Marks2000XJ

I am looking for a way to beef up my t-case cross member especially on the ends where it bolts up to the xj frame.

Has anybody done in cheap and easy modifications to beef up the stock cross member? Don't have the funds to buy a heavy duty one right now.

Please post pictures of anything you have done. I need some ideas.

Thanks.

Xj88

In the XJ builders guide book there is a picture where some dude welded plate all around it.. Looked pretty beefy.

Probably wouldnt cost too much seeing as there isnt a whole lot of steel to cover.

Marks2000XJ

I may buy a copy of the book at some point. Thanks.

Marks2000XJ

Where are all the innovators?

94XjSport94

I don't think it's worth the time. What are your plans to do with it? I have Clayton long arms and have my crossmember welded to the unibody all around and have a skid plate built on the center section




Most long arm set ups replace the thin factory crossmember with a new beefy one anyways... Plus, mine has a removable center section.

Marks2000XJ

I wish a long arm upgrade was in my future but I am putting one kid through college at the moment so I had to settle for the RC control arm drop kit ($159).

I do not plan on rock crawling with my cherokee. More of an expedition type vehicle. I just don't like the way the cross member is bolted to the frame with only 4 bolts, actually only 2 bolts and 2 nuts on factory studs.

I don't want to weld it to the frame in case it ever does come off for an upgrade. I was thinking of getting some 1/4" steel, cut it as wide as the frame channel, welding some 1/2" or 5/8" nuts to it and drilling out the welded nuts in the frame. Then fish this 1/4" thick plate inside the frame (some how?) and re-bolt the cross member with the 1/2" or 5/8" bolts.

Sounds like a lot of trouble just typing it out. That is a cheap way but not real easy. Of course nothing seems to be easy about working on these stupid cherokees. I don't know why we do this to ourselves!

rugsucka

I think working on XJ's is very easy compared to any modern sedan, van, truck, or SUV.

I replaced my stock crossmember with a homebrewed set up made from C channel, removable without affecting my drop bracket supports, and also tied in an integrated Tcase and Catalytic converter skid.

I do play in the rocks though, and it was a requirement after completely destroying my exhaust last season.

That being said, the stock crossmember will take a significant pounding before it fails, so easy would be to take some 1/8" flat stock or 3/16" and plate it up for expedition type duty.

andrewmp6

If you got 175 bucks http://www.hooliganoffroad.com/ has a nice crossmember cover they call a belly pan or 178 bucks http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJ...XJ-SKD-TC.html