Hey dude, I will tell you right now. Don't cut them!!!!!
here is the deal, that cross member runs right along the line of the front of your rear leaf springs. it is tied into the uni/frame
it does two things for you.
1 it connects the unibody sub frame (the frame rails that are viewable from the outside to the rockerpanel body frame. the jeep as two frames one for the body and one for the drivetrain and although they are not separate-able they do have key connection points. the cross member is one of them. (notice how it is made from the thicker metal that the frame is made from and not the thin flooring material.
2 it connects to one side of your spring mount in the fron of your rear leaf springs there is a torx head bolt that holds the spring mount square.
it also helps keep the transmission tunnel and floor in the right shape. there is a long section of that area with no suppor in the center that would be easily bent with the weight of the feet of the rear passengers.
ok well that being said. your best bet is to mod the bucket seat to mount on top of them.
BTW I keep posting this link of my jeep but if you waant to see what i am talking about if you go here
http://www.wetpaintfilms.com/heep2jeep/ and scrol down to about mid way down you will see the connection to the spring on one of those pictures.
other people may say differnt but i know one thing. I have had hands on with my jeep and i would never cut it out.
holy crap this thing is long i will stop now... :wow: Hasta