RAMBO: The Bodywork Thread
*Rambo*: Bodywork 2011-2012 Build Thread After over a year of owning my 96 Cherokee with intent to do a restoration/build, I finally have been able to do bodywork and paint. Here's the story of what has been done thus far.... I work for a dealership which also has a body shop and have been lucky enough to use the facility for my XJ. I would bring it in every chance that I could (on the days I had off, when I'd clock out for the day, at lunch, etc.). It took a while to get a lot accomplished, but here it is. I first started by stripping everything off my Jeep. http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...32219479_o.jpg http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...ork/Rambo4.jpg Even the interior.... http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...ork/Rambo3.jpg With any 15+ year old vehicle, you have your normal issues.... Then there's the "XJ issues" that go along with those normal issues. I had some holes drilled in the fenders and quarters from when I was running TJ flares (looked "meh..." :icon_confused:), There was a rust spot on the roof which had developed into something I could stick a screwdriver through, the front doors were dented up, there were knicks in the hatch fiberglass, and tons of other things I can't think of at the moment. http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...-40-10_928.jpg I started by sanding the body down. http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...-39-59_681.jpg http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...7-40-19_22.jpg http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...7-41-16_94.jpg The sanding took a while till everything was perfect. When it was done, I started tackling the larger problems, like what had been waiting for me on the roof :icon_eek:. I had to get rid of the rust and cut it out... Which in turn left me with this. http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...-55-23_702.jpg Then, I welded in some sheet metal and filled the rest with a special metal body filler. http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...-42-56_828.jpg There were also 2 CB antenna posts on the roof that leaked like crazy whenever it rained, so I got rid of them and had them filled aswell. http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...-08-20_709.jpg After all that was done, I went ahead and bought myself something I had been wanting for my XJ. Bushwacker cutout flares! Here's some pics of when I test fitted them. http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...-56-55_335.jpg http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...-57-03_123.jpg Back to the body work.... Here's some pics of the holes being filled, and dents being fixed. There was a small line crease on my driver's rear door so it was filled. http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...1-22-55_35.jpg http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...-23-16_191.jpghttp://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...-22-33_646.jpg After the filler work had been done, I had to replace some body panels... Such as the front doors, and hood due to tons of dings and dents. Hood off a 95 http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...-23-57_733.jpg First, I had to fix an "XJ problem" which was something that plagued the 96-97 model years. The hinge welds were weak and I needed to fix that. So I removed the door and fender...http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...12874580_n.jpg ...and now, something to set my 96 apart from the rest..... Second gen door swap. It was a lot more work than you would think. http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...96840218_o.jpg The first gen and second gen doors are very different. The second gen doors have larger mirrors, the windows are all one piece, the handles are different, the speaker mounting is different, and the striker is in a different location. Also, these doors are power everything, and my XJ was manual everything stock, so it made everything a bigger challenge. I removed the stock striker and started positioning the new striker (it was very hard to install as I had to squeeze my arm through a small space. http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...32324690_o.jpg I also had decided to do the "quick release" door hinge mod while I was there. The torx bolts were somewhat stripped, so I replaced them. http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...76006663_o.jpg It took me days worth of tedious work to get the fit and finish perfect. I had to play around with door shims, and adjust the position of the striker. http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...90004929_o.jpg http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...53557463_o.jpg Here's where I'll leave the thread at for now.... More pics soon to come. Also, If you have any questions on anything I have done, feel free to ask! http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...97874298_o.jpg |
I like where this is going. Nice work and keep us posted on future updates. :thumbup1:
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Originally Posted by Flowpro
(Post 1413897)
I like where this is going. Nice work and keep us posted on future updates. :thumbup1:
I'll definitely post more when I see it again in about a week. |
Looks like its gonna be a great xj! im diggin the door mod
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Originally Posted by 99FreshenedCherokee
(Post 1414161)
Looks like its gonna be a great xj! im diggin the door mod
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Very nice, keep us updated on the progress
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Originally Posted by 96jeepxj
(Post 1414865)
Very nice, keep us updated on the progress
I'll post more as the time goes on... |
I also had some rust holes in my roof when i did the bodywork and paint a few years ago. I used JB weld to fill, what product did you use?
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Originally Posted by OverlandXJ
(Post 1417013)
I also had some rust holes in my roof when i did the bodywork and paint a few years ago. I used JB weld to fill, what product did you use?
I used a filler called "All Metal" on the roof. It works great and forms a chemical bond with the sheet metal which makes it basically bulletproof. The weirdest part about the roof rust is my XJ is rust free everywhere else. Even my floor pans are clean.:001_huh: |
Here's the Jeep, all done with the bodywork and paint!
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/member...y-xj-color.jpg https://www.cherokeeforum.com/member...s-upgrades.jpg Here's an interior shot with the floors all bedlined.. https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...21087391_n.jpg Here's custom metallic silver vinyl graphics made for my Jeep (named rambo of course) https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...98175431_n.jpg Here's a brand new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee badge which will be going on the front... https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...53437422_n.jpg Wagoneer XJ Tail lights :thumbup: https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...31014677_n.jpg 2008 Wrangler Rubicon Moabs with 255/75/R17 BF Goodrich M/Ts and 1 inch adapters. https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...39921017_n.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...85684562_n.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...52850384_n.jpg Thats about it. |
bump :whistling2:
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Nice work, I'm working on a hood now and finding out how flimsy they are.
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Originally Posted by troy5118
(Post 1593608)
Nice work, I'm working on a hood now and finding out how flimsy they are.
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Love it. What headlights are those?
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yes also interested in knowing what headlights those are.
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