Cherokee.Dreamer

So i have been working on this for 4 days and just finished welding it up all i have left to do is sand blast it, paint it, then install it.

So i ended up buying a stock gas tank skidplate for a cherokee older then 1996 and i have a 1998. I bought this thinking it would work but that was false judement. It didnt work. So i recently started taking a welding class at my local college and spent 4 two hour classes working on it. Expanding my stick and mig welding. Along with plasma cutting and other misc things. But this is what i started out with...


And...


Once i got it into my class i started out by cutting 2 stitch welds that were poorly done with an angle grinder and started bending until i got a bend that worked with my tank. I also cut the 90* lip off one of the front of it and stick welded black steel diamond plate to it. Once that was finished i ended up with...


and...


Just testing fitting...


Alright once i got the fitting all right and snazzy. I took some real thin steel not sure of the size, but i made side templates out of cardboard for it. And cut it out using a plasma cutter. Once i got them all grinded down and fitted i used wire feed to attach it to the sides of the gas tank just to sea up the hole a little bit, maybe even a little stronger. But with that said, by the end of last class i left with it looking like...









Nothing to special, but for my first fabrication i think i did ok. Im gonna sand blast it tomorrow and then hopefully paint it some time this weeked. But let me know what i could have done better or things you liked. Just tried my best considering this is only my 4th week even welding. Thanks for reading, ask for pictures if you want to see something closer.

ultimate-xj

I got a older body style think the same thing on my 97. End up going and getting on off a grand Cherokee, had to make 2 hole bigger and it fits perfect.

Cherokee.Dreamer

Yea this one didnt fit at all it wasnt deep enough or wide enough, but now it is