Cutting the top of my XJ

[Sig Ep Mock]

Post updates Chris!

Going to hit it hard Saturday....I'll make sure to get some pics up.

 

[Sig Ep Mock]

OK here the update.....man 1 1/2 days and it doesn't look like much.. Almost done with the detail work so I can start bending up the cage. Going to bring in a buddy to TIG everything to the body sheetmetal....I just don't trust myself to weld to the thin stuff yet...

Got the rear tube steel brace/bumper mount bolted in and welded in.

1/8 plates welded to the top to land the cage on and fill the gap to the body.

To cap off the rear cargo area sides and to provide a place to land the c-pillar hoop, I bent up some 3/16" plate and cut it to fit.

You can also the radiused bar (on the floor) I got for the front hoop tie-in into the top of the windshield/roof. Had to get it rolled so it would match the existing roof line.

I'll have my buddy TIG it to the body and top of the wheel well. It should provide a bunch of strength by boxing in the side fender areas. The gap is because it's sitting loose during the pics. I took awhile but I cut and ground until it dropped down just inside the body line.

It will also get welded to the rear tail light area to completely box in the sides. I've got two small gaps to fill in once they are welded in.

Once the tub get's sprayed I'll build a couple of cover panels to cover the gaps below the plates and the floor. I can't decide if I want to put the sub back in or add an onboard air compressor or something in the hole on the passenger side.

THe cage hoops will come down the back of the body were the tail lights used to be. I'll notch these plates so the tubes can tie into them and then run down the back and land on top of the rear tube steel. It should hopefully be very strong and tie everything together while still leaving lots of cargo area.

That's it for now. Hopefully we can get it welded up this week and maybe..just maybe actually start bending tube for the cage

Chris

 

[1xfloppy]

any updates on this id like to see how its turning out

 

[Sig Ep Mock]

Well after a long break finally got started on the welding of the plates to the body.....

Amazing what somebody with some welding talent can do I would have butchered these and he makes it look like the two pieces were always one....

I'll get more pics tomorrow and hopefully get a chance to make some more progress this weekend.

Chris

 

[Papercut]

Looking clean.

 

[Sig Ep Mock]

A few more pics...sorry camera phone crappy pics....

Well 16 hours of welding and the plates are about 90 percent complete, just need to finish the fronts by the rear doors. Also got the cover plates welded on to cover the holes where the tail lights used to be. Headed in Sunday morning to try and actually start bending up the a-pillar hoop. I'll get up more pics. Hopefully I can get the cage complete by Turkey day

Chris

 

[Paul Airhart]

Pretty Freaking Cool Dude.

 

[Sig Ep Mock]

Got a couple hours in on the jeep today......

Modified the rear bumper and bolted it back on.

Actually started the cage today ...woohoo

Rolled roof bar

OK that's it for now....going to try and get some more done after work this week....time to bend the main hoops :guitar:

Chris

 

[toyotawrench]

are you XXXXin kidding me? First time I saw this rig, I was like omg, thats what i want to aspire to. And when I firrst started reading a few minits ago. I was like wtf omg why would you do that, but actually its bad ass. LOL this brings a slight tear to my eye... But it also makes me want to weld and fab too. Looks good bro.

peace
ted

 

[Sig Ep Mock]

are you XXXXin kidding me? First time I saw this rig, I was like omg, thats what i want to aspire to. And when I firrst started reading a few minits ago. I was like wtf omg why would you do that, but actually its bad ass. LOL this brings a slight tear to my eye... But it also makes me want to weld and fab too. Looks good bro.

peace
ted

I've been getting that a lot lately but hopefully when it's all done everyone will appreciate it...I know it will better suit the needs of my family so that's what really matters but I am dead set on making this thing look good when its all done.

After looking at all the pics it really doesn't look like much so far...lots of little time consuming work that really doesn't translate like much in the pics. I have the boys lined up for a late Friday night attacking the main cage so hopefully the progress will pick up and I'll actually have something to show.

Thanks,


Chris

 

[tcm glx]

I've been getting that a lot lately but hopefully when it's all done everyone will appreciate it...I know it will better suit the needs of my family so that's what really matters but I am dead set on making this thing look good when its all done.

After looking at all the pics it really doesn't look like much so far...lots of little time consuming work that really doesn't translate like much in the pics. I have the boys lined up for a late Friday night attacking the main cage so hopefully the progress will pick up and I'll actually have something to show.

Thanks,


Chris

:clap::clap::clap:

 

[Jays siik xj]

F*ck! That's Awesome!!!

 

[Wildman89]

F*ck! That's Awesome!!!

wrong forum JAY. go back to BSC. this is a family forum LOL

 

[Jays siik xj]

wrong forum JAY. go back to BSC. this is a family forum LOL

Oh Sh*t! Hahaa!

Hey Rich... maybe you should do that to your rig... I mean now that the rear windows broken. :clap:

 

[toyotawrench]

be cool to help out on this thing, what a cool project to be able to say you were apart of. Not to mention the fabbing skills that would be picked up along the way.

peace
ted

 

[Sig Ep Mock]

Had a big night Friday...5 PM to 2 am but we made some big progress.....Huge thanks to my buddies Kev and J. Amazing what you can get done with some skilled help.

Here's a teaser pic for now

Most of the cage is tacked for now. Pulled the A pillar and dash bar back today so we can weld it and paint it before putting in place permanently, then we'll weld the rest of the cage together. Next is seat mounts and then seatbelt hoops and the shock mounts.

Anyone have a hook-up on PRP slider mounts? Called PRP twice last week and no answer, left messages but I guess they are so busy they can'y call me back

I'll get more pics up later.

Chris

 

[4xSanta]

Cage is lookin great,keep up the good work......SANTA

 

[Sig Ep Mock]

Re: Cutting the top of my XJ -almost complete

OK so my wife is about to divorce me but I finally made some good progress. Cage is almost complete. Everything is mocked up and in place ready for welding. Rear seat mounted and so is the passenger seat.....not sure about the driver seat....it just doesn't fit. Trying to decide if I get a narrower seat or cut the trans/transfer case tunnel to make it fit:dunce:

OK here's the pics

B-Pillars

Dash bar and a-pillars

 

[IslanderOffRoad]

lookin good!

 

[Sig Ep Mock]

More pics

With seats in

Rear cage with shock mounts.....I'm not 100% happy with this yet...maybe adding som dimple died plating will finish it off....