Shocks Through The Floor build up

[dgrigorenko]

ok so i have decided that i want to run some longer shocks in the rear, and since i moved my axle side mounts up for clearance, it only meant that i could do one thing..... go through the floor...

so i dug in and chopped some holes through where the factory upper mounts are:

then i started working on mounting points for the upper mount:

This is kinda what i came up with so far... any comments and suggestions are welcome

and tacked (not to the jeep yet

and a closeup of the mount

like a said any comments suggestions and concerns are more than welcome!

 

[stoneyva21]

looks nice. i have been thinking about doing the same thing. gets really annoying when you hang up on your shock mount 3 or 4 times in a day of wheeling

 

[dgrigorenko]

looks nice. i have been thinking about doing the same thing. gets really annoying when you hang up on your shock mount 3 or 4 times in a day of wheeling

this is exactly the reasoning.


so my current dilemma is mounting to the unibody... i have mocked up a few ideas, but i am not sure if i like them due to strength factors. my current idea is to use some 1/8 angle to tie it in, since welding 1/4 to the sheet metal could prove challenging. so here is this idea, tacked up.

i am planning to do this anyways, but i am trying to come up with a way to tie it in to the frame rails or something. suggestions? oh and disregard the random old shock, it was just for planning purposes

 

[dgrigorenko]

one thing that i do have going for me is that the stock crossmember runs directly underneath my new crossmember, which would add a good amount of rigiidity and strength over just the thin sheetmetal

 

[dgrigorenko]

here is what it looks like with the schock in there I know it doesnt look like much, but i will have about 5" of uptravel on the shock which translates to more at the wheel

 

[bcmaxx]

How do you seal that up? Think you will have problems with exhaust fumes inside the xj? looks good otherwise

 

[dgrigorenko]

How do you seal that up? Think you will have problems with exhaust fumes inside the xj? looks good otherwise

I am actually planning to box it around the mount, and have only the head of the bolt exposed on the inside.

 

[ktm racer 419]

here is what I did. I know my shocks are in a totally different location, but you could plate the frame like that and have it come up through the floor tieing into your new shock crossmember.

 

[dgrigorenko]

I like it, i may do that. in the mean time i need to get some more cutoff wheels... i've been doing all my cutting with a 4 1/2 grinder... limited tools is the suck

here is what I did. I know my shocks are in a totally different location, but you could plate the frame like that and have it come up through the floor tieing into your new shock crossmember.

 

[dgrigorenko]

i welded in the angle to the floor using some .024 wire, and the lowest setting my welder can go. it actually came out pretty well, and i didnt have any burn through.

i'm quitting for the night, hopefully i can get it fully boxed and whatnot tomorrow

 

[dgrigorenko]

this morning i set up the templates that i am going to use to box the thing in... hopefully it will be weather and emissions tight

as always, critisism is welcome

 

[MG2000XJ]

Looks pretty good to me, weld it up and run some seam sealer or rtv around the edges and you should be leak free.

 

[JRW7072009]

Looks good, good idea to box it up.

 

[jeeperjohn]

It seems you are giving up the use of the cargo floor to a large degree but good work though. :thumbup:

 

[dgrigorenko]

It seems you are giving up the use of the cargo floor to a large degree but good work though. :thumbup:

yeah you are right, but i wanted this to be very functional and strong. down the road i want to put in one of those cargo area drawers, and bring the deck up 4" to this level.

progress from today:

got all the sheet cut out and final fit customized, and started burning it in:

one possible issue i have here is i overlooked the bolt head size with a socket on it... it just barely wont make it, so i may have to "customize" the socket and grind some material off of it to make it thinner.

 

[ktm racer 419]

that is alot of work

but i like it

 

[beakie]

x2 above

looks well done, very clean work.

I just went thru the floors a few weeks ago, haven't taken pics yet. but mounted the shocks on the leaf spring plate, to a hoop on the wheel wells (wells were plated for some strength)

they work awsome.

 

[crazy-apes]

Do they make Allen Head Bolts in that size? That might cover the clearance issue.

Curtis

 

[tbburg]

How about Jeep's solution. (and it seems, their answer to everything,...) A big torx bolt?

 

[dgrigorenko]

Do they make Allen Head Bolts in that size? That might cover the clearance issue.

Curtis

How about Jeep's solution. (and it seems, their answer to everything,...) A big torx bolt?

yeah i will definatly take a run to the hardware store and or lowes for a allen... not torx, i hate torx... i dont know if i will be able to find a 5/8 coarse thread allen. i was able to find some online under the guise of 5/8 11 socket cap screw. i am hoping to not have to order them.... cause i dont want to wait assgas: