XJ unibody stiffeners
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 32
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Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
XJ unibody stiffeners
i have recently made unibody stiffeners for my Xj.
i used 3x3x3/16 angle, i have not welded the rosette welds yet but will be doing so shortly. this was a fairly easy job to do and didnt take much time at all. tell me what you think of them and if you have any questions. thanks.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/gto_69/IMAG0020.jpg
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...9/IMAG0018.jpg
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...9/IMAG0024.jpg
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...9/IMAG0021.jpg
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...9/IMAG0025.jpg
i used 3x3x3/16 angle, i have not welded the rosette welds yet but will be doing so shortly. this was a fairly easy job to do and didnt take much time at all. tell me what you think of them and if you have any questions. thanks.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/gto_69/IMAG0020.jpghttp://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...9/IMAG0018.jpg
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...9/IMAG0024.jpg
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...9/IMAG0021.jpg
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...9/IMAG0025.jpg
Last edited by cherokeeman; Oct 20, 2010 at 10:33 AM. Reason: added pics
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I didnt know how to put the pics in the thread without just a link..
they run from the rear leaf spring mount to the front just before the bend in the unibody. (just a bit longer than the rear door to the front door).
it took me about 30 minutes to cut and grind off the old rock sliders.
then i took about 20 minutes with flap disk to get bare metal all across unibody
then to cut the metal out for the bends and where the tcase bolts about an hour
then to bend it so it forms to the unibody about 20 minutes
then i spent about 45 minutes stich welding all of it. so in total about 3 or 4 hours. i could have done this a little faster but i dont like to rush things. (i tend to make more mistakes when i rush it, and i dont like to re do or fix things)
they run from the rear leaf spring mount to the front just before the bend in the unibody. (just a bit longer than the rear door to the front door).
it took me about 30 minutes to cut and grind off the old rock sliders.
then i took about 20 minutes with flap disk to get bare metal all across unibody
then to cut the metal out for the bends and where the tcase bolts about an hour
then to bend it so it forms to the unibody about 20 minutes
then i spent about 45 minutes stich welding all of it. so in total about 3 or 4 hours. i could have done this a little faster but i dont like to rush things. (i tend to make more mistakes when i rush it, and i dont like to re do or fix things)
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 2
From: south jersey
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I didnt know how to put the pics in the thread without just a link..
they run from the rear leaf spring mount to the front just before the bend in the unibody. (just a bit longer than the rear door to the front door).
it took me about 30 minutes to cut and grind off the old rock sliders.
then i took about 20 minutes with flap disk to get bare metal all across unibody
then to cut the metal out for the bends and where the tcase bolts about an hour
then to bend it so it forms to the unibody about 20 minutes
then i spent about 45 minutes stich welding all of it. so in total about 3 or 4 hours. i could have done this a little faster but i dont like to rush things. (i tend to make more mistakes when i rush it, and i dont like to re do or fix things)
they run from the rear leaf spring mount to the front just before the bend in the unibody. (just a bit longer than the rear door to the front door).
it took me about 30 minutes to cut and grind off the old rock sliders.
then i took about 20 minutes with flap disk to get bare metal all across unibody
then to cut the metal out for the bends and where the tcase bolts about an hour
then to bend it so it forms to the unibody about 20 minutes
then i spent about 45 minutes stich welding all of it. so in total about 3 or 4 hours. i could have done this a little faster but i dont like to rush things. (i tend to make more mistakes when i rush it, and i dont like to re do or fix things)
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CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 5,420
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From: Soddy Daisy TN
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Rust is what can and will happen. Also you may want to extend it a bit farther. Did the same thing on one and it broke the frame at the leaf spring mount. You took the flex out of the middle so it has to give somewhere else. Just going a foot or so past the leaf mount would prob do the trick.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, SC
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6
well to stop it from rusting make sure its sealed with paint and maybe some silicon or bondo or just spray alot of paint in whatever cracks and gaps you see between the stiffeners, also yes i would go all the way up the front to make it rock solid and about a foot after the leaf spring mount or just all the way back, im still deciding on what to do with mine
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 189
Likes: 1
From: DuPage, IL
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I'm very interested in doing this to my jeep. How does it handle the roads/ off road with those on there? Worth the time? Judging from the 3 or 4 hours it took to make it, I would think it would definitely be worth it. My jeep is a little jumpy and creaky going over bumps so it's definitely on my list to do. Also, where did you get your metal from? Nice work
