Putting in a real frame???

[TNT]

I was planning on plating my frame on my 89 MJ from the front back.

The big plan is to extend my cab so it uses 2dr XJ doors which will make it 9" longer. After cutting the frame to get my parts cab I got a real look at the "frame" that is stock. I wasn't impressed at all.

Since I will be building a custom bed I started to look at the rest of the "frame". I came to the conclusion that it will be less work in the long run to build a real frame and weld the cab/front end to the new frame. It would still be a unibody per say...

I'm working on the design of the frame right now. So far it looks like I might use 2"x5" .188" wall rectangular tube for the frame rails. The frame after the cab will be narrower and become the bottom support for the bed.

Part of the plan is raising the front spring and shock mounts. This will allow for more uptravel without spring bind. The rear will still use leaf springs but will have long travel shocks that extend into the bed.

Everything will be tied together with a rollcage mabe out of 1.75" .120" wall tube. It will have an over the cab halo, but will have tubing on the inside of the cab that will tie into it.

It's still in the planning stages so your helpful input is welcome.

 

[ZacSquatch]

Oh that was you on Pirate... the JP through me off.

 

[splitz]

It can be done. Here is how a guy did a Xota:

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=69712

 

[TNT]

It can be done. Here is how a guy did a Xota:

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=69712

Thanks for the link, I read it a long time ago and was going to search for it.

 

[TNT]

Oh that was you on Pirate... the JP through me off.

TNT was taken when I joined way back when...

 

[splitz]

Thanks for the link, I read it a long time ago and was going to search for it.

Yeah, why didn't you think about searching for Xota, it is such a normal term! :looney:

There is another thread somewhere about a guy doing a frame for the front of the xj. I don't remember where or when I read it, but it was pretty recent.

 

[TNT]

Yeah, why didn't you think about searching for Xota, it is such a normal term! :looney:

There is another thread somewhere about a guy doing a frame for the front of the xj. I don't remember where or when I read it, but it was pretty recent.

The front frame is being done by "mac 'its do or die now' gyvr"....

XJ front "frame" build

 

[XJ_ranger]

looking at the frames on the xj's that ive cut, bent, plated, torched, bashed, beaten, and otherwise mutilated...

i think that 2x5x.188 wall tube is way overkill...

the factory XJ is held together with a few spotwelds here and there in most places... there are very few seamwelds that hold any structural body pannel to another...

look at some .095 wall in that same shape, and consider plating the bottom and outside of that with some 10gauge steel, and that ought to be pleanty strong...

how were you planning to weld the .188 tube to the body? were you planning on doing a body on frame with body mounts and bushings?

how are you going to bend the 2x5 into the shape of the MJ unirails? particularly in the engine bay area?

personally I think the stock frame with a good set of plates is more than strong enough... the MJ frame is much better strength wise than the XJ frame...

This MJ is plated with 10ga, and goes pretty much everywhere its pointed...

and plating already existing feautres is a whole helluv-a-lot easier than makeing an entirely new frame with all the mounts for everything AND figuring out how to integrate it into the uni-body...

 

[splitz]

^ uhhh, that's an MJ?

 

[XJ_ranger]

yeah... a 20 or 30 revisions ago it used to look like this...

but still has the entire frame to the back of the cab, and they are still plated all the same way...

 

[TNT]

looking at the frames on the xj's that ive cut, bent, plated, torched, bashed, beaten, and otherwise mutilated...

i think that 2x5x.188 wall tube is way overkill...

the factory XJ is held together with a few spotwelds here and there in most places... there are very few seamwelds that hold any structural body pannel to another...

look at some .095 wall in that same shape, and consider plating the bottom and outside of that with some 10gauge steel, and that ought to be pleanty strong...

how were you planning to weld the .188 tube to the body? were you planning on doing a body on frame with body mounts and bushings?

how are you going to bend the 2x5 into the shape of the MJ unirails? particularly in the engine bay area?

personally I think the stock frame with a good set of plates is more than strong enough... the MJ frame is much better strength wise than the XJ frame...

This MJ is plated with 10ga, and goes pretty much everywhere its pointed...

and plating already existing feautres is a whole helluv-a-lot easier than makeing an entirely new frame with all the mounts for everything AND figuring out how to integrate it into the uni-body...

To tell you the truth that could be a XJ or a MJ it's hard to tell since it's mostly buggy where the differences in the MJ and XJ begin...

The rails would be welded directly to the body so it would remain a unibody per-say. The rails would be cut off leaving a short length to allow it to be stitch welded to the frame.

I am trying to decide which way to go to plate or make a frame for it.

The rails would be cut and bent as needed. Any splices will be plated with fish mouthed plates. I would build my own front spring mounts located 2" higher so longer springs can be used. this would allow for more uptravel without coil bind. The shocks would also be frame mounted and allow for a longer shock to be used. The rear part of the frame would be built narrower then the factory frame.

.125" wall steel would work but would need to have the bottom plated where it might come in contact when wheeling.


If I plate the frame this will be the plan.

I also have enough 1/8" and 12gauge steel to plate the entire frame. I feel everything from the crossmember forward should be plated on all 3 sides. The engine compartment rails and mounts would be fully plated. The frame ends at the steering box area would plated on both sides of the frame and on both rails with 3/16" plate. The front crossmember would be replaced with some 2"x5" .125 wall tube and a trackbar support would be made to run from rail to rail.

The rear part of the frame would be plated on one side and the bottom. My front leaf spring mounts would be removed and the spring would mounted inside the frame rail which would be plated on both sides and boxed inside. The rear shackles would also get moved inside the frame and that area would be plated also. The frame will end about 3" behind the shackle mounts.

Either way will be a pain to do. Both will be more then strong enough.

 

[JeepFreak21]

...My front leaf spring mounts would be removed and the spring would mounted inside the frame rail which would be plated on both sides and boxed inside. The rear shackles would also get moved inside the frame and that area would be plated also. The frame will end about 3" behind the shackle mounts.

Either way will be a pain to do. Both will be more then strong enough.

Under the frame rail or inside the frame rail? Are you thinking MJ springs, XJ springs, or what?

Billy

 

[TNT]

Under the frame rail or inside the frame rail? Are you thinking MJ springs, XJ springs, or what?

Billy

I meant to say front of the rear spring mounts higher into the frame rail. I will be using my MJ springs. The front suspension will be coils.