I have recently cut the back off of my XJ, I was just wondering what kinda structural stability issues i have run into and what i can do to fix em. I plan on putting in a full cage somewhere down the road but i dont know exactly when.....I attatched some photos so you can see exactly what was cut off. Any feedback would be great! THX




By the way im a newbie to this site so i guess heres my "hello!"

 

yea there aint much holding the roof together anymore.

cage it before you wheel it

 

for now you can close off the back or set a pillar and bolt it to the frame section of the unibody.

 

I say with that pretty yellow hitch holding the "frame rails" in place, and your roof rack on top your just fine as is. You might have a little flex in the rear but nothing horrible. I'd say rust is a far greater concern at this point (being roofless that it).

 

well the roof rack really isnt attatched the "proper way" its just got a couple self tapers on each side holding it down...LOL it was a quick fix for what i needed that weekend and just havent gotten around to tie-in it down properly........and the pretty yellow hitch, yea that is authentic John Deere Yellow (painted) parts!

 

not really.

 

First thing you want to do since you chopped the top. you wil want to plate the frame. It wil lhelp with the rigidity. Then add a full interior cage. After You get that done.. you want to add a front engine cage, and that is where I am at.

I wheel and beat on my xj. the only thing I have found annoying is the sheetmetal tends to rattle off the cage. I wil add some body to cage stiffners

 

im leavin mine,i rewelded the rear pillars an ill be makeing a soft top for the back

 

This is how mine is. The only thing I have done is capped off the roof rails, and I plan to put a YJ main hoop in so that I can put a soft top on it. Yes it does flex a bit but it really isn't that bad.

 

Thanks for the pictures guys.

 

Thanks for all the imput, and more is definately welcome!!!

 

look at my build page... TJ not a YJ... waaayyyy less work...

 

it can be scary. im fully caged and i watch where its cut when i corner hard and i see up to 3/4 of a inch between the cage and sides also when im flexing. need to tie the cage into the roof. also plating the rails helps. i did that too. btw my hatch is cut in half and fits like stock with pins and doesnt rattle and looks sick

 

Now u cant say something like that without posting pics! what are u thinkin??? haha