blistovmhz
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Vancouver, BC
Hey guys. So I've owned a lot of XJ's, and I know they got heavier several times, mainly for NVH and safety ratings, but I can't find a definitive list of curb weights for stock XJ's throughout the years.
I need to know fairly accurately, what years got heavier, and WHY. I know in 94+ they started adding side impact beams to the doors, then got a steel hatch, and then some beefier unibody structure, but I want to be sure I know I'm looking for the right year for my application.
Backstory: My current rig is about as built as you can build an XJ, minus axles. I plated the shit out of the uni, braced everything 8 different directions, dropped in a 5.3L, blah blah blah. It's now 5000lbs and while I'm not a weight weenie, all that extra weight in the lower end of the uni, causes the upper to want to separate from itself. At the end of the day, the Jeep does everything I want it to except survive long term, or survive a flop. I figure at this point, 80% of my work into it is in plating/bracing, and when I do inevitably flop, i'll be writing off 80% of the work/money put into it.
For that reason, I started a new build. Started with a first gen Runner SFA frame, built some BJ60 axles (Land Cruiser 60 series, front flipped for driver drop, rear hybridized with mini outer tubes for center pumpkin), stuck in another 5.3L v8, etc. The build is now driveable, but as much as I dig the lines of the first gen runner body, 1. it only comes in a 2 door (and I need 4), 2. It's near impossible to find a clean first gen body, 3. The runner body requires as much, if not more work than an XJ shell, to clear 40's, and 4. the XJ is just the perfect size/shape for what I do.
So the plan may be making a minor detour, and I'm seriously considering chopping the uni-rails off an XJ and dumping it on top of the runner frame. Measured it all up, and it'll almost drop right on.
BUT, I figure if I'm going to do this, I want to keep the top light, and avoid all the Chrysler junk (ie: the Dodge Neon interior introduced in 98, the steel hatch, etc).
I'm trying to decide between a pre 94, or 94-97 shell. Pre-94 I lose a lot of rigidity in the doors, but I'm not sure if that'll matter when it's on top of a frame. Roof rigidity doesn't matter at all, as I'll be chopping it off, tubing it in, and running a soft top.
The whole thing will be exo caged.
So, who knows the actual weight of a pre 94, and a 94-97?
I need to know fairly accurately, what years got heavier, and WHY. I know in 94+ they started adding side impact beams to the doors, then got a steel hatch, and then some beefier unibody structure, but I want to be sure I know I'm looking for the right year for my application.
Backstory: My current rig is about as built as you can build an XJ, minus axles. I plated the shit out of the uni, braced everything 8 different directions, dropped in a 5.3L, blah blah blah. It's now 5000lbs and while I'm not a weight weenie, all that extra weight in the lower end of the uni, causes the upper to want to separate from itself. At the end of the day, the Jeep does everything I want it to except survive long term, or survive a flop. I figure at this point, 80% of my work into it is in plating/bracing, and when I do inevitably flop, i'll be writing off 80% of the work/money put into it.
For that reason, I started a new build. Started with a first gen Runner SFA frame, built some BJ60 axles (Land Cruiser 60 series, front flipped for driver drop, rear hybridized with mini outer tubes for center pumpkin), stuck in another 5.3L v8, etc. The build is now driveable, but as much as I dig the lines of the first gen runner body, 1. it only comes in a 2 door (and I need 4), 2. It's near impossible to find a clean first gen body, 3. The runner body requires as much, if not more work than an XJ shell, to clear 40's, and 4. the XJ is just the perfect size/shape for what I do.
So the plan may be making a minor detour, and I'm seriously considering chopping the uni-rails off an XJ and dumping it on top of the runner frame. Measured it all up, and it'll almost drop right on.
BUT, I figure if I'm going to do this, I want to keep the top light, and avoid all the Chrysler junk (ie: the Dodge Neon interior introduced in 98, the steel hatch, etc).
I'm trying to decide between a pre 94, or 94-97 shell. Pre-94 I lose a lot of rigidity in the doors, but I'm not sure if that'll matter when it's on top of a frame. Roof rigidity doesn't matter at all, as I'll be chopping it off, tubing it in, and running a soft top.
The whole thing will be exo caged.
So, who knows the actual weight of a pre 94, and a 94-97?