Frame Rail Reinforcement

[TNT]

That looks really good. :cheers:

Are you planning on running air bumps in the front?

I just finished stripping my XJ and am in the process of stripping the MJ. I have also started to get the other cab ready to cut. I can't wait to get started welding and building the MJ.

I still need to find a good drivers side 2dr XJ door.

I'm doing more of a prerunner type build. Here is one of my inspiration pictures

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

I have no idea on front bump stops. Richard told me to use coil overs with shaft bumps. Additional bumps would be a good idea though I'm sure. Air bumps are the latest cool thing out there, but quite possibly out of my budget. That's a cool rig you've got pictured there. Jeff

 

[TNT]

I have no idea on front bump stops. Richard told me to use coil overs with shaft bumps. Additional bumps would be a good idea though I'm sure. Air bumps are the latest cool thing out there, but quite possibly out of my budget. That's a cool rig you've got pictured there. Jeff

Here's the link to that rig

http://www.deionline.com/sean/racetruck.asp

 

[TNT]

Something like this would be sweet.

 

[vetteboy]

I have no idea on front bump stops. Richard told me to use coil overs with shaft bumps. Additional bumps would be a good idea though I'm sure. Air bumps are the latest cool thing out there, but quite possibly out of my budget. That's a cool rig you've got pictured there. Jeff

I'm planning on doing something similar to this on mine:

Basically cutting out the stock bump tower and replacing it with some DOM and air bumps. You can get 'em for around $150 each.

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

Here's the link to that rig

http://www.deionline.com/sean/racetruck.asp

WOW, that is quite a project! There's more stuff going on in that rig than I can process! It's also taking him forever to get it done. Very interesting. I am intriqued to see that he only plated portions of the frame. Speaking of that, why did he even keep the frame? Is it to keep the rig legal in some racing organization? Jeff

 

[TNT]

WOW, that is quite a project! There's more stuff going on in that rig than I can process! It's also taking him forever to get it done. Very interesting. I am intriqued to see that he only plated portions of the frame. Speaking of that, why did he even keep the frame? Is it to keep the rig legal in some racing organization? Jeff

I'm not sure about why he kept the frame. I'm going to try and contact him to see if he has any updated info. It is quite the build and is a ton to process.

I have spent hours searching all sorts of different rigs from desert race trucks to buggys, projects like yours, a bunch of builds on the darkside and the KOH rigs. I'm still tearing down the MJ and need to have a finished overall plan soon.

I've been looking into building or buying a bender and a notcher. I would rent one because this will probably be the only time I use, it unless I start doing side work. I just don't know anybody around me with a bender. So I think I will be building one.

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

More frame plating progress. I cut a strip of 3/16" plate to cover the whole bottom of the frame rail.

I then heated, beat, pushed, and tacked till it was tight to the frame rail. Then I trimmed along the edges with a plasma cutter to get a nice tight fit.

I'll grind this, weld it, and grind it again.

For the top, I made some plates of 10 ga that have little nips that extend through holes in what's left of the inner fender well to tie the inner plate to the outer plate.

Here's the drivers side top completed:

Here's the passengers side in progress:

Drivers side outside from down low. The extended portion of plate will have the steering box partially on top of it.

Finally, the drivers side inner partially cleaned up with the flap wheel.

I would think this frame should be MUCH stronger than stock now! Jeff

 

[Mr.OverKill]

i salute you!! i, the king of overkill, am humbled in your presence. i have thought of going that way with my plating but i was going to use 10 gauge for the whole thing, this is a killer thread and job.

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

Yeah, I'm still working on this. I'm getting close though.

Below is the passengers side frame bottom piece ready for installation:

Below is the drivers side fully perimeter and plug welded:

Jeff

 

[XJ_ranger]

at what point do you question the weight rating of your jack stands? :gag:

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

at what point do you question the weight rating of your jack stands? :gag:

I used 4x6x1/4 box tube cut in half on my last XJ's frame rails and I would suspect the 10ga side plating and 3/16 bottom plating weighs not much more on this MJ. Now the amount of welding wire is probably significant! Seriously, I think the weight to strength gain ratio is plenty acceptable. Jeff

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

Ok, I "finished".

Now I've just got to see if I can install that 5.3 without cutting into all this work! Jeff

 

[David Taylor]

Got flash ?

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

Got flash ?

Hey, the camera is supposed to think for itself! It didn't flash, so I thought it didn't need to flash. They're a little dark, but you can make them out fine. Jeff

 

[Root Moose]

Most better point and shoots have a button to press to force the flash when shooting a dark subject against a light/bright background. Just FYI.

 

[David Taylor]

They're a little dark, but you can make them out fine. Jeff

No, really I can't.

 

[corbinafly]

No, really I can't.

x2.

 

[IslanderXJ]

Do you have a drawing for your frame plates? I would REALLY like to have the bottom ones!

Great work by they way!

 

[Root Moose]

Adjust your gamma - I can see them fine. Dark but viewable for detail.

Or if you really care bring them into a paint program and play with the curves.