Burnt_Toast
NAXJA Forum User
Hey guys, been lurking for awhile and figured it's time I joined the fun. I've got an 00' Cherokee with a mild case of ass cancer which for being up here in Maine all it's life it's not terrible but it's time to fix it up.
This is my winter rig and it was suppose to be done like yesterday so I'm rushing to get all this done.
Two weeks ago I decided to remove my factory tow hitch since it's seen better days.
When doing so I realized the frame was soft by the fuel neck and the rust spots I had been ignoring where the bump stops used to be had turned into holes.
First thing I did was remove the rear bumper. These will be getting a cut n fold well minus the fold part since there's nothing left to fold lol
Gas tank straps were getting iffy
Ended up dropping the gas tank since I realized this would be a pretty big job at this point.
Guess the cargo floor is being replaced too lol.
Removed the rear crossmember.
Started making a custom one.
I had never done any real fabrication till this. Hence all the mistakes lol. The new crossmember is 11 gauge. Factory was 16 gauge (I think).
Painted up with SPI epoxy primer
Reinstalled.
Then I got the finest Harbor Freight metal brake my budget could afford and modded it up.
Bent up some new frame pieces with 16 gauge steel. This is my first time using a metal brake. The small angled piece was a total pain. The frame changes size there and I spent two hours working out how to recreate it.
Roughed together passenger side frame. This will go from the rear crossmember all the way to where the front bracket for the rear leafs are.
Cut out the old one. This part sucked. The more I cut, the lower my confidence went that I'd be able to save this thing.
Test fit of the new frame rail
Those little pieces going across the rails are just temporary to prevent warping when I was welding.
Not too bad! I'm sticking with stock specs so I can add on frame stiffeners when I'm done.
Next up is finalize the passenger frame rail then paint / install it. After that I'll cut out the driver side one and repeat the process. Then it's time for a custom shock crossmmeber since mine is rotted.
I'm shooting to have this done in two weeks...
This is my winter rig and it was suppose to be done like yesterday so I'm rushing to get all this done.
Two weeks ago I decided to remove my factory tow hitch since it's seen better days.
When doing so I realized the frame was soft by the fuel neck and the rust spots I had been ignoring where the bump stops used to be had turned into holes.
First thing I did was remove the rear bumper. These will be getting a cut n fold well minus the fold part since there's nothing left to fold lol
Gas tank straps were getting iffy
Ended up dropping the gas tank since I realized this would be a pretty big job at this point.
Guess the cargo floor is being replaced too lol.
Removed the rear crossmember.
Started making a custom one.
I had never done any real fabrication till this. Hence all the mistakes lol. The new crossmember is 11 gauge. Factory was 16 gauge (I think).
Painted up with SPI epoxy primer
Reinstalled.
Then I got the finest Harbor Freight metal brake my budget could afford and modded it up.
Bent up some new frame pieces with 16 gauge steel. This is my first time using a metal brake. The small angled piece was a total pain. The frame changes size there and I spent two hours working out how to recreate it.
Roughed together passenger side frame. This will go from the rear crossmember all the way to where the front bracket for the rear leafs are.
Cut out the old one. This part sucked. The more I cut, the lower my confidence went that I'd be able to save this thing.
Test fit of the new frame rail
Those little pieces going across the rails are just temporary to prevent warping when I was welding.
Not too bad! I'm sticking with stock specs so I can add on frame stiffeners when I'm done.
Next up is finalize the passenger frame rail then paint / install it. After that I'll cut out the driver side one and repeat the process. Then it's time for a custom shock crossmmeber since mine is rotted.
I'm shooting to have this done in two weeks...
