's the wrong way to do it', isn't going to be received well. Particularily when the critic appears to have very little first hand knowledge of either the "makes no sense" way or his alternate, divinely guided, solutions.

Bottom line, in this environment, the arguement of "I think what you have done and proven effective over years of use on the trail is no where near as good as what I've dreamed up but never actually applied, constructed or tested"; will always struggle to win support.

[Lawn Cher']

I usually check user profile... any so-called expert born in the 80's is questionable in my book unless proven otherwise.

[brokexj]

You're right, 78 is such a difference!

[Dirk Pitt]

You're right, 78 is such a difference!

Not always, but an engineering degree and a few years of experience in mechanical design sometimes compensate.

:gag:

[Lawn Cher']

Not always, but an engineering degree and a few years of experience in mechanical design sometimes compensate.

:gag:

You sir, are a gentleman & a scholar.

[brokexj]

My hero!

[Roxtar]

im not sayin that they dont work but puting a frame on a cherokee wouldnt make sense. that would be like puting a frame on a frame theres no point. then you have two stiff parts mounted together. all that gets is stress. tieing all the stress points together would be more practicle than just slapping a frame on. plus what is mostly being discussed isnt have ing an actual frame cuz then you would need body mounts. all ive seen talked of is strenghtening the UNIBODY, even with all that stuff welded on its still a UNIBODY. for being the advanced fab board you all dont sound that advanced.Thank you, 90txxj, for illuminating so perfectly why Advance Fab should be member only. :gee:

[BIGWOODY]

Thank you, 90txxj, for illuminating so perfectly why Advance Fab should be member only. :gee:

If you cut it down to people who had a clue as to what they were talking about and not a bunch of crap they read on the net somewhere, you'd have maybe a dozen people or so in here.
As for sitting one on a frame, we did this a few years back. We cut the unibody rails out of it and "sunk" it down on a blazer frame. We ran a 400/T400/203/205 doubler/60/14bolt with 42's. It was great for a few months, then from the frame flexing over time, it started to "fold up". It was deemed a piece of shit and parted out. We used rubber body mounts and attached it in 10 or 12 places. To sum it up, it sucked and was quite a waste of time. It's way easier to just plate what's there or build your own chassis and put XJ sheet metal on it.

[Lawn Cher']

it started to "fold up"

Like a taco, perchance?

[Roxtar]

If you cut it down to people who had a clue as to what they were talking about and not a bunch of crap they read on the net somewhere, you'd have maybe a dozen people or so in here.Works for me.

It's like I've said before.
When you're clueless, go ahead and think it.
If you must, say it. (you can always deny saying it)
But if you write it, your stupidity becomes public record.

[XJoachim]

Thank you, 90txxj, for illuminating so perfectly why Advance Fab should be member only. :gee:
x2

[90txXJ]

big woody said what i meant. if it wasnt for my add my posts might make more sense. by the way i am a welder and when your a welder you go for more bang for the buck.

[Lawn Cher']

big woody said what i meant. if it wasnt for my add my posts might make more sense. by the way i am a welder and when your a welder you go for more bang for the buck.

Your add? Are you a welder or an accountant? Or did you mean A.D.D.?

http://www.grose.us/pics/malfunction.jpg

[Ludakris]

You're right, 78 is such a difference!


What? Lawn cher was born in 78? Christ, that explains ALOT! Young Punk!


oh, 90txXJ.. if you dont like the Unibody and frame idea, you should look under a Land Rover sometime, those Brits have been doing it wrong all over the world.. you should point it out to them.

[Lawn Cher']

What? Lawn cher was born in 78? Christ, that explains ALOT! Young Punk!

What can I say, I'm mature for my age, LOL. :jester:

[Ludakris]

What can I say, I'm mature for my age, LOL. :jester:

I guess that's one way you could look at it...


oh, and does this count for Lawn Cher taking another thread off-topic?

[Lawn Cher']

oh, and does this count for Lawn Cher taking another thread off-topic?

Someone else steered it off course before I added my two cents. I'm not claiming this hijack.

[87xjco]

Excuse my newbieness. I had somewhat the same idea but only built a sub-frame. But it can be extended to a full frame and who knows, maybe someday.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=112

This whole thread is very entertaining. Glad I joined the board. I'll try and not let my ignorance show too much. Whoops. too late. Don't mess with C-Rok!

[gearwhine]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/Subframe/leftpainted.jpg

wow, talk about lost ground clearance 87xjco

[tealcherokee]

as far as an XJ on a frame goes, i think its a sweet idea, i like all the subframe work for the suspension mounts, but, unfortunatly i seem to be having the biggest issue w/ the steering areas of the uniframe :( ive got 1/4" plates that extend back to the track bar mount (and the same pos on the pass side) but its still creaking like mad.....

[87xjco]

wow, talk about lost ground clearance 87xjco

True, I did loose clearance. Wish I would have saw the post about putting frame inside of unibody rails, it wouldn't have been that much more work. Although I think the long arm mounts would have to be almost that low regardless.

[David Taylor]

True, I did loose clearance. Although I think the long arm mounts would have to be almost that low regardless.

No they don't

http://pic.funtigo.com/img/i79538774_7985.jpg

[87xjco]

No they don't



That's a nice set-up. Wish I would have found this forum before.

[MaXJohnson]

When I build my cage, I will be doing so with an SCCA Rally rulebook in hand. I will do this because;

A) rally cars take more abuse than any other type of race car that still uses a factory body shell..

B) XJ's are similar to rally cars as both have uni-body designs.

C) most XJ cage designs are modeled after cages designed for body-on-frame vehicles which have nothing in common with XJ's

Now keep in mind, these are simply MY observations and opinions that will be used on MY Cherokee. In the end its your junk, do what you want with it, cage it, sub-frame it, full-frame it, hell put a set of half-tracks on it....(That would acually be kinda cool).
When I build my cage, I will be doing so with a Demolition Derby rulebook in hand. I will do this because:

A) Demolition Derby cars take more abuse than any other type of "race car"(sic) that still uses a steering wheel.

B) XJ's are similar to Demolition Derby cars as both look like beat-up junkers.

C) most XJ cage designs are modeled after chicken coops which have nothing in common with XJ's.

and

D) Demolition Derby rules don't require pool noodles.

[Lincoln]

C) most XJ cage designs are modeled after chicken coops which have nothing in common with XJ's.


Stop being a smart ass when I've had a rough day. I don't want to smile.


Crap, to late. :D

[creeperjeep]

Anyways,
I did see an XJ on a frame On RT1 in Hamptonisharea New Hampshire.
Didnt get a good look at it but it looked goofy
f150 frame mabey?

[Greenriver]

i started this mess, but in all the rants and tangents (typ) are some excellent responses. i like what olywa is doing...that is EXACTLY what i am looking for.

i would like to build a frame like you have done. i haven't tackled that kind of fab, yet. can you give some specs on that frame....tube size, splice sizes, dimensions of your frame. also, any difficulties you may have run into along the way and how you set up body attachment points...maybe you have a sketch, plan, or cad file.....any information would be greatly appreciated.

and of course more pics!

[OlyWaXJ]

I'll get up some more info and pic's later in the week.
OlyWa

[bluebeast]

Im planning the same thing so let me know how it goes. Im going to cut the factory frame rails off completely and start from scratch. Only worry is how to support the body whithout damage with no frame. Floorboard isnt real strong.

[OlyWaXJ]

I started another thread of my rig here http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?p=536228#post536228

OlyWa

[sgtcherokee]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/sgtcherokee/choppedXJ.jpg

I put my 2 dr XJ on a frame about 4 years ago , I wish I had of done a little more fab work prior to the build . I only have about 4ft of XJ frame left and that was because of the curvature of the 1/2 ton K5 frame . I removed everything from fire wall out and from under the back seat reward. I used 1/4" plate and welded and bolted the body to the frame I also added a 6 point cage that is tied to the frame. I'm running the stock 350 with 44/ff14 axles locked front and rear. earlier this year i chopped the top due to a roll and moved the radiator to the rear . I have wheeled the wizzz out of this rig and had no failures in the body to frame fabrication. I due wish I would have removed the rest of the XJ frame and sat the body directly on the K5 frame , I would have had to clearance the XJ floor in the rear. the pic above was taken this spring during the roof chop and radiator move. as you can see in the pic I added two more down bars to the cage to keep the radiator safe.

[NXJ]

How do you guys think 2x3,6", 0.12,5" wall, welded square tubing. Would work as a custom frame ? Im thinking of ditching the old flimsy "frame-rails" totally, and weld on the new frame to the floor. This is not for a XJ though, but its *somewhat* the same concept..

[gearwhine]

2x3,6", 0.12,5" wall, welded square tubing.

I'm totally confused by your description here...

-.120 wall?

-5 inch wall? damn

-2"x3" box tubing?

-6" length? huh?

you mean 2x3 box with .120 wall?

[NXJ]

I'm totally confused by your description here...

you mean 2x3,6 box with .120 wall?

Exactly !

[ECU88XJ]

Is this some sort of metric thing that we don't understand??? :dunno: what are the dimensions (inches or millimeters) of this "2x3,6" .120 wall tubing?

[NXJ]

Is this some sort of metric thing that we don't understand??? :dunno: what are the dimensions (inches or millimeters) of this "2x3,6" .120 wall tubing?

Everything is translated into inches - it cant be that hard :wierd:

[ECU88XJ]

Everything is translated into inches - it cant be that hard
i've never seen a steel spec formatted like that,what does the '6' signify???

[gearwhine]

haha, yeah i'm still confused....my only explanation now would be you're going to use a combination of 2x3 AND 2x6, which would indeed make sense. Hopefully I got the riddle. :)

OH, and still..what does that last 5" signify?

OH again...2nd edit...I see you're from norway...so I guess you're pardoned :laugh3:

[NXJ]

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/9384/box8hn.png

Figure. :gag:

[et89xj]

3 feet 6 inches???


...andy

[XJ_ranger]

3.5" ?

maybe he isnt used to the english fraction using measurements....

[Dirk Pitt]

Some foreign countries (maybe his) use a "," in place of a "."

Perhaps he means 2 x 3.6 tubing. Of course this would be very hard to find.

[NXJ]

Some foreign countries (maybe his) use a "," in place of a "."

Perhaps he means 2 x 3.6 tubing. Of course this would be very hard to find.

Bingo !

[et89xj]

That makes sense. 90, 91, or 92mm?...andy

[XJMK]

just something I noticed in the humvee rims pic. Those have the magnesium run flats, and magnesium burns. The Army stopped using them b/c they'd catch fire and you can't put it out unless you have a metal x extinguisher. But then again, that only happens when you run with a flat tire on the street for a while. Just something I thought I'd put out there.

[purl]

Thanks for all your insight here :eyeroll:

Yes Cherokees did not come with frames. Nor did they come with Dana 60s, 39" tires, full cages, 300HP engines, locked axles and whatever other host of items and modifications we might make to our vehicles.
Ya know...... like the kinds of things you might discuss on a message board dedicated to "Advanced Fabrication" for Cherokees.

Yes, essentially everything we will be discussing here is going to involve things that factory did not intend for the Cherokee to have.

But thanks for the advice, despite 4 years of wheelin' it hard across the US, I now know that my vehicle doesn't work.


LMAO...well said. I've only got about a decade of wheelin' in my XJ and have always wondered what the "hype" was abouta frame...lol