Cutting off fender flares
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Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
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OK i've read everything here, and there are a few things i'll say. First, yes what some members are saying may be harsh, but it's for a good reason. Your truck is a unibody vehicle. That means it has no separate frame the body is bolted to - the body IS the structure of the truck, and what it depends on for 1) safety and crash protection, and 2) to keep the occupants, suspension, and drivetrain all connected together. Second, even from what little you have already shown us via photos, it's evident that the rust problem is very widespread. Floors and rocker panels are fixable, but the body structure is not, at least not for it to be safe to drive on the road with a newborn. The fact that you have a rusted hole above the wheel well means the structure is compromised, and if that spot looks that bad, the parts that normally rust have to be almost completely gone. You're to the point now where fixing it is no longer a viable option. Third, I've replaced my floors with success. They were rusted out bad, but the framerails and supporting components were all fully intact so i was able to fully weld the new floors in. Your truck will not be the same. You also seriously underestimate the time and work that is needed to cut out the bad and to repair with good steel, and you lack the skill to weld to thin sheet metal. My suggestion is to get your stuff in order - start saving cash to acquire a new vehicle. If the engine and drivetrain are good, you can part some of the truck out and make some money off the components, and the sell the body for scrap. This should make you a decent chunk of change to put towards a new ride. Sorry man, we try to advise everyone to fix these trucks up since we all love them and hate to see them junked. Yours is just too far gone to save. Even if the tables were turned and it was one of my vehicles, the condition of the unibody is just not safe or viably repairable, and it would be parted and junked. The way it is right now, if anyone ever crashed into the truck, it would literally crumble and offer you and your passengers next to no protection. Good luck with whatever you do - whether you choose to heed our warnings or not.
::CF Administrator::
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
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From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
These are the wisest words you have spoken on the site thus far. Hand it back over to them and express gratitude, but explain that you don't want to have your future child in an unsafe vehicle. It'll go a long way I'll bet.
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Lol thanks yet again I'm sorry to all of you all for acting the way I did , but that's what I'm going to have to do an Mabey they will understand an hey you think it would be a good idea to buy a cherokee off of here ?
☠ CF Sheriff ☠
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,197
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From: Aberdeen, MD
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO I-6, 703 Injectors, Brown Dog Super Engine Mounts
if you engine and drivetrain are good, it's certainly an option to try and find someone selling a truck with a good body, but a blown engine or trans.
There are differences between the years, but look for a 91-96 body - that way you drop in all your components without issue and it should be plug and play
There are differences between the years, but look for a 91-96 body - that way you drop in all your components without issue and it should be plug and play
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
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if you engine and drivetrain are good, it's certainly an option to try and find someone selling a truck with a good body, but a blown engine or trans. There are differences between the years, but look for a 91-96 body - that way you drop in all your components without issue and it should be plug and play
☠ CF Sheriff ☠
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,197
Likes: 18
From: Aberdeen, MD
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO I-6, 703 Injectors, Brown Dog Super Engine Mounts
if you find a good body donor and grab a group of buddies with an engine hoist, swap can be done in a weekend easy.
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Junior Member
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::CF Administrator::
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
There is some extensive rot there. Some of the uniframe looks like it's cracked. Hard to tell from your pics. The bottom line is even if it is salvageable, that is a **** ton of work. I'm a welder and metal fabricator...so take my word for it. Find another XJ with a blown motor or transmission or a good body donor. Scrap the rest.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,132
Likes: 357
From: Andover, VT
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 L
I got really sick of reading this thread by the second page, so I'll just cut to the chase.
Park your jeep somewhere that it can stay for awhile. Rip the entire interior apart. All trim out, seats out, carpet out. Drop the gas tank and filler neck out. Go ham with poking and cutting the rust out of it, and start welding sheet metal over the holes. Prime and paint everything and put it back together.
There's your instructions. Get after it.
Park your jeep somewhere that it can stay for awhile. Rip the entire interior apart. All trim out, seats out, carpet out. Drop the gas tank and filler neck out. Go ham with poking and cutting the rust out of it, and start welding sheet metal over the holes. Prime and paint everything and put it back together.
There's your instructions. Get after it.
Herp Derp Jerp
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 18,251
Likes: 17
From: Parham, ON
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L OBD-II
Wow. The underside of that XJ is actually worse than mine!
Here's what's hiding behind that nice black undercoating someone sprayed on the frame rails "to keep the rust away"
Peeling back the floor reveals a century-old shipwreck:
After an hour with a wire brush:
That XJ ain't safe.
Here's what's hiding behind that nice black undercoating someone sprayed on the frame rails "to keep the rust away"
Peeling back the floor reveals a century-old shipwreck:
After an hour with a wire brush:
That XJ ain't safe.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 888
Likes: 1
From: Rockford, IL
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
that thing is toast. your parents probably dont know the extent of the rust or have no knowledge of vehicles. show them this thread. the experts deem it highly unsafe. if you have a job and you and your lady bring in at least 1500 a month most buy here pay here dealers will get you in a car for 500 down. get a little gas saver.
I'm a few years in to my first kid and being a real grown up and all that, just like you're about to be. that jeep is toast. don't drive your family in it. good luck
I'm a few years in to my first kid and being a real grown up and all that, just like you're about to be. that jeep is toast. don't drive your family in it. good luck
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