Project Downward Spiral

[Boostwerks.com]

I was looking at the same thing with my 44 swap, but have ditched the Rubicon stuff and opted for this... That way I can move it forward away from the pumpkin..


http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/Panhard-Tracbar-Frame-mount_p_1441.html

I'm using that same bracket pushed forward. I don't have a D60 or anything, but I have about an 1.5" of front stretch requiring the new bracket. With your fab skills RC, I would totally sell that thing and build your own.

 

[asp]

hijack
holy huge red drag link batman!
/hijack

 

[Boostwerks.com]

lol It's all about the 1.5" 3/8 wall. 1/4" is for XXXXXXs.

 

[RCman]

Well work tried to continue with the rockers the past few days, but darn there was just to much going on.
Anyway, I got them fitted and marked out. I'm pitching them down and away from the Jeep 2-3 degrees to hopefully stop water from collecting on the sill.

Got the ends marked out so that they will clear the tires and started capping them off. I did have the driver's all mocked up and in place, but forgot to snap a picture before I took it down. Sorry, I'll get one when I finish them both.
Tacked:

After a few minutes with the welder and a flap wheel:

Oh, and all the cage tubing arrived! party1:

My father and I spent the morning cleaning up all the mess from the last few weeks and building a rack to keep all my steel organized. I didn't snap a picture, but it works well.

 

[Clean Racing]

Looking good... I hope you don't mind but I am going to copy your front shock mount idea.. It just makes sense..

 

[RCman]

Looking good... I hope you don't mind but I am going to copy your front shock mount idea.. It just makes sense..

If it works, go ahead!

 

[RCman]

The rockers are finished minus the supports that will run to the unibody rail and welding them in. I won't be doing any of that until the cage is all set as the cage will be tieing into those supports.
Front of the rocker end point. I wanted to bring this a little further forward so that I had a good place to drop the A-pillar tube onto but the tire would interfer. I'll just have to put a slight bend in the tube and kick it inward and through the sheetmetal a little bit so I can hit the top of the rocker. It'll be much more clear once I've done it.

How the rear ends (yes, I still need to trim the flares back a little bit).

So then I began to work on figuring out the B-pillar hoop and fast realized that I needed to have the seats in place in order to determine the exactly location of everything. That's all fine and dandy with stock seats, but darn it my Beards just don't want to be a simple drop in.

The passenger side works out just fine and I'll be able to simply create a new seat subframe and mount everything to it. The driver's side has the trans tunnel in the way and I'll have to do something creative in order to get the seat mounts and the sliders in place.

Overall shot sitting in place where it should just about end up (maybe 3/4" lower).

You can see here how I'm going to have to "cohearse" the trans tunnel out of the way to make room for the seat mounting tab to drop down into place. Also because of this the slider won't work at all in that location I'm going to need to make a new bracket that the slider mounts to and reposition the mounting for it a couple more inches toward the center, not a big deal just a little extra work. (Don't mind the duct tape, that was to help stop the seat from moving around when I was trying to measure)

Clears the center console with just enough room.

Tomorrow night I'll start working on the seat mounts.

 

[5spd_xj]

resorting to duct tape...jeezuz, Bill...



looks good!! awesome, actually. Keep it up

 

[ROBZ95Xj]

rock rails look awsome!

 

[RCman]

resorting to duct tape...jeezuz, Bill...

As a placement guide and quick repairs only.
It isn't part of the permanent structure. (Yet)

rock rails look awsome!

Thanks Rob! I'm happy with the way they turned out. I'll be even happier once there is a cage tied into them.

 

[5spd_xj]

It isn't part of the permanent structure.

close call...I thought I might have been rubbing off on ya or something... :looser:

 

[asp]

bill, thanks for figuring out how i'm gonna do my rock rails :gee: looks good as always

 

[fosforito_one]

This is one of the best builds I have followed. Keep it up! One day I hope to be able to convice my significant other that I "need" all the tools to do this and that I "need" to do something similar to mine.

 

[RCman]

bill, thanks for figuring out how i'm gonna do my rock rails :gee: looks good as always

Haha! Thanks Anthony!

This is one of the best builds I have followed. Keep it up! One day I hope to be able to convice my significant other that I "need" all the tools to do this and that I "need" to do something similar to mine.

Thanks!
Convincing of "needing" the tools is easy, one can NEVER have to many tools and I'm lucky mine understands that.
"Needing" to do what I am to the Jeep on the other hand that is much more difficult. At least besides steering and a fuel system all the 'big' spending is over. :dunce:

 

[5spd_xj]

all the 'big' spending is over. :dunce:

party1arty1arty1:

 

[asp]

i thought the big spending was done for my WJ swap... then i just had to spend 600 bucks more one store bought parts

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

The rockers are finished minus the supports that will run to the unibody rail and welding them in. I won't be doing any of that until the cage is all set as the cage will be tieing into those supports.
Front of the rocker end point. I wanted to bring this a little further forward so that I had a good place to drop the A-pillar tube onto but the tire would interfer. I'll just have to put a slight bend in the tube and kick it inward and through the sheetmetal a little bit so I can hit the top of the rocker. It'll be much more clear once I've done it.

How the rear ends (yes, I still need to trim the flares back a little bit).

Shouldn't the rocker tubes be at least three inches higher (if running doors) ...or more (if not running doors)? Jeff

 

[RCman]

Shouldn't the rocker tubes be at least three inches higher (if running doors) ...or more (if not running doors)? Jeff

I looked at this. It really isn't possible to gain anywhere near 3" with the doors on. As it sits now from the top of the rail to the top of the door pad is exactly 1-13/16". So, I could gain that if I modified the bottom of the doors. Here's where the dilemma was going on in my head, being as my rockers are already a fair amount off the ground at ride height (I can't recall the exact dimension) I didn't really think it was necessary to go through all that work rebuilding the pillars, floor corner, and cutting up the doors to gain less than 2".
Am I wrong there?

In order to get the full 3" there would have to be some serious surgery or run without doors. I'm going to avoid this as I want to be able to have a sealed passenger compartment for the winter wheelin' trips.

Where the rockers sit now the 2x2x0.188 braces that are going to run from them down the the unibody rail should just kiss through on inside the floorboards by about 5/8" or so. This is perfect as it'll give me a place to tie the cage tubing into.

 

[5spd_xj]

Am I wrong there?

you're NEVER wrong, Bill... :worship:


:farmer:

 

[RCman]

you're NEVER wrong, Bill... :worship:


:farmer:

Eh, I don't know about that.