How to chop the back of your XJ....
Newbie
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 22
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From: Anacortes WA
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by Big David
I want to see a 4 door chopped behind the driver seat & made to look like a 2 door.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 706
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From: Racine, Ohio
Year: 1999
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7
Really? It's been a few months since I lost my xj but I don't remember the unibody rails being that tall. 3 or 4 inches at most. Which is about the size of a common body lift. I may be wrong, but I didn't think it would sit that high. More on topic, anyone have any pics of a good chop job on a wj?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 706
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From: Racine, Ohio
Year: 1999
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7
XJs are unibody, they have no traditional frame. It uses the body for structural integrity, and cutting up the rear portion of the top could potentially yeild poor results, ie doors no longer closing/opening because the truck has twisted itself.
Putting your chopped XJ in a situation where it has wheels off the ground puts it in a spot where it has the most potential to get tweeked. Obviously the user who posted pics of his chopped XJ was able to do the chop without having these issues.
Putting your chopped XJ in a situation where it has wheels off the ground puts it in a spot where it has the most potential to get tweeked. Obviously the user who posted pics of his chopped XJ was able to do the chop without having these issues.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 706
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From: Racine, Ohio
Year: 1999
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7
I am considering splitting my tailgate into to a top piece that goes up like the entire tailgate does stock and a bottom piece that folds down like alot of these chops as well as pickups. Do any of you have pics of how you did the tailgate setup, like latching it as well as the hinge setup?
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,460
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Year: 1992
Model: Comanche
Engine: 4.0
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 660
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From: Hampton, Virginia
Model: Cherokee
Engine: none other
I split my hatch into a back glass and a tail gate. I used heavy duty gate hinges from Tractor Supply. They were only a couple bucks a piece. We cut notches in the body for the mechanical part of the hinge to lay down in so they would be flush and welded them into place. Easy job and works great. As for the latches. We never had to do a thing to them.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 706
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From: Racine, Ohio
Year: 1999
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7
Here is a couple pics of what I am talking about. Granted, mine is a WJ but still gives you the idea of what I'm talkin about. Hang on and I'll post a couple more of the hinges themselves.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 706
Likes: 0
From: Racine, Ohio
Year: 1999
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7
Notice how we cut out pieces in the tailgate for the mechanical part of the hinge to sit down in making everything flush. These hinges were only a couple bucks at tractor supply. Had to trim them off on the ends a little and bend them to match the body but that's it.
