Topless 2 door -getting there

[Rev Den]

Taillights in, major welding done, still got some little items.

Rev

 

[4ward]

Is that all the cage you're putting in or am I not seeing something in those pics. Where's the A hoop? I'm not trying to bag on your design, but I don't see much of anything in helping to keep that thing from twisting. I've been wondering what a 2 door chop would look like, I can dig it. Just try and get that thing from looking like a pretzel at the end of a day of wheelin'.

Sean

 

[Rev Den]

Thats it. There is 1" square .120 welded where the hatch was, angled, renforced, etc. I had it twisted up today in a ditch...no twists. Thanks for asking, glad to know someone is thinking about it besides me. Also, the "B" hoop is tied to the existing "B" piller in 2 places, and the floor, each side.


Rev

 

[HossHoffer]

Wow

You've got me hooked. The top comes off of my '85 two door this summer. Just hope it looks as good as yours!

 

[CheapXJ]

What's supposed to keep you from eating the windshield in the event of a rollover?

Definitely looks kickass tho! (I've been working on drawings of a half-cab 2-door XJ with a removable sunroof, a full cage, and cut doors with soft inserts similar to what you'd find on a Scout SSII)

seeing all these chopped 2-doors lately is really giving me good ideas, and givin me a good look at the XJ's body structure.

 

[Rev Den]

What's supposed to keep you from eating the windshield in the event of a rollover?

Same thing that does in a stock XJ. The roof was rolled over and welded to the existing structure. This formed, is essence, a steel tube along the roof line. I also gusseted the front corners to help distribute the loads. Is it as storng as a cage? NO. Is it as strong as the original roof? Yes.

Thnk of this as a cheap and easy (sort of) way to do it. If Beezils is a 10 (which it is) this is more like a 3. Safe, sound, but not real pretty.

Rev

 

[CheapXJ]

actually, the roof sheetmetal itself did quite a bit to keep eveything together. It helped distribute load, which is really key to the design of the chassis. its resistance to impact is greatly diminished by removing the the roof sheetmetal.

and even then, the factory setup is weak to begin with... Unfortunately, I did a little "destructive testing" on one of my previous XJs, seeing how the roof folded up easily in stock form, I'd be seriously worried about that without something more substantial up there.

Not tryin to be a nuisance. Genuine concern

 

[Economos]

Looks good, but I must agree with OneTon and Cheap. Honestly, how much more work and money would it cost you to throw in the A hoop and a dash bar with some over head spreaders? IMHO, its worth the hassle - call it insurance if you will.

 

[Rev Den]

Good points...and well taken. Thanks guys, there may be a A hoop in the future. Thanks again for your input.

Rev

 

[CheapXJ]

You plannin any kinda soft top/bikini for that?

 

[Rev Den]

Yea...got find a place...might have to venture into the........(hush) City!!!! Lions and tigers (no Bears) ohh my!!

Rev

 

[mtndewmaniac]

Good looking XJ you have there. wish that I had seen something like this a few months ago before I started mine. Glad to see that there is another two-door topless similar to mine.

 

[freewithfire]

what did you use for the tailgate there? it looks like cj tail-lights. Do you have a fold down tailgate? im planning on doing a similar thing to my four door xj and was thinking of just cutting the original hatchback in half and converting it into a fold down tailgate. looks tight by the way.
Adam

 

[Mcstiff]

I too have "tested" the structural abilitys fo my XJ roof and on a scale of 1-10 I would give it a 5 because it did not hit me in the head but is too deformed to sit in the seat and drive the car

Looks cool, I wish I had the time to start cutting my top off

 

[Rev Den]

what did you use for the tailgate there? it looks like cj tail-lights. Do you have a fold down tailgate? im planning on doing a similar thing to my four door xj and was thinking of just cutting the original hatchback in half and converting it into a fold down tailgate. looks tight by the way.
Adam

Tailgate is 1/8 plate, backed by 1X1 .120 tubing. The taillights are cheap 4" peterson units. No, the tailgate does not fold down, it is part of the structure now.

Rev

 

[Wallyman]

have been looking all over the place 4 someone who has done this allready.Thanks, u have motivated me 2 break out the sawz-all!!!!!!I ran out of other things 2 do.if u decide it needs more strenght, please let me no.arty:

 

[Rev Den]

Thanks.
So-far, so-good. That said, make sure you are comfortable with what you are doing, you are changing the structure of your XJ. You are elimanating crumple zones and major support members. I went bare minimum approach, maybe to little, time will tell. Hit me up if you want more details on what I did, its totally your responsability to make you vehicle safe.

Rev
(Not trying to scare you, or talk you out of it, just want you to know it is not all that easy)

 

[Wallyman]

YEs i understand about the safety factor.And i have a couple very experienced welder friends that were tought by the coast guard.So the main questions i have r ,what did u use 2 cut, a die grinder,saws all, leatherman heh.where did u anchor the rear supports to n the back, how much room is left n the back,i am assuming most of the braces were pretty much cut and weld home-made.Do u notice much body "flex" .And of course, how many strange looks do u get? I am gonna wait till i get 2 Cali 2 do this so i will have some time 2 get research done first.And i think i am gonna use the spray-in bed liner on the interior once it is cut.could the rear lift-gate b cut and welded n or do u think the squre stock is stronger. It seems as though it probably would b.Thanks 4 the info,..Wally

 

[Rev Den]

OK...you asked.

To cut it I used a sabre saw, much cleaner than a sawzall. The supports are welded to a cross beam that is welded to the floor across the "frame" rails and spring mounts, the beam is also welded and gusseted to the reinforced sides. I did not cut the original weld or seam below the back side windows.
I have less than 1/4" flex measured from front right corner of the roof to the left rear corner of the roof.
I used Durabak to cover the interior of mine, I like the Rhino I have on the floor better, but the Durabak was much cheaper for this project and it looks good.
My hatch was fiberglass, it would have been a bit*h to weld so I used the tubing and plate. Everything is custom cut and welded.
Strange looks? Believe it or not, I get less now than before I cut it, I think the walking dead that are not jeepers think it is normal that way.

For the deffinative source on this type of thing consult Beezil and OneTon, these guys are pros.

Rev

 

[Wallyman]

thanks much...ya no, after i went out and x-amed my hatch, mine is fiberglass also. can't b-lieve i hadn't noticed that b-4!well i guess that is out of the picture.I think i will go bug the others u speak of about this now, thanx again!