it's an xj, It'll never be finished. EVER.

 

The cage. I can't wait to see the CAGE done. Happy?

 

Well we got a little bit done over the weekend.

First I added a third tie in to the rockers and plated the rockers with some 10 gauge. Kicked my butt I but I got both sides about done.
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Then we decided to start on the front first... Started by welding the A-pillars to the cage. Next was the fender bars, I think I may move the back side of these bars up so they match the slope of the hood more, but havent decided if it bugs me bad enough yet.



Then we bent up the rear roof hoop.


Next came the C-pillars.... Once we got the C-Pillars in we were able to bend a hoop to go around the back on top of the rear quarters. This pieces sits right on the lip from the side windows and is welded to them, so the quarters are tied in plenty.




For the rear we threw some spreaders in from the roof hoop to the hoop around the quarters. We couldnt figure out the rear, but ended up making a hoop and standing it up, I am going to plate the corners where the tail lights were and probably throw some LED tails in there. Then make a piece of plate the same shape as the rear hoop and make it open tailgate style for easy access. Also we fish plate welded where the factory bumper bolts up then tied the tailgate piece into the body there.






Still have some bracing to do, roof bars, make some sort of tailgate deal, paint and what not. But made a good dent this weekend.

What do think?? Criticism?? What to change??

 

I dig how you cut away the body for the C-pillar! Nice work.

Definitely raise the fender bars to match the body line. Maybe we can raise the whole thing a couple inches to protect the hood/ radiator for rollover



And 100% we need to do a dash spreader on the A-pillar, or we can do it on the fender bar.

I know you don't want to hear this because you may have already welded them, but we ideally should cut and lengthen that lower rear inverted hoop so the bars intersect the upper D-pillar hoops and form a node there. It will make the cage much stronger and that way you can weld the tube to the corners and keep them from getting munched.


But at the very least we can do angled gussets like this.


Oh and we should do door bars for the front like you where talking about.

Looks like you and Jeff kicked some serious butt this weekend. Sorry I missed it, I was in Richfield painting a house and doing some dirtbiking.

 

ok so ive been through this whole thread numerous times reading and getting good ideas let me first say I LOVE THIS THREAD AND LOVE YOUR XJ i think its one of the sickest cherokees on this sight along with several others but this one is my favorits builds .......and when i saw u took the top off i was in tears i thought i was gonna hate until i saw the cage your building for it which i think is sick so plz keep the great work up im totaly subscribed !!!!

 

Most of it's still tacked on. I like the fact I have a simple shape to work off of to make a tailgate. I'm still open to ideas of how to finish the rear. I was planning on doing the front spreader bar in front of the wipers and behind the cowl on the hood. That way I can retain the working wipers, and because I have a lift off hood it'll be cake.

 

And actually just yesterday. We did all of this from about 8 til 4. We tore it up!

 

This beast is getting to redonkulous status!!! I think your right in wanting to move that along the top of the fender, cause it would follow the line from the back half to the front! Are you planning on adding a bar behind the front seats for the 5 point harnesses you bought (unless I'm getting my builds mixed up, that was you right?)

Also are you planning to toss a doubler at it any time soon?

 

Yeah, I still need to do a bar for the 5 points. The roof bars, a bunch of bracing and gussets. I've only used 100 feet of the 160 feet of tube. And as of right now it's much lighter than it was before. The back end is very light, it's way up in the air.

 

Not that worried about this as of right now. I want to get it together and wheeling. Maybe next year i'll do hoops through the hood, some coil overs and an engine cage.

 

So here's my idea for the rear...

Gray area will be tubing. Yellow area will be plated and painted body color. The oval is just a general idea of where I could stick an oval LED tail. What do ya'll think? Best thing I can come up with that looks decent and adds protection.

 

I can dig it. There is no doubt in my mind that you'll make it look good.

 

By far this the best looking cage I've seen on a chop! I love how the rear cargo cage came out! My one and only concern would be the B pillar getting hung up on obstacles. That's the only thing I'd change is that upper bend. Other than that I love it! May have to steal the design for when I chop mine! Did it warp the body in any way cutting it with no cage in place?

 

the only thing I was going to say was a bar supporting the b-pillar. But you already addressed that. Other than that, real nice looking cage.

 

Thanks man! It's getting there. We thought a lot about the B Pillar. I want plenty of head room, I plan on a few comp's, the Delta one includes a mini KOH race with a decent jump and what not, so I wanted plenty of room with a helmet on. Hopefully with some small braces it will be ok.. here's the final idea for the top of the b pillar. Plus we still need to do door bars front and rear and a spreader for the 5 points.