Framed XJ

Figured I would start a new thread for this,I'll put a link from the other thread.

First lets get the pic's over with.
http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/crossmember_2.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/rear_springs.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/front_tube_2.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/Picture_015.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/Picture.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/Picture_005.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/tracbar_steering.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/underframe_1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/underframe_2.jpg

Ok heres the specs,
AMC 360 on propane
AW4 auto with BrettM shifter
Dana 300 flipped and twinsticked or cable shifted(still figuring that one out)
Ford dana HP 44 front 5.38 gears with lockrite
Jeep J10 dana 44 5.38 gears welded
Ford front raduis arms lenghtned to 40" with 2x3x.025 ret. tube with RE bearings at the ends
Rear is a triangulated 3 link with RE bearings and poly bushings
The frame is 2x3x.018 ret. tube

When I first started this project....3 years ago,it was just goin to get a lift and some tires.Well I got a lil carried away.

I started by cutting out the enitre unitized construction.I also cut off the roof and moved the C piller up to create a sort of extra cab.After I had it all cut up I supported it with jack stands on the pinch seam.

I started the frame by mesuring the rise I would need between the bottom of the floor and the top of the frame in front.I built the frame the same width as a fullsize wagon.The frame was built on a stainless table I have that is nice and flat.When I welded it togather I did one side/let it cool/then did the other.It warped a little but not too bad.I also "fish plated" all the seams with .025 plate.When I welded the plate I did it in short sections and let it cool.If I was to do it again I would build a jigtable to weld the frame to to keep it straight.

The body is attached in 4 main spots in the floor and 6 spots on the pinch seam.I'm also thinking about attaching to the drip rail area with the exocage.I used 4x6x.025 plate to attach the body to the frame.Understand the body is just a shell to protect from the elements,it is no longer structural.

It's still a work in progress,but I'll keep adding to this as it progresses.

OlyWa

you are going to hang your front axle on this?


that x/member with the cut out to drop the tranny?

why not make the x-member one straight shot that connects to the frame with bolts and makes it a pain to remove the tranny (have to disconect the radius arms)?

it seems to me that one piece of box with bolts at 2 ends is stronger than 3 pieces of box with bolts at two ends in the middle...

other than that and your lack of a drag link - that is a bitchin project...

someday ill get around to stop crying over my lost front axle swap pictures and write it up...

If you look a lil closer the crossmember is attached to the frame and the drop out is for the trans only.Look in this picture http://home.comcast.net/~woookie/underframe_1.jpg you'll see the 9/16th bolt going through the 2x2x.250 the bolt hole is sleaved with .250 DOM thats attached to the frame.

On the inside there is a tab thats .250.I seriously doubt that arm or crossmember is going anywhere.

OlyWa

Also as stated it's a work in progress,so as for the draglink(tierod is a scabbed together temp) I'm ordering my reamer this week and just have to get the DOM and tube inserts.I'm doing the inverted "T" with the one ton chevy TRE's.

OlyWa

OlyWaXJ said:

Also as stated it's a work in progress,

Click to expand...

i know

i was just telling you my thoughts...
hell my UCA's and LCA's are in the factory locations - what do i know?

Cool looking Rig!
what plans for tires/lockers/gears?

is that more what you were looking for?

XJ_ranger said:

i know


Cool looking Rig!
what plans for tires/lockers/gears?

is that more what you were looking for?

Click to expand...

Lockers and gears are stated in the post.Tires are 36" TSL's.

As to what I'm looking for...I could really care less.I build rig's for friends,family and myself.A couple guys wanted some spec's and pictures of my rig,love it or hate it make's no diffrence to me.

OlyWa

looks awesome!

are those stock XJ coils in the rear? you mounted them kinda far inward, let us know how it works out, I'm still debating coil placement for when I link mine.

Yes stock XJ's form a 90 sport( my DD that I lifted).I also have a pair from a 86 2.8 and the 90's are a little thicker.They are pretty far inboard,I may have to run a heavier rate coil trimmed for lift.

It'll be awhile before I can test them.I have most of the big stuff done and it's the lil stuff that kills you.

OlyWa

nice work oly...i like it. i still have some work left to get my shop together, but should be cutting the uniframe out early september and begin working on fabbing a frame. i like what you have done and may borrow some ideas...thanks for posting this up!!

Greenriver just remember that the floor becomes like tinfoil once you cut the uniframe out.Also the best thing I found to cut the uniframe out was DeWalt 4 1/2" metal cutting disks.I have plasma and a flaming hack saw but with all the undercoating it smokes alot and it's a pain to remove.

OlyWa

thanks for the heads up....my idea is to remove the entire floor (frame rail attached) from the firewall seam back somewhere near the rise of the cargo floor (i will save the tunnel to reuse....i figure it will be easier to replace flat panels than shape a new tunnel). the entire front frame/inner fenders will be removed and the rails under the cargo area will get cut out.

the idea is to have a flat belly and make the floor fit what i build.

i am rigging a hoist system in the shop to support the body above my new frame, allowing me to lower and measure for mocking everything up. i will have pics up of that as soon as i get that rigged.

i'm sure i will be asking more questions as i make progress. keep us posted oly, looks great!

With all this fabrication, why exactly are you keeping any part of the cherokee that remains? You have the engine and tranny, but why keep the rest? Would it be simpler to build a custom tube frame how you'd like it instead of working around a sheet metal body which is technically "limited" compared to a tube chassis?

There is a couple diffrent reasons for the XJ body.First off is I like the looks of the XJ,I just made the body look like I think it should.I could have used a CJ7,5 or a flatfender but I'm 6'3" and have a hard time gettin in and out of them.Also it's what I started with.

First and foremost would be the boss(my wife) said to.See I live in Washington St. and it rains here....it rains alot here.There is no way she would run trails in the winter in a tube buggy.

OlyWa

Good point of a view. Looks really good man, and good luck with the rest of it.