Adapting XJ stiffeners to MJs?

Root Moose · Apr 28, 2011

I know the MJ unirail structure is stronger than the XJ's but I can't leave well enough alone. Between towing a race car and having a slide in camper in the back I figure I better hedge my bets.

Anyone have some insight into what it is required to adapt XJ stiffeners to an MJ?

Is it matter of a cut here, bend there or do they just not work at all?

cracker · Apr 28, 2011

Root Moose said:
I know the MJ unirail structure is stronger than the XJ's but I can't leave well enough alone. Between towing a race car and having a slide in camper in the back I figure I better hedge my bets.

Anyone have some insight into what it is required to adapt XJ stiffeners to an MJ?

Is it matter of a cut here, bend there or do they just not work at all?

Stiffeners that go into the front wheel wells are the same but the frame rails are different and are a different shape.

I used 5" x 5" square box of which I drilled a million holes into and then split it into two 'L' shaped pieces of steel. I then spent the next two days fitting them and my suspension, hybrid cage and sliders all are attached to them.

I will look for some pics...

ktm racer 419 · Apr 28, 2011

behind the firewall is different.

check colin's (moparmaniac) build thread in advance tech. he made some for his

Root Moose · Apr 28, 2011

Cracker, I'd like to see those images if it is not too much bother.

ktm racer 419 said:
check colin's (moparmaniac) build thread in advance tech. he made some for his

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showpost.php?p=245123488&postcount=180

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showpost.php?p=245123488&postcount=190

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showpost.php?p=245131657&postcount=199

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showpost.php?p=245139965&postcount=207

cracker · Apr 28, 2011

I will see what I can do when I get home.

cracker · Apr 29, 2011

Ok....

Cut and drilled a pice of steel

Cleaned up a frame rail

Spent a lot of time fitting it

And put a LCA on

Root Moose · Apr 29, 2011

ktm racer 419 said:
behind the firewall is different.

Do you know if the normal H.D.Eng plates for the front frame horns still work?

cracker said:
I will see what I can do when I get home.

Thanks for the pictures. Very helpful.

You didn't bother taking the stiffeners much farther than the front leaf mount?

RCman · Apr 29, 2011

Root Moose said:
Do you know if the normal H.D.Eng plates for the front frame horns still work?

These?
Yes, they will. That is exactly the same.

Root Moose · Apr 29, 2011

Yep, thanks.

cracker · Apr 29, 2011

Root Moose said:
You didn't bother taking the stiffeners much farther than the front leaf mount?

No and in retrospect I probably wouldn't do it either.

My setup was designed based on a full caged MJ. I cannot show you easily but I have tube running inside each of the rear wheel wells and up top. My chassis is very stiff beacuse of the plating/cage combo.

This is one of the only pictures I have handy but you can see the cage work (and a knuckle that broke....).

Root Moose · Apr 29, 2011

Yeah, I'm wondering if it is needed at - that's why I asked. The rear part of the frame under the box is pretty decent. That said, there are guys with high miles chassis and slide ins that have done it so I'm on the fence.

cracker · Apr 29, 2011

Root Moose said:
Yeah, I'm wondering if it is needed at - that's why I asked. The rear part of the frame under the box is pretty decent. That said, there are guys with high miles chassis and slide ins that have done it so I'm on the fence.

Yes, the frame is stiff back there. From what I have experienced, the issue is the flex as the frame transitions into the unibody.

Actually, I didn't realize it but if you take a look at that pic, you can see tubework in the rear wheel well.

bigalpha · May 4, 2011

Whoa, the perspective in that pic makes it look like your front axle ripped off.

cracker · May 4, 2011

bigalpha said:
Whoa, the perspective in that pic makes it look like your front axle ripped off.

It does look like that.

tbburg · May 6, 2011

cracker said:
It does look like that.

I think in reality, the knuckle/tire assy came off. Axle is still in the right place, correct?

cracker · May 6, 2011

tbburg said:
I think in reality, the knuckle/tire assy came off. Axle is still in the right place, correct?

Yes. The knuckle broke along with shafts from both sides and one of those unbreakable 300m u-joints.

All the details are here:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=956353

Jeff 98XJ WI · May 6, 2011

Here's an old thread with a link to one of my photo albums showing Captain Ron's MJ frame plate "kit." I have no idea whatever became of Ron. Jeff

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=912811&highlight=Jeff+98xj+frame+plating

Jeff 98XJ WI · May 6, 2011

Here is a link to a photbucket page detailing the stripping of my MJ frame.

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z94/fourliter/Initial MJ frame strip/#!cpZZ1QQtppZZ16

Here's another one showing all the plating work I did to it.

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z94/fourliter/MJ Frame plating/#!cpZZ1QQtppZZ16

Jeff

tbburg · May 8, 2011

Jeff 98XJ WI said:
Here is a link to a photbucket page detailing the stripping of my MJ frame,..

..,Here's another one showing all the plating work I did,..

Is this still a work in progress or is it finished?

Also curious what you did behind the cab. 'Got a build thread anywhere?

Jeff 98XJ WI · May 8, 2011

Regrettably this project is NOT finished. However, it's not scrapped either! I've got a million excuses why it's not finished, but whatever, it's not. I'm still pecking away on things a little at a time. The main build thread is in Advanced Fab listed as GM 5.3/4L60/Klune/Stak 300 or something like that. http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=945920

I've not done ANYTHING behind the cab yet.

As far as I've gotten in the rear is to build a rear crossmember and place it so that the driveshaft will clear it at full droop. Jeff

Adapting XJ stiffeners to MJs?

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